Iota-Gamma Zeta, 1948 – 2026

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The original colony meeting

Held at Fresno State College, on the campus that is now Fresno City College. Faculty sponsor Dr. Ralph F. Evans became one of the chapter’s foundational mentors.

Sixteen initiated at Culver City

Sixteen undergraduates, mostly pre-med students, traveled with Dr. Evans to Culver City and were initiated by Epsilon Sigma Zeta at UCLA. The nucleus of six who started the colony took the first six places on the Fresno roll: Tom Dunklin, Robert Kilpatrick, Blaine Stewart, Reinard Bergstrom, Dean Christy and Stanley Weitemier.

One acre bought on the new campus site. The colony purchased one acre of land on the site of the new Fresno State College.

Thirteen more initiated at Berkeley. The fall 1948 class of thirteen men traveled to Mu Zeta at the University of California to be initiated.

Into the house on Van Ness

The colony moved into 1239 N. Van Ness Avenue — the second fraternity house on campus.

The land is sold. The colony sold the acre it had bought, after the State of California moved the location of the new campus.

Chartered as Iota-Gamma Zeta

Fresno State was officially chartered as Iota-Gamma Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha.

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A second house on North Van Ness

The chapter moved from 1239 N. Van Ness to 1605 N. Van Ness Avenue, at the corner of McKinley, a house owned by the chapter's High Pi, Dr. Walker.

A lot at the new fraternity and sorority mall. Iota-Gamma purchased a lot at the newly established fraternity and sorority mall on the new campus.

Jim LeCussan becomes a National Traveling Secretary

James W. LeCussan became the first brother from Iota-Gamma to serve Lambda Chi Alpha as a National Traveling Secretary. He had pledged Iota-Gamma in the fall of 1961 and was initiated on January 7, 1962, serving as High Alpha, High Beta and High Epsilon, and taking part in every ritual exemplification from his initiation onward.

Fresno State hosts the Pacific Conclave

Guests included Brother Dr. Arnold Joyal, President of Fresno State College; Dr. Alfred Nelson, Grand High Beta; Cyril F. “Duke” Flad, Executive Director of Lambda Chi Alpha; and Jill DeSelm, National Crescent Girl from San Diego State University.

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Four years in the Green Growler

From 1966 to 1970 the chapter rented a wing of the Kona Kai apartments on East Barstow, which the brothers named Enfield Hall and everyone called “The Green Growler,” while plans were drawn up for the house it intended to build.

The first Little Crescents. Seventeen women were selected as Iota-Gamma's first Little Crescents, a social auxiliary of the kind many Lambda Chi Alpha chapters had formed. Dino Colli (Iota-Gamma 339) organized the group, with help from the fall 1967 pledge class. The Little Crescents served as hostesses at the chapter's social functions and as big sisters to the pledges. They were separate from the Crescent Girl, the one young woman the chapter honored each year; Carol Flick, crowned Crescent Girl in May 1967, was among the first seventeen.

The chapter moves to Millbrook Avenue

The chapter took possession of its permanent fraternity house at 5259 N. Millbrook Avenue.

Membership review and the Alumni Control Board

The General Fraternity, which had placed the chapter on probation, conducted individual membership interviews at Iota-Gamma; roughly ten men were converted to alumni status and asked to step back from chapter activity. Art Ruble was installed as High Alpha to lead the reorganization, and an Alumni Control Board was seated — Lorey Oberti, Marvin Scott, Dave Bishop and Tony Adamo, with Joe Koontz advising on finances. The chapter presented to a review board at the General Assembly, and in August 1978 Frank Maez, the General Fraternity's Director of Chapter Services, led a membership retreat at Hume Lake organized with Allen Ishida and Don Graf. Bob Lundall, Fresno State's fraternity advisor, was a consistent advocate for the chapter throughout.

Claude Saiz initiated by the international ritual team. Brother Claude Saiz (Iota-Gamma 633) was initiated by the international ritual team at the General Assembly.

The chapter hosts the Pacific Conclave

Iota-Gamma hosted the Pacific Conclave at Fresno State. The chapter's February 1979 newsletter announced it as scheduled for the following fall; brothers of the period recall High Alpha Mike Phelps carrying much of the organizing.

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From near-closure to Excellent. Within two years of the reorganization the chapter had reversed its standing. The Grand High Alpha Award it received in 1983 required three consecutive years rated Excellent, placing Iota-Gamma at that level from 1980 onward.

