He is best known as the founder and first national president of Alpha Phi Omega, an international service fraternity.

In Fall of 1916, Horton enrolled in Boston University in 1917 where he became a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

After the war, Horton finished his associate degree in law from Boston University.

As a student at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, Horton was also a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity, Kappa Phi Kappa, and the Square and Compass, a Freemasonry college group.

[3] His fraternity leadership won him several awards, including: The National Distinguished Service Key Among fraternity members, he is sometimes referred to as "The Lightbearer" since he was the principal founder of Alpha Phi Omega.