History

After the consolidation of the University in 1920, an interest developed among letter winners to encourage excellence in athletics by forming a monogram club. The M Club was founded in April 1923. It's eight founders were:

• Dr. H. C. "Curley" Byrd ('08, Football, Track),
  
• Dr. William B. Kemp ('12, Track),
  
• George F. Pollock ('23, Baseball),
  
• H. Burton Shipley ("14 Basketball),
  
• Geary F. Eppley ("20, Track),
  
• Reginald V. Truitt ("14, Lacrosse),
  
• Burton Ford ("16, Tennis), and
  
• William G. Morris ("14, Football).

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

The Committee completed a draft Constitution and By-Laws in the Fall and at the M Club's organization meeting on November 12, 1923, there were 100 letter winners present out of a possible 250 members. Annual membership dues were set at $1, and the members adopted a Constitution and By-Laws. The objective 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 regulated competition and the physical education program.