A Century of Brotherhood & Dedication
The Record | Volume #144 – Issue #1 – Spring 2025
By Holcombe Rolader (Louisiana State ’21)
In the heart of the University of Cincinnati’s campus stands a testament to the enduring power of brotherhood. Nippert Stadium, a centerpiece of Bearcat pride for a century, is more than just a stadium. It’s a living memorial to a young man whose tragic story has inspired generations of students, athletes, and fraternity brothers. But perhaps even more significant to the brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon is another building which shares the same name: The James Gamble Nippert Memorial Lodge. This structure has been home to the Ohio Epsilon chapter for 100 years, and stands as a physical testament to the brotherhood’s values and history.
The Man Behind the Name
James “Jimmy” Gamble Nippert was a student at the University of Cincinnati in the early 1920s. A member of the Ohio Epsilon chapter of SAE and a center on the football team, Nippert embodied the ideals of scholarship, leadership, and athletic prowess that the university sought to instill in its students.
On Thanksgiving Day 1923, during a game against rival Miami University, Nippert sustained what seemed at first to be a minor injury – a spike wound to his leg. The game was played in miserable conditions, with driving rain turning the field into a muddy quagmire. The severity of Nippert’s injury went unnoticed, masked by the mud and the adrenaline of competition.
What followed was a tragedy that would reshape the University’s landscape and leave an indelible mark on the fraternity. Nippert’s wound became infected, leading to blood poisoning. Despite efforts to save him, he passed away on Christmas Day, 1923. His reported last words, “Five more yards to go, then drop,” became a poignant symbol of his dedication and perseverance.
A Family’s Response to Tragedy
The Nippert family’s response to this heartbreaking loss was extraordinary. Instead of retreating into grief, they chose to honor James’s memory in a way that would benefit future generations of students, athletes, and brothers.
James N. Gamble, Nippert’s grandfather and son of the Procter & Gamble co-founder, donated $250,000 to complete the stadium that would bear his grandson’s name. This generous gift ensured that the partially constructed facility, which began development in 1915, would be completed and dedicated as a fitting tribute to James Gamble Nippert.
But the family’s commitment to preserving Nippert’s legacy didn’t stop there. Judge Alfred K. Nippert (Cincinnati 1894) and his wife, Maud, gifted land and funds to construct the James Gamble Nippert Memorial Lodge, which would become the new home for the Ohio Epsilon chapter.
The Birth of a Chapter Home
The James Gamble Nippert Memorial Lodge, situated at 2707 Clifton Avenue, was dedicated on March 25, 1925. The lodge’s location is no coincidence. It sits in an elevated position, with the main stairs leading directly to the main building of the campus. This prominent placement has given SAE an elevated status on campus, both literally and figuratively, for the past century.
Architect Brother Clifford M. Stegner (Ohio Epsilon 1899) designed the Lodge, and the details of the original structure inspired much of the Lodge’s design and function. Judge Nippert was very deliberate about every selection in the Lodge, from the terrazzo floors and travertine wall cladding to the custom light fixtures and stained glass in Chapter Hall featuring Noble Leslie DeVotie. The stained-glass windows are part of the DeVotie Hall addition, and the DeVotie Hall Association (est. 1910) serves as the house corporation for the chapter.
The Lodge was designed specifically to accommodate Cincinnati students’ co-op program. Brothers would be going to school for 10-12 weeks, then alternating with a work session for 10-12 weeks. Brothers slept at the end of the dormer hallways, called “Rack Rooms.” The attic was designed for storage trunks, and the basement was designed for coal deliveries- quite the difference from the central heat common to our modern fraternity houses! The original third-floor room was a common area, library, and “Radio Room”—the height of technology for the day.
The Lodge has expanded twice over the years – first with the George Kress Memorial Library in 1956, and then with the DeVotie Hall Addition in 2010. The George H. Kress Memorial Library had the amazing foresight to set foundations and structure to accommodate additional floors in the future—this made the 2010 addition possible without changing or destroying any of the existing chapter house. These expansions have always been made with an eye toward improving the brothers’ collegiate experience while maintaining the architectural beauty that complements Cincinnati’s campus.
The craftsmanship of the original 1925 structure shines through after thousands of Ohio Epsilon Brothers living there, including the original slate roof. Each addition was done with the same level of quality and expectation of longevity. The Nipperts set the highest expectations, and the Ohio Epsilon Chapter and DeVotie Hall Association will always strive to meet that bar.
The Cornerstone Box: A Bridge Between Past and Present
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Lodge’s history is the cornerstone box – a time capsule that has captured the essence of SAE’s history at the University of Cincinnati for the past century. The cornerstone box, laid during the construction of the Lodge in 1924, has been a source of fascination and speculation for generations of brothers. Its contents, carefully preserved for 100 years, offer a tangible link to the fraternity’s past and the era in which Jimmy Nippert lived.
The box was first opened in 1975, at the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Stadium and the Lodge. According to Mike Steur (Cincinnati ‘78), an attendee of the event, the box contains a wealth of memorabilia from the Lodge’s early days. Among the items was a copy of the 1925 Record, newspaper articles on the cornerstone, and other details about the house dedication ceremony. These artifacts provide a window into the lives of the brothers who first called the James Gamble Nippert Memorial Lodge home.
The cornerstone box holds more than just historical documents. It contains the spirit of camaraderie that has defined SAE for more than a century. Each item represents the hopes, dreams, and experiences of brothers who came before, serving as a reminder of the fraternity’s rich heritage and the responsibility current members have to uphold its legacy.
Celebrating a Century of Brotherhood
This March, the Ohio Epsilon chapter celebrated the 100th anniversary of the James Gamble Nippert Memorial Lodge, and the significance of the cornerstone box took on new meaning. The weekend of March 7-8, earlier this year, saw a series of events that not only commemorate the past but also look forward to the future of SAE at the University of Cincinnati.
On Friday, March 7, 2025, brothers gathered at the Lodge for a Founders’ Day celebration and the opening of the cornerstone box. This event, exclusive to brothers, was a powerful moment of connection between past and present. As the contents of the box were revealed, current members and alumni alike had the opportunity to touch history and reflect on the enduring nature of their bond. Saturday, March 8, saw a grand 100th Anniversary Celebration at the Cincinnati Masonic Temple. This event was a fitting tribute to a century of SAE excellence at the University of Cincinnati.
But the celebration didn’t end with the opening of the cornerstone box. In keeping with tradition, a new time capsule will be created and dedicated at some point this year, to be opened by future generations of SAE brothers. This new box, filled with items representing SAE life in the 21st century, will carry forward the legacy of Jimmy Nippert and all the brothers who have called the Memorial Lodge home.
The Enduring Spirit of Brotherhood
The story of James Gamble Nippert and the legacy he left behind is a powerful testament to resilience. It demonstrates how a tragic loss can be transformed into a force for good, inspiring generations of brothers to strive for excellence and maintain their resilience in the face of adversity.
For the brothers of Ohio Epsilon at the University of Cincinnati, Nippert’s story is a constant reminder of the values they aspire to uphold. Each time they gather in the Memorial Lodge or cheer on the Bearcats at Nippert Stadium, they are connected to a legacy and a pedigree that spans more than a century, and as the living descendants of that lineage should continue to represent their chapter and their university proudly.
The story of James Gamble Nippert is not just about a stadium or a fraternity house. It’s about the power of brotherhood to inspire, to uplift, and to create lasting change. As the chapter looks toward its future, it does so with the knowledge that it stands on the shoulders of those who came before – young men like Jimmy Nippert, whose brief life continues to make a profound impact a century after his passing.
