[3] Four of the founders (Emmett Ellis, Leland Thornton Hoback, Edward George Grannert, and William Glenn Parsons) had enlisted and served their country together during the First World War in France.

On the morning of June 28, 1920, "at an unusually early hour" according to the original minutes, a list containing the names of about thirty men was posted on the college bulletin board by Emmett Ellis with a request to meet that afternoon.

The founders were accompanied by Dr. Wilson C. Morris to present their petition to the faculty, who had been part of Sigma Nu in his college days.

Dr. Morris became the Fraternity's first honorary member and served the alpha chapter at Central Missouri as patron, counselor, and advisor until he died in 1947.

Founder Edward H. McCune recalled later that, "from the very beginning, Sigma Tau Gamma prospered, both in membership and service.

The first eight weeks of the program challenge associate members to "promote the highest ideals of brotherhood and demonstrate an abiding spirit in which all things in life are done and possible".

[12] The individual awards include the Michael J. Steinbeck Fellowship, which offers assistance in the pursuit of graduate and professional degrees.

[13] It makes use of tax-deductible charitable gift dollars for the development of chapters of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.