Collbran, CO 81642
November 15, 1978
This banner was presented to Alpha Phi Omega, National Service Fraternity, at its 25th Convention in Nashville, TN, December 26,27, and 28, 1978 by Brother Ellsworth Stewart Dobson, Co-Founder of the Fraternity on December 16, 1925. The banner was given primarily because of the founding of the Fraternity at Lafayette College, Easton PA, and because it dates back to the very beginnings of the organization. The banner was hanging on Brother "Dobby's" dorm room wall in early 1925, prior to Brothers Frank Horton and Everett Probst collaboration in founding the Fraternity.
The "F.M.B." pin on the figure "1" is perhaps the only existing member- ship pin of Brother Ev's brainchild, the "Fraternity of Mound Builders" which he attempted to establish on campus as a local college fraternity of former scouts willing to abide by and spread the influence of the principles of the Scout Oath and Law among Lafayette students. This small fraternal group had several members, including Brother Dobby who were, in addition, members of the Krescent Fraternity, a local eating club which Brother Ev also had organized. The relation is clear. The Mound Builders had gained a certain amount of notoriety on campus, too, in that it had become known, rather obviously but quite ignominiously, as the "The Pliers!"
In the Spring of 1925, Brother Horton approached Brother Probst with his idea of a Greek Letter Scouting Service Fraternity dedicated to Leadership, Friendship, and Service for college students. Recognizing Brother Frank's ideas as superior to his own, Brother Ev scrapped his attempt at such an organization and joined Brother Frank to es- tablish a Scouting Service group. Of course, a number of Brother Probst's Mound Builder ideas were mingled with Brother Horton's. The "F.M.B." on the pin obviously stands for "Fraternity of Mound Builder", the three stars for the three points of the Scout Oath and the blue background for loyalty and friendship. Brother Dobson as a member of the Mound Builders and the Krescent Fraternity, which later became Rho Chapter of Kappa Delta Rho in February, 1928, was automatically drawn into working to establish the new fraternity. Since he was the only one of those interested in getting the organization under way who could type, he was "volunteered" to type,correct, and re-type, and re-type, and re-type, and re-type the first Constitution, By-Laws, Initiation Rituals,and other organization proposals until the final versions were ready,at last,for submission to the Lafayette Board of Trustees for chartering by the college. Brother Frank spent many hours researching a name for the Fraternity to be sure it would not conflict with other Greek Letter organizations and would symbolize the aims and purposes of the Fraternity. He was elated when he reported his choice of Alpha Phi Omega to the founders, noting it would be the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ultimate of a Scouting Service Fraternity for the campuses of collegiate America."
With the submission of the name, constitution, by-laws, and other necessary papers to the Board, after many anxious weeks, the Charter for Alpha Phi Omega was granted by the college just before Christmas recess on December 16, 1925, providing a wonderful Christmas present for Brothers Frank Horton and Everett Probst and the other twelve founders.
The Alpha Phi Omega pin on Figure "2" is Brother Dobby's founders pin #13 and is engraved on the reverse, "E.D. - #13" and was presented with the banner to focus attention on his esteem, not only for the other Co-Founders of Alpha Phi Omega, but for all those thousands who have followed after and for those who will continue to follow in the future.
Brother Ellsworth Stewart Dobson, President of Alpha Chapter, Alpha Phi Omega during his Senior year, 1928, at Lafayette College, was born in Detroit, MN, December 20, 1905, joined Scouting January 11, 1919 as a member of Troop 100, Oaklane, Philadelphia, PA, Alex Whitney, Scoutmaster, eventually advancing to Eagle Scout. He devoted 30 years to Scouting, becoming Scoutmaster, Troop Committeeman and Neighborhood Commissioner for troops in East Orange, NJ; Overland Park, KS and Collbran, CO. He earned the Scoutmaster's Key and attended the last Scout Executive's Training Course held at Briarcliff Manor, NY. At the request of a group of students at Upsala College, East Orange, NJ, he sponsored and helped to install Nu Chapter at the college. He was graduated from Lafayette College in June 1928, with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. When his eyesight prevented him from continuing his electrical design engineering, he took up cattle ranching in 1958 on Colorado's Western Slope, Southeast of Collbran. A heart attack in 1963 forced the sale of his ranch and retirement in 1966. Now, in 1978, he lives with his wife Anna Trifon Dobson in a comfortable home on an acre of ground reserved from his old 240 acre ranch. The couple have two children, both married, Julianna Louise Pluess and Thirza Margaret Thompson and five grand children.
Written By Graham L. Mehl
Last Modified on November 23, 1996
© Graham Consulting