The founders of Phi Kappa Tau
TAYLOR ALBERT BORRADAILE
Taylor Albert Borradaile was born on May 15, 1885, in Camden, Ohio. Borradaile entered Miami University in 1904 and was active in almost every phase of university life during his four years as an undergraduate. He was a member of the Erodelphian Literary Society and was its president during his junior year.
Borradaile’s major contribution in the planning phase of the Non-Fraternity Association was to personally provide the necessary organizational leadership to start the association. When the association held its first meeting on March 17, 1906, Borradaile was elected the first president.
Like Founder Douglass, Borradaile graduated with a degree in chemistry, but directed his talents towards the teaching field. After devoting a few years to high school work, both as a teacher and a principal, he returned to chemistry as a profession, operating his own chemical laboratory in West Virginia. At the same time, he served the city of Charleston, West Virginia, as chief chemist.
Borradaile subsequently accepted a position with the federal government and served for several years as the chief chemist in the materials testing section of the Veteran’s Administration.
Founder Borradaile was well-known to members of the Fraternity everywhere for his quick sense of humor, his warm personality and his calm, genial nature. His later years were spent with his wife Letha in Beckley, West Virginia, where he died in 1977.
CLINTON DEWITT BOYD
Clinton DeWitt Boyd was born in Mt. Orab, a small town in Brown Country, Ohio, located about 25 miles east of Cincinnati, in October of 1884. He enrolled at Miami University in September 1904 and soon became recognized for his ability as a public speaker and debater. He was also a capable member of the Miami track team and served as its captain in 1906 and 1907.
Boyd, along with Founder Shideler, organized the non-affiliated members of the Miami student body into a working organization during the period when the Non-Fraternity Association evolved. He completed law school at the University of Michigan after graduating from Miami in 1908 and opened a law office in Middletown, Ohio in 1910.
From 1929 to 1937, Boyd served as a judge of the Butler County Court of Common Pleas and then returned to private practice in Middletown until his death in a 1950 automobile accident.
Boyd’s son, Clinton D. Boyd, Jr. and grandson Mark Boyd, are both members of Alpha Chapter at Miami University.
DWIGHT IRENEUS DOUGLASS
Dwight Ireneus Douglass was born and raised in the small McLean County community of Colfax, Illinois. The son of a physician, Douglass entered Miami University in September 1902 to study chemistry. In addition to his academic work, Douglass was active in the Erodelphian Literary Society, belonged to the tennis and golf clubs, played varsity football, and was a member of the Athletic Board of Control.
Douglass has been characterized by his contemporaries as the real leader in the development of the Fraternity in its early years. As the Golden Jubilee History (written by Jack L. Anson) points out: “It was his ability to plan an organize and to anticipate the future, along with his commanding personality, that welded friends to him, which motivated others and made his new organization a fact.” Douglass continued his stories at the Colorado School of Mines following his graduation from Miami in 1906. He received a degree in mining engineering and worked in the mining field for some time. During World War I he served in France with the 28th Engineers, and was gassed and wounded in the final day of hostilities. Following his discharge in 1919, he lost touch with the Fraternity for a period of time.
Because of poor health due to his war service, Douglass accepted a position with the Veterans Administration in New Orleans in 1922. He retired in 1937, moving to nearby Hammond, Louisiana, where he spent his remaining years as a short story writer. He died on February 12, 1940.
WILLIAM HENRY SHIDELER
William Henry Shideler was born near Middletown, Ohio on July 14, 1886 and was the youngest of the four Phi Kappa Tau Founders. Shideler was a member of the North Dorm Senate and the Erodelphian Literary Society. He was the author of the Non-Fraternity Association constitution, along with Douglass, and was the guiding light in directing the preliminaries of the founding.
In 1910, he received his doctorate in geology from Cornell University and returned to Miami where he served as a member of the faculty until his retirement in 1957.
Founder Shideler held every Phi Kappa Tau national office during his long career of exemplary service to the Fraternity. He was National President from 1913-1914, Historian from 1917-1922, and a member of the National Council from 1920 to 1923 and National Controller from 1929 until his death on December 18, 1958. He was also the Fraternity’s acting National Secretary during World War II.
Shideler was known as “Doc” even as an undergraduate and was always interested in Miami sports. As an undergraduate, he was on the Miami varsity track team and for several years was Miami’s representative to the Mid-American Conference and the NCAA. Shideler’s two sons, William Watson and James Henry, also joined Phi Kappa Tau. Shideler Hall, Miami’s earth and science building today perpetuates Founder Shideler’s memory as a great Miami teacher and scholar. The building was named in 1967.