From collection Member List
Louis R. Bruce was a member of the Gamma Chapter at Syracuse University and graduated in 1930. He served Zeta Psi Fraternity in several capacities over his lifetime, as Executive Secretary, Executive Director, and Phi Alpha.
Bruce operated a dairy farm for most of his life and worked various jobs in advertising and public relations. Throughout his career, Bruce was a prominent advocate for Native Americans. His father was a Mohawk and his mother was an Oglala Sioux, and Bruce was born on the Onondaga Reservation in New York. He advised United States presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan on Native American affairs, although he was fired by President Nixon during the six-day takeover of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Bruce was always a proponent of Native American civil rights, even when it conflicted with his superiors. He was the special assistant commissioner for cooperative housing at the Federal Housing Administration.
Bruce served as Phi Alpha of Zeta Psi from 1962–1964, then as Chief Operating Officer. During his term as Phi Alpha, Bruce worked to improve the academic standing of Zeta Psi, which had been rated poorly at the time by the National Interfraternity Conference. Bruce served as Executive Secretary during difficult years for Greek life, from 1966–1969, and witnessed the public end of fraternities at Williams College. He also oversaw the chartering of Chi Gamma Chapter at the University of Calgary, Delta Chi Chapter at American University, Tau Gamma Chapter at Purdue University, and Pi Kappa Chapter at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Louis R. Bruce was honored with the Zeta Psi Distinguished Service Award in 1969. President Eisenhower presented him with the American Indian Achievement Awards and the Freedoms Award.
Bruce operated a dairy farm for most of his life and worked various jobs in advertising and public relations. Throughout his career, Bruce was a prominent advocate for Native Americans. His father was a Mohawk and his mother was an Oglala Sioux, and Bruce was born on the Onondaga Reservation in New York. He advised United States presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan on Native American affairs, although he was fired by President Nixon during the six-day takeover of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Bruce was always a proponent of Native American civil rights, even when it conflicted with his superiors. He was the special assistant commissioner for cooperative housing at the Federal Housing Administration.
Bruce served as Phi Alpha of Zeta Psi from 1962–1964, then as Chief Operating Officer. During his term as Phi Alpha, Bruce worked to improve the academic standing of Zeta Psi, which had been rated poorly at the time by the National Interfraternity Conference. Bruce served as Executive Secretary during difficult years for Greek life, from 1966–1969, and witnessed the public end of fraternities at Williams College. He also oversaw the chartering of Chi Gamma Chapter at the University of Calgary, Delta Chi Chapter at American University, Tau Gamma Chapter at Purdue University, and Pi Kappa Chapter at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Louis R. Bruce was honored with the Zeta Psi Distinguished Service Award in 1969. President Eisenhower presented him with the American Indian Achievement Awards and the Freedoms Award.
