In the years that followed World War I, a movement developed among college and university
bands, searching for some motivating force that would create a greater interest in band music.
This movement sought expression in an effort to develop good will, fellowship and
understanding among bands and their members, and to recognize the value of dedicated
leadership. Seizing upon this idea, ten members of the Oklahoma A & M College (later to be
known as the Oklahoma State University) Band, led by William A. Scroggs and their director,
Bohumil Makovsky, drew up a plan for a national honorary society for college bandsmen.

Director Makovsky selected nine men to work with Scroggs to organize the first local club. These

ten charter members were: A. Frank Martin, Raymond D Shannon, Clyde Haston, Clayton Soule,

Carl Stevens, William Coppedge, Dick Hurst, Asher Hendrickson, and Iron H Nelson. Officers for

the local club were elected and William Scroggs was selected as president.

With the local organization complete, a corporation was formed which petitioned the Oklahoma
Corporation Commission for a charter. The charter was granted November 27, 1919, and
"Kappa Kappa Psi, Honorary Fraternity for College Bandsmen," was established on the

Oklahoma State University campus with the local group being known as the "Alpha Chapter."

During the first year of operation as an honorary society the members were kept busy working
out and adopting a national constitution, creating and developing the Ritual ceremony,
designing the jewelry needed to provide distinctive recognition for the organization, and setting
up plans for the expansion of the Fraternity. The Greek name and symbols, "Kappa Kappa Psi,"
were furnished by Dr. Hilton Ira Jones of the OSU Chemistry faculty, and assistance in the final
organization was furnished by Col. F.D. Wickham of the OSU Military Department.

No person is so important to any organization as its constant companion, inspiration, and
source of support. Such a man was Bohumil Makovsky, Director of Bands and Head of the Music
Department at Oklahoma State University from 1915 until 1945. Affectionately referred to by all
who knew him as "Boh," Makovsky provided the strength and encouragement needed by William
Scroggs and those nine other bandsmen which saw them successfully through the establishment
of a national fraternal society.

Founded by bandsmen for the band member, Kappa Kappa Psi was (and is) a tribute to the
dynamic personality of one man. For around this personality there grew a core of student leaders
committed to assist him in a program of developing the best college band with the highest
performance standards possible. "Boh" was that man, and each incoming member of this
Fraternity should be familiar with the man who was officially recognized by the Grand Chapter in
Convention assembled as "The Guiding Spirit of Kappa Kappa Psi."