The Alpha Zeta ("AZ") Chapter of the Chi Phi Fraternity was chartered on Saturday afternoon May 19, 1973 in the interdenominational Kennedy Chapel on the West Georgia College (now the University of West Georgia) campus in Carrollton, Georgia.
The center of activity for the AZ Chapter chartering was the Chapter house at 1510 Maple Street, which the AZ Chapter has occupied on a continuous basis since September 1972. This 4,200 sq. ft. southern colonial mansion was built in 1940 by State Senator J.E. Duncan and is platted in the Sunset Hills Country Club. The Chapter house is directly across the street from the University of West Georgia's Front Campus Drive. Carl J. Gladfelter A-T'33, father of one of the four original founding fathers, Tom Gladfelter AZ'75, purchased the property and leased it to the colony. The three other original founding fathers of the Chapter were Brian Bridges AZ'75, Chet Holt AZ'75 and Chip Winderweedle AZ'75. A housing shortage existed near the campus and the purchase/lease arrangement was made with the expectation that with time and the development of an active Alumni Association, Alpha Zeta would formally purchase the house.
Alpha Zeta, Georgia’s fifth active Chapter of Chi Phi, realized its chartering goal shortly after 3:30 p.m., when Grand Alpha William ("Buckeye Bill") W. Jeckell I '34 presented the charter to Chapter Alpha Chet Holt AZ'75. Grand Eta Bates E. Block G'40, H'42 swore in the Chapter officers and Paul Carroll, G’73 delivered the Fraternity lecture. The chartering ceremony was for Brothers only and following the presentation of the lodge room equipment and the vestments, the meeting was adjourned and all present crossed Maple Street to the Chapter house for a reception attended by the AZ Chapter members, their parents, dates and Chi Phi alumni.
The chartering concluded with a gala banquet at Sunset Hills Country Club with over 100 members and guests in attendance, including members of the Gamma (Emory) and Omega (Georgia Tech) Chapters. Faculty Adviser James K. Baum T'63 served as Master of Ceremonies and speakers included Tom Gladfelter AZ ’75, who outlined the AZ Chapter’s history, President Pafford and Dean of Students Knott of the college administration.
Upon his retirement as National Director of the Chi Phi Fraternity in 1977, Carl J. Gladfelter A-T'33 sold the AZ Chapter House at 1510 Maple Street to Bates E. Block G'40, H'42, Grand Eta of the Chi Phi Fraternity. By this time, most of the charter members of the AZ Chapter had graduated and the AZ Chapter gradually declined in stature at West Georgia until the fall of 1981. Only fourteen active brothers returned to campus that quarter, but under the leadership of Chapter Alpha Terry "Killer" Williams AZ'82 seventeen new men were pledged. This marked the beginning of over two decades of prominence for the AZ Chapter and by the time Alpha Zeta celebrated it's tenth anniversary Founder's Day in May 1983, the AZ Chapter was on it's way to once again thriving as one of the best fraternities at West Georgia. Brother Block continued the tradition of leasing the AZ Chapter house to the AZ Chapter until December 1986 when he donated the property to the Chi Phi Educational Trust.
During the fall of 1986, several Alumni of the AZ Chapter formed the AZHA with the intent of purchasing the AZ Chapter house from the Chi Phi Educational Trust. Founders of the AZHA included: Terry “Killer” Williams AZ '82, Charles Tedder AZ'80, Anthony “Tony” Jones AZ'81, Ronald R. Coleman, Jr. AZ'83, Jeffery T. Johnson and Christopher Shuler AZ'85. The AZHA purchased the AZ Chapter house from the Chi Phi Educational Trust in early 1987. The "House" has functioned as the home of the AZ Chapter and over 700 initiates on a continuous basis since September 1972.
Just two years later, during the summer of 1988, an opportunity arose to purchase Mrs. Walker's home (next door to the Chapter house at 1514 Maple Street) from her heirs. This 3,743 sq. ft. building is a well constructed brick and wood frame residential house built in 1953 by the Walker family and had been rented for several years by the local Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega ("ATO") Fraternity. The AZHA was able to take swift action with the financial backing of the Chi Phi Educational Trust and executed a Purchase Agreement on the property with a $5,000 earnest check, effectively dislodging ATO and establishing the "Annex".