1986
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
During the fall of 1985, Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal began to explore the idea of establishing a Latino-based Fraternity at University of Iowa. After months of intensive research, Baltazar called a special meeting on Monday, March 7, 1986 with some of the Latino students at the Chicano Indian American Cultural Center (presently known as the Latino Native American Cultural Center) at the University. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the need and feasibility of creating a new social Fraternity with an emphasis on the Latino culture.
The enthusiasm in favor of establishing for such a Fraternity was so great that the word quickly spread. After much planning and many meetings, the students finalized the philosophy and ideology of the organization on April 4th, 1986. Hence, this date became the official founding date of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity.
Thirty years later, our Fraternity has grown to over 100 collegiate entities that span across 29 states from Coast to Coast, making us the largest and fastest growing Latino-based Multicultural Fraternity in the Nation. Our membership has expanded beyond the Hispanic-Latino cultures to encompass a vast, diverse and multicultural membership.
Our Founding Fathers
Bro. Mario Buendia
Bro. Enrique Carbajal
Bro. Thomas Carasquillo
Bro. Manuel Chavarria
Bro. Jose Fong
Bro. Rudolfo Garza
Bro. Luis Jimenez
Bro. Luis Marquez
Bro. Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal
Bro. Eric Montes
Bro. Kuy Ou
Bro. Olakunle Oyeyemi
Bro. Jaime Ramirez
Bro. Olivero Rivera
J.J.R.C.
Bro. Eugenio Soria
Bro. Juan Valdez
Bro. Ricardo Zamudio