The history of Kappa Zeta Chapter of Chi Omega began in October, 1961, with a rush planned by national officers and local alumnae.  After several days of personal interviewing and rush parties, the first Chi Omega Pledge Class at Texas Tech emerged.  The new pledges were formally pledged at St. John United Methodist Church on October 27, the evening of the day they received bids.  This group of pledges was unique, in that they had come together as a colony, to be a part of a national organization from its founding.

The Kappa Zeta Chapter did not exist as such until the colony’s installation.  Molly Fulton, official transfer from Iota Alpha, S.M.U., functioned as the only actual “active chapter”, and at the same time, served as the pledge trainer for some sixty girls.

During these first months the pledge class was busy learning about Chi Omega and taking part in the various campus activities, all at the same time.  Within a week after the pledge ceremony, the group planned to enter a float in the homecoming parade the float consisted of two tiny convertibles, red and yellow, carrying a theme of “Tech’s Newest Arrival”—complete with a stork!  After that the pledge class participated on campus while organizing within, getting to know one another, and becoming a unified whole under Molly’s watchful eye.  The group entered intramural speech meets and won its first trophy in December for attendance at the Alpha Tau Omega Basketball Tournament.  The girls attended some thirteen games in two days, and they developed great pride in that trophy.

Initiation and installation of Kappa Zeta took place on February 17, 1962.  Elizabeth Dyer, president, Winnie Bowker, treasurer, and Miss Marion Elmore and Virginia Pearce, chapter visitors, were the delegation from National Chi Omega.  About thirty Chi Omegas from Iota, Texas University, performed the initiation ceremony.  Kappa Zeta Chapter, consisting of fifty-three members, was welcomed by Panhellenic Association the following day at an official reception.

With full chapter status and recognition, the group elected officers and began building a tradition which, it was hoped, would be worthy of the high standards of the national organization.  That tradition is growing each day—developing a deep respect for something wonderful.  How well that respect for Chi Omega develops will and does depend on the individual members and pledges.  The respect and love for Chi Omega is seen by others in the group’s accomplishments and unity.