This article originally appeared in the Fall 2005 AlphaBet.
Our first profiled alumnus, C. Leonard \"Len\" J. Ager, Jr., A327, had a profound impact on Alpha Chapter for most of the 20th century. Len joined the Fraternity while it was still housed on 15th Street, being initiated into the Bonds on September 27th, 1918. Some time after graduating from RPI in 1922, Len became Chapter Advisor serving Alpha Chapter in this capacity for 47 years (1931-1968) during which time Theta Xi was among the most prominent fraternities on campus. He also was on hand when Alpha Chapter was awarded the Memorial Trophy as Theta Xi's most outstanding chapter for the 1946-47 school year. The guidance and stability provided by Len's leadership was directly responsible for the continued success of Theta Xi at RPI for over half a century. After stepping down in 1968, he remained active in the Alpha Alumni Association for the rest of his life until his passing on August 27, 1979.
Len was equally active and successful in Theta Xi national activities. He served as the Director of the Grand Lodge for 14 years (1939-1949, 1957-1961) and received 2 Distinguished Service Awards for his actions (1951, 1964). In 1970, Len became only the fifth Brother from Alpha Chapter to be bestowed with the Fraternity's highest honor when Theta Xi elected him into the Order of the Unicorn for his lifelong efforts.
While this list of awards and accomplishments is impressive, it does not do justice to the contributions Len and his family made to the Brotherhood. Among these, Len's wife Bea served as unofficial house mother for generations of Theta Xi's which included cooking Sunday dinners for the Brothers, chaperoning countless dances and stepping in for cooks who took ill. When holidays were cancelled during World War II, the Brothers enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with the Ager family at their home on Maple Avenue.
Len's daughter, Sue Armstrong, recently sent pictures and a note describing her \"growing up\" at the House. Sue wrote, \"Many of the guys at TX were special to me, from the ones who played hop scotch with me as a kid to the one I married almost 52 years ago.\" One of Len's fraternity brothers, Wesley Armstrong, A321, had a son Dean \"Meathead\" Armstrong, A742, who met Sue, fell in love and married her. Dean wrote in to say that \"I would love to challenge any TXers who darkened the door at the Ager's on Maple Avenue or who appreciated their involvement with TX to send a donation in their memory.\" This past year, Dean and Sue made a contribution to our Annual Fund in Len's memory.
If you are responding to Dean's challenge or just simply want to share your own stories, please email me with any memories and thoughts about Len and Bea. First person accounts and scanned pictures or documents from your time with Len or at the House would help tremendously as would scanned composites for our archives. We also welcome any suggestions for alumni or events to highlight on our web site or in upcoming issues.
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A long-ago Thanksgiving in the Ager's living room. One year during WWII, all Thanksgiving vacations were cancelled, and Len and Bea served dinner for 31 brothers at their home.
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Bea Ager cooking for her boys at Theta Xi during the summer of 1947. Writes
Sue Ager Armstrong, daughter of Len and Bea: \"My mother was an unofficial house
mother. She was an approved chaperone for major dance weekends.... Colleges
would call to make sure my mother was going to be staying in the house before
the girls were allowed to come. For a number of years, no food was served
on Sundays at Theta Xi, so Len and Bea served supper to anyone who came
by our home on Maple Avenue. One summer when the cook at the house
was taken ill, Bea took over the Theta Xi kitchen till a new chef was hired.\"
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