On March 16, 1922, nine students formed a local fraternity, Delta Kappa Sigma, at North Dakota State College. Almost immediately the chapter began efforts to become a member of a National Fraternity.
DKS was heavily influenced by Dr. Martin Ringlaub, who pushed them in Sigma Chi’s direction. Dr. Ringlaub, a Sig from Wisconsin, was one of the top medical specialists in the area. He was a veteran Grand Praetor and the President of the Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter here in Fargo. He was the most influential North Dakotan involved in Sigma Chi, and was affectionately called “the Father of Sigma Chi in North Dakota.” Unfortunately, he died in 1928, never realizing his goal of an active chapter in Fargo.
The year 1934 proved to be a good year between North Dakota and Sigma Chi. Our Governor was William Langer, a Sig from Columbia. North Dakota State College had a record of 1278 students at the school and a growing Greek system. More significantly, after 12 years of hard work, Delta Kappa Sigma became a chapter of Sigma Chi on April 28, 1934. Installation arrangements were made by the Fargo Alumni Chapter, and Executive Secretary Charles H. Eldridge served as the chief installing officer. Initiation was held at the Fargo Fine Arts Club. It was necessary to hold two ceremonies, one for 38 undergraduates (there was only 33 on the charter) , and another for 19 alumni. The banquet was fittingly dedicated to Dr. Ringlaub. His vision was finally realized when Grand Consul Hamilton Douglas Jr. presented the charter to Maitland D. Wyard, Gamma Tau’s first Consul.