Guild spent his next year at the university working on the first part of what would become "The Illinois Loyalty Song" and also joined the Marching Illini in the cornet section, where he met Albert Austin Harding, a student recently promoted to director of bands.

One of the driving forces of purchasing a chime for the university was the desire to hear "Illinois Loyalty" ring out on the instrument.

After funding for a thirteen-bell chime had been secured in the middle of 1920, Dean Thomas Arkle Clark asked the purchasing committee if it could play the melody of "Illinois Loyalty".

Others argued that students should only stand when "Illinois Loyalty" is played, which they claimed is the official alma mater song.

[5] These arguments continued with no conclusion until November 1958, when the Men's Independent Association and the Interfraternity Council urged university president David Dodds Henry to replace "Illinois Loyalty" with "Hail to the Orange" as the official alma mater song.

[6] President Henry believed that legislation of the issue could only occur when all interested groups have engaged in widespread discussion and come to an agreement.

Fling out that dear old flag of Orange and Blue Lead on your sons and daughters, fighting for you, Like men of old, on giants placing reliance, shouting defiance- Oskee wow−wow!

Amid the broad green fields that nourish our land, For honest Labor and for Learning we stand, And unto thee we pledge our heart and hand, Dear Alma Mater, Illinois.

The University Summer Band plays "Illinois Loyalty" at the close of its Twilight Concerts on the Quadrangle in June and July.