History: The Founding of The M Club

After the consolidation of the University in 1920, an interest developed among letterwinners to encourage excellence in athletics by forming a monogram club. Their interest was stimulated when they visited the three colleges that had active monogram clubs with attractive quarters (such as Yale, Richmond and Virginia Tech). Further, the urge to foster a strong intercollegiate athletic program at Maryland, conducted under amateur standards, played an important role.

The M Club was founded in April 1923. Its eight founders were:

• Dr. H.C. "Curley" Byrd (football, track '08),
  
• Dr. William B. Kemp (track '12),
  
• George F. Pollock (baseball '23),
  
• H. Burton Shipley (basketball '14),
  
• Geary F. Eppley (track '20),
  
• Reginald V. Truitt (lacrosse '14),
  
• Burton Ford (tennis '16), and
  
• William G. Morris (football '14).

Dr. Byrd was named our first President. He appointed Dr. Kemp as Chairman of an Organization Committee consisting of the other six founders who represented the varsity sports existing in 1923 - baseball, basketball, football, tennis, track and lacrosse. They were charged with completing organization plans and drafting a proposed Constitution and By-Laws.

The Committee completed its assignment in the fall, and made arrangements for dedicating a new football stadium located near Ritchie Coliseum on Route 1 and subsequently named Byrd Stadium*. The Committee also drew up plans for the first Homecoming Day for all alumni. The program for Homecoming, chaired by Mr. Truitt, included a morning freshman football game against Technical High School; an afternoon varsity game against Catholic U. (won by Maryland, 40-6); a noon luncheon; a pep rally followed by a march to the new stadium; the first M Club meeting; and an alumni dinner followed by a dance. These plans established a general pattern for future Homecomings under the auspices of the Alumni Association and the Student Government Association.

At the M Club's organization meeting on November 12, 1923, there were 100 letterwinners present out of a possible 250 members. Annual membership dues were set at $1, and the members adopted a Constitution and By-Laws. The objectives of the 1923 Constitution stressed (1) promotion of amateurism; (2) courtesy and fair play by the athletes; (3) hosting officials and guests; and (4) spectator decorum. It also emphasized the importance of athletics in the development of the individual, and encouragement of all students to participate in well-recognized competition and the physical education programs.

* Dr. Byrd raised $69,500 to build the 5,000-seat stadium. He was the football, baseball, track coach and athletic director (1911-34) who became President of the University in 1936.