Dwight Ireneus Douglass

Dwight Ireneus Douglass (June 6, 1884 – February 12, 1940) was an American engineer, short story writer, and fraternity founder. He was one of four students who established Phi Kappa Tau fraternity at Miami University in 1906.

Early life Douglass was born in Colfax, Illinois on June 6, 1884. He was the son Mary Louisa (née Pierson) and David Theodore Douglass, a physician. He had three siblings, Donald P. Douglass, Miriam Douglass, and Emily Douglass. Their father died in 1900. In May of that year, he participated in the second annual literary and musical contest of the Schools of McLean County, giving an oration entitled "Seeming Difficulties Are Real Helps to Success." He also represented his high school at the district competition and was an orator for the Colfax High graduation. He was elected vice president of the Epworth League of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Colfax in 1902.

Douglass attended Ohio Wesleyan University from 1902 to 1904. He transferred to Miami University in September 1904 to study chemistry. He played football for Miami his junior year, as right guard and center. He was six feet two and two hundred pounds and "cut an imposing figure, reputedly the largest man in the 202-member student body." He was also a member of the "M" Association, the Golf Club, the Tennis Club, and the campus Y.M.C.A. He served on the three-person Athletic Board of Control and was the presiding judge of the mock North Dorm Senate. Douglass wrote articles about their idea for the student union's Side Lights. Douglass and a friend drafted the association's constitution during spring break later that month, notoriously helping himself to a dean's office and cigars in the process. In 1909, he was working in Dahlonega, Georgia.

Douglass enlisted for World War I on April 25, 1918. He served as a private, then sergeant, with Company C of the 27th Engineer Battalion. After college, he continued to be involved in the Non-Fraternity Association after graduation, returning for reunions and attending the group's first national convention in Chicago in December 1917. However, the farm went into foreclosure and was sold on April 8, 1922, because Douglass failed to make payments on the interest of his loan.

After Douglass retired, the family moved to Hammond, where they were members of the First Methodist Church. He was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery in Hammond.