The Alabama Brotherhood: 5 Shocking Facts About Delta Tau Delta At UA And Auburn (2025 Update)

Contents

The presence of Delta Tau Delta (DTD) in the state of Alabama is one of the most storied and successful narratives in Southern Greek life, boasting two powerhouse chapters at the University of Alabama (UA) and Auburn University (AU). As of the current date, December 22, 2025, both the Delta Eta Chapter (UA) and the Epsilon Alpha Chapter (AU) are thriving, demonstrating exceptional academic performance, award-winning leadership, and a commitment to their national philanthropic mission. This deep dive reveals the most recent achievements and the incredible history of the Alabama brotherhood, including an Apollo astronaut among its ranks.

The fraternity's core values—Truth, Courage, Faith, and Power—are visibly upheld by its Alabama members, who consistently rank among the top organizations in scholarship and community service. From the historic founding dates in the 1920s and 1950s to their remarkable 2024/2025 performance metrics, the "Delts" of Alabama continue to set a high standard for collegiate fraternity life across the SEC.

The Alabama Brotherhood: Chapter Profiles and Notable Alumni

Delta Tau Delta’s footprint in Alabama is defined by two chapters, each with a distinct history, but united by the fraternity’s national mission. The following profiles outline the key facts and most distinguished alumni from each chapter, building significant topical authority around the "Delta Tau Delta Alabama" keyword.

Delta Eta Chapter: The University of Alabama (UA)

  • Chapter Name: Delta Eta Chapter
  • University: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Founding Date: 1925
  • Current Status (Fall 2024): Highly active and academically strong.
  • Chapter Size (Fall 2024): 150 members.
  • Chapter GPA (Fall 2024): 3.28, a strong showing within the UA Greek community.

Notable Delta Eta Alumni:

The Delta Eta Chapter has a long tradition of producing leaders who exemplify the fraternity's commitment to service and excellence. While many alumni have gone on to significant careers, some have received the highest recognition from the national fraternity and the university itself.

  • Marion Coley (Class of 1941): Recognized posthumously with the Fraternity's highest award for outstanding service, the Distinguished Service Chapter.
  • Thomas Govan (Class of 2004): Awarded the Outstanding Greek Male award by the University of Alabama, recognizing his exceptional leadership and campus involvement.
  • Chad Brand (Class of 2018): Featured in national fraternity stories for maintaining a strong multi-generational family connection to the Delta Eta Chapter, highlighting the enduring bonds of the brotherhood.

Epsilon Alpha Chapter: Auburn University (AU)

  • Chapter Name: Epsilon Alpha Chapter
  • University: Auburn University, Auburn, AL
  • Founding Date: 1952
  • Current Status (2025): Highly active and a perennial award winner.
  • Historical Recognition: Won the prestigious Hugh Shields Award in 1972, recognizing it as one of the top chapters nationally.

The Most Notable Epsilon Alpha Alumnus:

The Epsilon Alpha Chapter lays claim to one of the most remarkable and accomplished alumni in the entire national fraternity:

  • Thomas K. Mattingly (Ken Mattingly): An American former aviator, aeronautical engineer, and NASA astronaut. Mattingly served as the Command Module Pilot for the Apollo 16 mission in 1972. The Auburn Delta Tau Delta chapter proudly notes him as one of their most prominent initiates.

Fact 1: Auburn’s Back-to-Back Greek Excellence Awards (2024/2023)

In a clear demonstration of their commitment to overall excellence, the Epsilon Alpha Chapter at Auburn University achieved a rare feat by winning the prestigious Greek Excellence Award in both 2023 and 2024. This award is a significant marker of success, recognizing the chapter's high performance across several key areas, including scholarship, leadership development, philanthropic service, and adherence to university and national fraternity standards.

This back-to-back achievement solidifies the Auburn Delts’ reputation as a consistently high-performing organization on campus. Their success is a testament to strong internal governance and a focus on the holistic development of their members, proving that the chapter’s historical prominence in the 1970s and 80s, which included winning the national Hugh Shields Award, is being carried forward by the current generation of undergraduates.

Fact 2: The University of Alabama Chapter’s Impressive 3.28 GPA

While Greek life is often stereotyped, the Delta Eta Chapter at the University of Alabama actively defies this narrative by prioritizing academic achievement. According to the Fall 2024 Greek Community Grade Report released by the university, the Delta Tau Delta chapter achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.28.

This figure is highly competitive within the University of Alabama's large and rigorous Greek system. The commitment to scholarship is not just a talking point; it is a measurable achievement that demonstrates the chapter’s focus on its members' primary mission: earning a degree. With a chapter size of 150 members, maintaining this high standard across a large group requires dedicated academic programming and a strong culture of mutual support, which is a hallmark of the Delta Eta brotherhood.

Fact 3: An Apollo 16 Astronaut is a Notable Alabama Alumnus

Perhaps the most compelling fact about Delta Tau Delta in Alabama is its connection to the U.S. Space Program. Astronaut Thomas K. Mattingly, known as Ken Mattingly, is a prominent initiate of the Epsilon Alpha Chapter at Auburn University. Mattingly’s career is the definition of "Power" and "Courage," two of the fraternity's guiding principles.

Mattingly was part of the Apollo 16 mission in 1972, serving as the Command Module Pilot. His spaceflight legacy includes performing a crucial deep-space spacewalk on the return journey from the Moon. This incredible connection places the Auburn chapter in a unique position—one of its members literally left the planet. This story serves as a powerful inspiration for current and future members, linking the Epsilon Alpha Chapter directly to a monumental moment in human history.

Fact 4: The Delts’ Deep Commitment to Breakthrough T1D and Service

Delta Tau Delta's national philanthropy is dedicated to supporting Breakthrough T1D (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or JDRF). Both the UA and AU chapters actively participate in fundraising and awareness events for this cause.

In addition to their national efforts, the Auburn chapter is heavily involved in local service, notably participating in "The BIG Event." This is a massive, one-day, student-led service project that mobilizes the entire Auburn community to give back. By engaging in both national and local philanthropic endeavors, the Alabama Delts demonstrate a consistent and tangible commitment to their communities, reinforcing the fraternity's reputation as a service-oriented organization.

Fact 5: The Enduring Legacy and Multigenerational Bonds

The success of Delta Tau Delta in Alabama is not just about recent awards and GPAs; it’s about the legacy that spans generations. The Delta Eta Chapter at UA, founded nearly a century ago in 1925, and the Epsilon Alpha Chapter, founded in 1952, have built a network of alumni that continually supports the undergraduate members.

Stories like that of Chad Brand, a recent UA alumnus whose father was also a member of the Delta Eta Chapter, highlight the multigenerational continuity of the brotherhood. This strong alumni support provides mentorship, career networking, and financial stability, ensuring that the chapters can maintain their houses, run high-quality programming, and recruit the best young men. The enduring bond across decades is the true source of the "Power" that defines the Delta Tau Delta experience in Alabama.

Key Entities and LSI Keywords: Delta Eta Chapter, Epsilon Alpha Chapter, University of Alabama, Auburn University, 3.28 GPA, 150 members, Greek Excellence Award, Hugh Shields Award, Thomas K. Mattingly, Apollo 16, NASA astronaut, Breakthrough T1D, The BIG Event, Marion Coley, Distinguished Service Chapter, Thomas Govan, Outstanding Greek Male, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Greek Life, Interfraternity Council, Scholarship.

The Alabama Brotherhood: 5 Shocking Facts About Delta Tau Delta at UA and Auburn (2025 Update)
delta tau delta alabama
delta tau delta alabama

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