Eleven men were responsible for establishing Alpha Kappa Lambda. It started with a small group of friends who decided to live together in a house at the University of California at Berkley. In 1907, these men formed a group that they called "Los Amigos." After several people made the suggestion, they decided to turn their house club into a national fraternity. On April 22, 1914, the fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda was born, and it was the following eleven men who are credited with its founding: Hermen Ritchie "Dickie" Bergh Harold Alonzo "Hal" Savage Allen Holmes Kimball Charles Oscar "Oscar" Perrine Ludwig Rehfuess Gail Cleland Charles Junius "Charlie" Booth William Barnum Leonard Harrington Day Harry Levi Osborne Joseph Leon "Joe" Taylor

They founded the fraternity on five ideals. Those ideals are as follows: Judeo-Christian Principles Leadership, Scholarship, Loyalty, Self-Support They also gave the official creed that night.

The creed is:

I Believe in the Five Ideals of Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity and subscribe to an emphasis on Judeo-Christian Principles, Leadership, Scholarship, Loyalty, and Self-Support.

I Believe in Brotherhood as friendship of the highest calling. I accept membership in Alpha Kappa Lambda as an affiliation that is binding for life.

I Pledge myself to treat others as I would have them treat me. I shall respect the opinions of others.

I shall commit myself to a style of membership in Alpha Kappa Lambda that is an educationally and socially maturing process. The goal of this process is achieving a wholeness of manhood that is prepared to assume leadership responsibility in fulfilling the obligations of life.

Forty-Three men became members on that day in 1914. AKL became the first fraternity to be founded on the West Coast, and actually the first to be founded west of the Rocky Mountains. World War I prolonged any movements immediately, but that would not stop AKL from eventually expanding. In 1920, two Alpha members transferred to Stanford University and started what would eventually become the Beta Chapter.

By 1934, ten chapters had been established, but the Depression and WWII would both put a halt to expansion for the next few years. 1944-1964 saw AKL grow from nine chapters to 34. AKL quickly established itself as one of the fasting growing fraternity"s in America. Unfortunately, the winds of change would soon be blowing across the country, and AKL experienced some of it"s roughest times.

By 1974, AKL had stagnated to only 30 chapters. The late 70's and early 80"s proved still more difficult, and by 1985 there were only 17 active chapters. Soon, though, a group of dedicated men set out to re-invigorate AKL. National positions that had long been vacant were now filled. A permanent Director of Membership Development was appointed to oversee the expansion of the fraternity. In 1989, the fraternity celebrated it"s seventy-fifth anniversary with a renewed confidence and a feeling that the fraternity had endured the test of time.

The Gamma Delta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Lamba: The history of AKL at the University of Montevallo begins with our colonization in 1993. We received our charter in on November 3rd, 1995. Our local founding fathers were as follows: Phillip Tidwell Jonathan Woodward Charles Wilson Brenton Morris Brian Simmons Chad Baker Kevin Green Steve Burdett David Cambell Rhett Prichard In it"s short history, the Gamma Delta Chapter has accomplished many achievements that help distinguish it.

Gamma Delta has won the IFC Scholarship Trophy all but one year since coming to campus. AKLs have been Gold Leaders, SGA Exec members, and numerous other leadership positions. The past two Mr. Montevallo's have been AKLs, and Gamma Delta has one the past two Greek Weeks. The Gamma Delta Chapter has distinguished itself also with a strong brotherhood that can be seen by anyone on campus, and have garnered a reputation for being some of the best gentlemen on campus. If you're interested in becoming a part of this brotherhood, just stop by the rush section of our website or email us today.