Grace Lass Sisson
February 15, 2012, was the 175th anniversary of the founding of Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. Although it is the only remaining site of a Lincoln-Douglas debate, in the fraternity world it has another special distinction. Francis Hinckley and Grace Lass Sisson served as Grand Presidents of their respective organizations, Beta Theta Pi and Pi Beta Phi.
Grace Lass ’92, a member of the Illinois Delta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi, served as its Grand President from 1895-1899. She and Francis Hinckley Sisson ’92, a member of the Xi Chapter of Beta Theta Phi, were married in her parents’ Galesburg home on June 16, 1897. At the 1897 Pi Beta Phi Convention held in July at Madison Wisconsin (coincidentally, the convention headquarters was the Beta Theta Pi Lodge), the newlywed Grand President was presented with a silver ladle.
Francis Hinckley Sisson served as Grand President of Beta Theta Phi from 1912-18. Beta’s Sisson Award is named in his honor.
