Founding Fathers

With fathers day right around the corner, we couldn’t pass up the chance to take a look at the 5 founding fathers of Kappa Sigma. Each has impacted and left a legacy that we all still feel today. So let's get to know each of them a little better!

William Grigsby McCormick: While attending the University of Virginia, he and 4 friends in his room 46 East Lawn founded Kappa Sigma. He left the University in 1870 to travel with his brother to Europe. He started his career working for McCormick Brothers & Findlay, and then started his own business selling insurance and real estate. He eventually formed a partnership that would create McCormick & Company to trade commodities on the Chicago Trade Board. In 1855 he joined the New York Stock Exchange. He and his wife Elenor, had 7 children!

George Miles Arnold: His time spent at the University of Virginia he studied Latin, French, and Mathematics. He is cited to have played an important role in the history of the fraternity since he wrote the constitution and served as the first Grand Master of Zeta Chapter. Before he withdrew from the university he started his studies in medicine, and continued his studies at the Medical College of New York. He lived and worked as a doctor in New York with his wife Minnie whom he had 8 children with, his son Robert Miles Arlond went on to join the Gamma-Zeta Chapter while he studied at New York University.

Edmund Law Rogers, Jr.:The descendant of Martha Washington was a Baltimore native. Before attending the University of Virginia, he attended James Kinner Academy in Baltimore where he was classmates with Frank Courtney Nicodemus. He studied architecture and also developed an interest in acting while attending the University of Virginia. His interest for acting developed into a career in Stage Acting, he is noted to be a popular lead & supporting actor of his time. He succeeded Arnold as Grand Master of the Zeta Chapter.

Frank Courtney Nicodemus: The lifelong Baltimore student attended James Kinnier Academy before attending the University of Virginia. In 1870 he joined his fathers business and left the University of Virginia. He and his father formed an investment and brokerage firm iof J.C Nicodemus & Son. Only four years later he formed the firm F.C Nicodemus & Company, a manufacturer of boilers, engines, and machinery. He also held the position as the Treasure of the Baltimore Post Office. His grandson Charles Nicodemus was a special initiate of Kappa Sigma and was initiated at the opening of the international headquarters in 2007.

John Covert Boyd: The Surgeon and Medical Director in the United States Navy Medical Corp and one of the incorporators of the American Red Cross. Born in South Carolina he spent his childhood at a private school in Charleston before attending the University of Virginia. He only spent 2 years at the University of Virginia studying medicine; he transferred to the University of the City of New York. He became a professor in the Navy Medical College where he compiled a book of instruction for medical officers. In 1905 he was appointed by President Roosevelt as one of the Board of Incorporators of the American Red Cross.

It is no surprise that with these 5 founding fathers setting the precedent for every brother that joins Kappa Sigma after them. Choosing Kappa Sigma is more than joining a fraternity; you are joining a family. It is a life changing decision that thanks to these five friends and founding fathers will change your life.