Two brothers onto General Fraternity staff. Brothers Larry Young and David Leathers became Chapter Consultants for the General Fraternity. Both later served as Assistant Director of Chapter Services.

Order of Merit Awarded. Brother Joe Koontz (Iota-Gamma 73) awarded the Order of Merit, one of the Fraternity’s highest honors, recognizing alumni whose exceptional service, leadership, and commitment have made a lasting contribution to Lambda Chi Alpha.

The Grand High Alpha Award

Iota-Gamma received the Grand High Alpha Award, Lambda Chi Alpha's most prestigious chapter honor.

Hosting the Pacific Conclave in the 75th Anniversary year

Iota-Gamma hosted the Pacific Conclave during Lambda Chi Alpha's 75th Anniversary year. Guests included Grand High Alpha Geoffrey L. Gunn, Executive Director George Spasyk, Grand High Sigma Chris Hill (Iota-Gamma 742), and Chapter Consultant David Thum. Kevin Nist captained the Iota-Gamma degree team at the exemplification of the ritual.

Outstanding Alumni Affairs Program, two years running. Iota-Gamma was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Affairs Program in 1985 and again in 1986.

Mike Der Manouel joins the General Fraternity staff. Brother Mike Der Manouel became a Chapter Consultant for the General Fraternity, later serving as Director of Business Affairs.

The one thousandth brother

Iota-Gamma celebrated the initiation of its 1,000th brother, former Fresno Mayor Ted C. Wills.

Bruce McIntosh Award for Chapter Excellence. Iota-Gamma received the Bruce McIntosh Award for Chapter Excellence and a National Recruitment award.

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Two more Educational Leadership Consultants. Brothers Chris Broucqsault and Randy Kammerer became Educational Leadership Consultants for the General Fraternity.

Millbrook renovated

Major renovations were launched on the Millbrook house. Jeff Johnston (Iota-Gamma 932) oversaw the renovations and Joe Koontz (Iota-Gamma 73) managed the finances.

The Little Sisters program ends. Lambda Chi Alpha ended its Little Sisters programs nationally in 1990, and Iota-Gamma's Little Crescents were disbanded the same year.

Fifty years, and the mortgage burned

Iota-Gamma celebrated its 50th Anniversary and Mortgage Burning Celebration. Thomas Helmbock, Executive Director of Lambda Chi Alpha, attended.

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Operations suspended

Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity suspended operations of Iota-Gamma Zeta.

Alumni hold the Millbrook house

With the chapter suspended, the House Corporation kept 5259 N. Millbrook Avenue rather than sell it. Mike Der Manouel held the financial side together through the years away — overseeing the leasing of the property to other fraternities, paying the taxes, and managing the building itself. Because of that stewardship, the house was still Iota-Gamma's to come back to.

Recolonization

The chapter recolonized at Fresno State, beginning a three-year rebuild.

Order of Merit Awarded. Brother Dave Leathers (Iota-Gamma 666) awarded the Order of Merit.

Back into the Millbrook house

The House Corporation canceled the lease it had granted to another fraternity, remodeled the property, and returned it to Iota-Gamma. The colony had to meet a series of membership requirements before it could move back in, and did. Brothers reoccupied 5259 N. Millbrook Avenue in August 2015, two months before the chapter was re-chartered.

Iota-Gamma Zeta re-chartered

Lambda Chi Alpha officially celebrated the re-chartering of Iota-Gamma Zeta. In attendance were Bill Farkas, CEO of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, and Dr. Scott Reikofski, Grand High Kappa.

Order of Merit Awarded. Brother Mike Der Manouel (Iota-Gamma 822) awarded the Order of Merit.

Corey Miracle becomes an Educational Leadership Consultant. Brother Corey Miracle became an Educational Leadership Consultant for the General Fraternity.

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Iota-Gamma disaffiliates from Fresno State

An anonymous complaint had put the chapter under a university cease-and-desist order since September 2025. After two meetings and repeated assurances that the investigation would conclude quickly, five months passed with no decision, and the university would not say when one would come. The chapter voted to disaffiliate from Fresno State and chart an independent course, backed by the Alumni Control Board and the General Fraternity, and went into rush the same week.

A major remodel of the Millbrook house

Roughly $250,000 invested in the Millbrook house — a rebuilt kitchen, new laundry and storage, fresh paint inside and out, upgraded security and Wi-Fi, and the new Joe Koontz Library, all funded through the Iota-Gamma House Corporation. The undergraduate chapter now operates under the direct supervision of an Alumni Control Board.