Our Legacy

The History of Eta Beta

Kappa Kappa Psi began with the arrival on the Virginia Tech campus of The Marching Virginians, the civilian marching band. The newly hired director of The Marching Virginians, Roger Converse Heath, was recruited for the Alpha Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi in 1949 at the University of Colorado and had been active with the Gamma Pi Chapter at Purdue, where he was employed before coming to Virginia Tech. Upon arriving at Tech, Professor Heath promptly initiated the formation of a colony of Kappa Kappa Psi.

The first report was sent to the national office on October 30, 1974, and by this time, the colony listed 49 members. Colony members assisted with the first Marching Virginians party and explored other service projects, connecting to local public school programs to foster an interest in continuing music activities, and recruiting for the band program by contacting prospective freshmen. For our chapter, out of 50 interested people, only four were dedicated enough to follow through with the plan to begin the honorary band fraternity. Eta Beta's first constitution was written by Brother Mike Russell in April 1975 and was accepted in July of that same year by the University. The Virginia Tech colony petitioned for national membership in the fall of 1975, and on April 3rd, 1976, representatives from the Zeta Psi Chapter at Virginia State College installed our colony as the Eta Beta chapter. The Eta Beta chapter became the 170th chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi to be installed.

A closed recruitment was held in the Squires Student Center, and the Formal Interviews were held in McBryde Hall. The Membership Candidates that were selected were dragged out of bed at 4:00am and driven around blindfolded in the band truck before arriving at an apartment. Here, they were treated to a pancake breakfast, as well as the First Degree Ritual. The Zeta Psi Chapter performed various ceremonies and concluded their visit with their fraternity songs and dances, as well as a chartering dinner.

Since then, the Eta Beta Chapter has been proudly serving the bands at Virginia Tech. Although this is a brief introduction, there is a detailed History Book that details more into the specifics of the Kappa Kappa Psi chapter at Virginia Tech. If you are interested, please contact our Historian, and they would be happy to give you access.

Brother Pittard

Johnnie Edward Pittard, Jr.

Ed was born on April 6th, 1961, to Audrey and Johnnie Edward Pittard. As he grew up with his family and friends in Halifax County, Virginia, Ed developed a love for both music and service. During his freshman year at Halifax County Senior High School, Ed served as a page for the General Assembly for the Commonwealth of Virginia. During this time, he was able to demonstrate his musical talent in many jazz and symphonic ensembles, solo performances, church functions, and community performances of Broadway plays and musicals.

At Virginia Tech, Ed continued to stay involved musically through many of the school ensembles, including the Marching Virginians, as well as the New Virginians.  Ed was recruited for Kappa Kappa Psi in the Winter of 1980 as a member of the Iota membership class.  As a member of the Eta Beta chapter, Ed continued to do his best to serve the bands at Virginia Tech.

As a person, Ed always seemed to be able to add life to any situation; however, his own life was cut short by a drunk driver on June 10, 1982, as he was returning home for the summer.  He was 21 years old.  We carry Ed’s paddle as a reminder of our fallen Brother and the contributions he made to our Brotherhood.  Although Ed is no longer with us, the spirit of our Brother can be found in us all.