The Founding of Iowa Eta at Loras College
After the closure of Parsons College, several dedicated SigEp brothers transferred to Loras College with a shared mission to bring the values and brotherhood of Sigma Phi Epsilon to their new campus. Determined to build something lasting, they quickly began laying the groundwork for a chapter that would thrive for years to come. With the guidance of Bob McCune (Bradley ‘50), a legendary Chapter Counselor whose leadership and mentorship became the cornerstone of the chapter’s culture, SigEp officially chartered at Loras on November 9, 1974. The new chapter proudly earned the designation “Iowa Eta,” marking the beginning of a remarkable era in the fraternity’s history at Loras College.
A Golden Era of Excellence
Over the next three decades, Iowa Eta became one of the most active and respected student organizations on campus. In the 1970s and 1980s, the chapter won seven consecutive Buchanan Cups—awarded to the top 10% of chapters nationwide—and was recognized as one of the best in the country. Under McCune’s mentorship, more than 500 brothers grew personally and professionally, with many achieving remarkable success after graduation. For his lifetime of service, Bob McCune was honored with the Order of the Golden Heart, SigEp’s highest award for service.
Closure and Revival
Due to declining fraternity interest in the 1990s, Iowa Eta closed in 2001. The chapter remained inactive until 2014, when a group of students reignited SigEp at Loras. With Tom Barton (‘89) as mentor and Danny Moore (‘13) as Chapter Counselor, the chapter regained momentum, receiving a new charter in 2016 and quickly earning a reputation as a high-performing chapter once again.
Perseverance Through Challenges
Membership declined during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, but Iowa Eta rebounded strongly in both numbers and engagement. At the 59th Grand Chapter Conclave in 2025, the chapter celebrated two major honors:
-
Kevin O’Connor (‘88) received the SigEp Citation, the fraternity’s highest award for professional achievement.
-
Tom Barton (‘89) was awarded the Order of the Golden Heart for his mentorship across multiple chapters, especially at Loras.
Become Part of Our History
With a legacy of leadership, mentorship, and achievement spanning decades, SigEp at Loras remains a unique opportunity for male students seeking personal growth, lifelong brotherhood, and a tradition of excellence.
For undergraduate, male-identifying students who are interested in potential membership, fill out our membership interest form here.
For families, friends, fellow students, alumni, and university faculty and staff, to recommend someone who should learn more about SigEp, fill out our referral form here.
We encourage you to explore the rest of our website to learn more about our chapter, and to visit sigep.org to discover more about our national fraternity.