# Gamma Alpha Rho

Gamma Alpha Rho (ΓΑΡ) was an American aeronautical engineering student honor society. It was created at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York in 1945. It merged with Tau Omega, an aeronautical professional fraternity, to create the aeronautical honor society Sigma Gamma Tau in 1953.

## History

Gamma Alpha Rho was established at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York in 1945. Its first official meeting was held on October 21, 1945. Its founders were faculty member H. Burlage Jr. and H. L. Flomenhoft, a student of aeronautical engineering. Its founding members were Flomenhoft, Clarence Cohen, and Steve Maslem.
Gamma Alpha Rho was a social and scientific honor society, created to recognize academic, achievements, and integrity in the field of aeronautical engineering. Its founders also hoped to improve professional ethics and to create a connection between students and faculty. Its first pledge class was initiated in late 1945. Dr. John R. Weske was its first academic advisor.
In the spring of 1946, Gamma Alpha Rho's members discussed becoming a national organization. A new constitution was adopted in the fall of 1946, allowing the local group to expand. Beta chapter was chartered at Virginia Tech in 1947, followed by Gamma chapter at Purdue University. In 1948, the group officially became a "national honorary aeronautical engineering society". Membership was open to juniors and seniors studying aeronautical engineering. In June 1949, Gamma Alpha Rho initiated its first female member, Edna Van Note.
The society expanded to include seven chapters and more than 1,000 members in 1952. It merged with the professional fraternity Tau Omega to form Sigma Gamma Tau on February 28, 1953.

## Symbols

The Greek letters Gamma, Alpha, and Rho were selected for the society's name because those letters are commonly used in the field of aeronautical engineering. The Gamma Alpha Rho key was shaped like a Joukowsky airfoil over a circle.

## Chapters

Following is a list of Gamma Alpha Rho chapters.
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status |
| Alpha | October 21, 1945 – February 28, 1953 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, New York | Merged (ΣΓΤ) |
| Beta | May 1947 – February 28, 1953 | Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, Virginia | Merged (ΣΓΤ) |
| Gamma | 1947 – February 28, 1953 | Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana | Merged (ΣΓΤ) |
| Delta | 1948 – February 28, 1953 | University of Illinois | Urbana, Illinois | Merged (ΣΓΤ) |
| Epsilon | 1948 – February 28, 1953 | University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Merged (ΣΓΤ) |
| Zeta | 1949 – February 28, 1953 | Iowa State University | Ames, Iowa | Merged (ΣΓΤ) |
| Eta | 1949 – February 28, 1953 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Merged (ΣΓΤ) |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 This became a chapter of Sigma Gamma Tau after the national merger of the two fraternities.
* ↑ With the national merger of the two fraternities, this chapter merged with the Eta chapter of Tau Omega to form a chapter of Sigma Gamma Tau.

## Notable members

* Jay R. Brill, United States Air Force Brigadier and deputy for the A-10, Aeronautical Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
* Herbert A. Lyon, United States Air Force Major General in charge of the Space and Missile Test Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base
* Igor Sikorsky (Alpha, 1947), aviation pioneer