The National Beta Club:
Proud Past - Promising Future

Any history is more than a few key dates and selected data. Data are certainly essential, but in the history of the National Beta Club there are other ingredients - dreams, practical plans, ideals, and hard work. The National Beta Club began with 15 members in Landrum, South Carolina. There are now more than 416,000 active members in Junior and Senior divisions and more than 7,700 clubs in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Guam, Russia and Germany.

Behind these facts are many people - and one person especially, the founder, Dr. John West Harris - who gave life and continuity to Beta.

Character, Leadership, Achievement, Scholarship, Service...these became key words associated with the National Beta Club. "Let us lead by serving others" became the motto.

Formation of the club at Landrum was followed by the chartering of 8 others in South Carolina before the end of 1934. At the end of the following year, there were 75 Beta Clubs in 4 states. Endorsements continued to flow in as the Beta Club expanded. The first Beta Journal was printed in September 1934.

Immediate acceptance of the Beta Club was little short of phenomenal. As expansion progressed geographically, state (and sometimes regional) conventions were held. These meetings added another dimension to operations.

To bring regulation closer to home, the heads of schools where Beta chapters existed were formed into State Assemblies. They made recommendations to the State Council, which in turn named one of its members to the Board of Directors. State sponsors were also elected.

When WWII came in 1941, local Beta Clubs began to make a vital contribution to victory. There were countless patriotic activities. At least one fighter aircraft flew into battle with the name of Beta Club on its fuselage. There was little lessening of growth during this crucial period.

From this point onward, the history of Beta Club is mainly one of continued growth. The Beta Reporter, a publication for sponsors, was started in 1950. The Beta Club began compliation of a College Facts Chart. The Junior Beta Club was initiated in 1961.

A new headquarters building was completed and occupied in 1974. In one sense, this was the climax of a career for Dr. Harris. He died in 1976 after a brief illness. During an interim, Mr. Julian Stanford directed activities. In June 1977, the Board of Directors appointed Dr. George W. Lockamy as Chief Executive Officer. When Dr. Lockamy retired in June 2004. Mr. Charles Tillotson came on board as CEO in February 2005. Currently, Mrs. Joan Burnett is serving as interim director at the national headquarters.

Today, the Beta Club exists because of the founder's vision. The Beta Club organization has flourished because it is based on sound principles, and for more than half a century it has had the support of sponsors and school administrators.

History of The National Junior Beta Club

The National Beta Club Senate authorized the institution of the Junior Division of the National Beta Club on July 22, 1961.

This new organization was officially named the "National Junior Beta Club" and was established to function organizationally as a separate division of the National Beta Club Program.

The membership of the National Junior Beta Club was originally composed of students from the sixth grade to ninth grade. In the summer of 1988, the Board of Directors approved the addition of the fifth grade.

The National Beta Club Senate approved the organization of the Junior Beta division to provide an incentive program of scholastic and character excellence for students in their formative years.

On August 17, 1961, the first Junior Beta Club chapter was chartered at Millsap Junior High School, Millsap, Texas. The objective of the National Junior Beta Club is to reward scholastic, leadership, and service achievements among the members of a school's student body.

Some of our more famous former Betas include: President Bill Clinton, Miss America 2000 Heather French, Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller, Miss America 1996 Shawntel Smith, anchorwoman Diane Sawyer, football great Herschel Walker and country music star Trisha Yearwood.

The Beta Journal represents a wide range of geographical locations and school sizes. The task of the editor of the Journal is to recognize the outstanding Beta chapters and individual members and, at the same time, fulfill as many requests for publication as possible. Beta Club sponsors are encouraged to submit club news, photographs, and student-written poems and stories for publication in the Journal.

The Beta Club Reporter is a newsletter for Beta Sponsors. The Reporter contains information and many items of interest to sponsors and school administrators.