On November 13, 2009, with a loud ring of a ceremonial bell, the Headquarters of Delta Tau Delta was renamed Fisher-Nichols Memorial Headquarters.  This was to honor their lifetime of friendship and service as much as their family’s generosity.

It is impossible to tell the story of Delta Tau Delta without John Fisher and John Nichols - two Delts whose combined history of involvement with the Fraternity stretches over 144 years.  Nichols started as a chapter president at his home chapter of Delta Alpha (Oklahoma) graduating in 1936.  He went on to be Western Division President, 26th president of the Fraternity, and a founding director of the Delt Foundation.  Fisher was a chapter president of Delta Delta Chapter (Tennessee) graduating in 1938.  He served as a member of the field staff and as a part of a memorable group of men called the Four Horsemen.  John Fisher continued to remain active throughout his lifetime serving as a corporation member and lifetime supporter of the chapters at Tennessee and Epsilon Mu at Ball State.  He was also a founding director of the Delt Foundation and served as treasurer until his death last June.  Their lives were a study in the values of the Fraternity.  They both passed to the Chapter Eternal within eleven months of each other at the age of 93.

“What was also unique was their friendship with each other,” said Larry Nichols, son of John Nichols.  “They first met through Hugh Shields by accident at the 1946 Karnea in Chicago.  They formed a unique business relationship that was the first such partnership registered with the SEC for the exploration of oil and gas.  That partnership is still in existence today sixty years later and is now run by a second generation of family members, which is even more unique.”

Friday’s ceremony was to celebrate their special friendship and lifetime of service to Delta Tau Delta.  Family members attending the ceremonies from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, were Larry Nichols, son of John Nichols, and from Muncie, Indiana, Jim Fisher and his wife Elizabeth, and his brother, Jeff Fisher, from Leland, Michigan, sons of John Fisher.

“It is only fitting that their names will be connected forevermore with our fraternal home,” stated Alan Bracket, Vice President of the Fraternity, who was the keynote speaker at the banquet.  The headquarters is a place where the stories of members who have championed the mission and values of the Fraternity are told and retold.  Displays and artifacts make these lives committed to excellence come to life for visitors.

Other special guests in attendance were the Foundation Board members, members of the Arch Chapter, six former Fraternity presidents, members of the Central Office and Foundation staffs, and undergraduate delegations from Delta Alpha Chapter (Oklahoma) Delta Delta (Tennessee) and Epsilon Mu (Ball State).

For photos from the event, visit the Delt Foundation's Flickr profile here.

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