"It is probably because of Jerry that Sybil has remained as active - for he has always supported and encouraged her to be involved." This quote about Lenore Seibel King reveals a clue to the complete support of the King family for Alpha Sigma Tau. Before accepting the nomination for the office of National President, Sybil and Jerry discussed the effects such a position would have on their family life and only with agreement from all members did Sybil accept the challenge. Each one - Jerry, Tommy, Susie, Kathy, Jan and Clare - has contributed in some way to make Sybil's term a complete success.

Jerry and Sybil grew up in Virginia, Sybil graduating from Madison College with a B.A. in Dietetics, Jerry from Virginia Military Institute with a degree in civil engineering. They met at the VMI Mid-Winter Dance in 1948 and married at the beginning of the Korean War when Jerry was recalled to active duty. Upon the completion of his tour in 1953, the family returned to Birmingham where Jerry worked for US Steel. He continued service in the Active Army Reserve, primarily teaching officers, and held the rank of Colonel.

As a collegiate member of Psi Chapter, initiated in 1934, Sybil served as Rush Chairman and President. On graduation in 1950 she became the Alumnae Representative, keeping the Psi alumnae in touch with each other until 1964 when she accepted the appointment as National Scholarship Awards Chairman. Before leaving Virginia for Alabama, Sybil managed to organize and assist in the installation of the Roanoke Alumnae Chapter.

When Sybil expressed an interest in attending the Southeastern Panhellenic Conference meetings, she was a natural selection as an National Panhellenic Conference Alternate Delegate and represented Alpha Sigma Tau at biennial and interim meetings of NPC starting in 1967. She has made many friends for Alpha Sigma Tau among the southeastern college administrators as well as NPC officers. From 1969 to 1975 Sybil was assigned to the NPC College Panhellenic Committee and served as an Area Adviser for Alabama, Florida and Tennessee.

Her strong desire to have Alpha Sigma Tau more widely represented on Southern campuses led her to investigate the possibility of a chapter in Alabama. In 1970, she successfully completed arrangements for the installation of the Beta Zeta Chapter at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 1973, she directed the installation ceremonies and presented a charter to the Birmingham Alumnae Chapter.

In addition to many contributions to Alpha Sigma Tau, Sybil has sustained her school and community involvement. In this area too, she earned honor and recognition. As vice president of the Jefferson County PTA in 1966 - 1967, she received the Oak Leaf Award presented by the Birmingham Post-Herald for Excellence in Programming. Keeping pace with activities of five growing children developed her keen interest in the education of young people and other facets of community life. She was deeply involved with Boy and Girl Scouts, PTA and church. She has served as President of Shades Cahaba Elementary School PTA, Budget Chairman of Jefferson County Council of PTAs and President of Homewood City Council of PTAs. The family is active at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church where Sybil was an adult training union teacher, adult assistant Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher and Sunday school class president.

During her first 2 years as National President of Alpha Sigma Tau, Sybil visited many collegiate and alumnae chapters, attended numerous District meetings and conducted meetings of the National Council and those of the Diamond Jubilee Convention in 1974. Through her leadership the Sorority adopted a revised structure, and many newly created offices have been filled with enthusiastic young members. Despite problems created with the change of procedures and personnel, she guided the organization through that period smoothly. Early in 1975, she had the opportunity to install her first chapter as National President when she traveled to Lowell, Massachusetts, for the formal initiation of the Beta Tau Chapter. In recognition for her contributions to Alpha Sigma Tau, Sybil received the Ada A. Norton Alumnae Award in 1972.

The family is growing up and each continues to contribute a share to the advancement of Alpha Sigma Tau. Tommy missed his first Alpha Sigma Tau National Convention in many years because of a commitment to Pi Kappa Alpha In Vail, Colorado, in 1974. Susie attended Auburn University and is an alumna initiate of the Beta Zeta Chapter. Kathy attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham and was a collegiate member of Beta Zeta. In 1976 the 'Birmingham Belles' and the King family served as hosts for the twenty-first National Convention of Alpha Sigma Tau.

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Positions held: National Scholarship Chairman; National Alumnae Chairman; NPC Delegate; NPC Alternate Delegate; National Foundation 1st Vice President; Directory of Fraternity Programs; Board of Trustees Chairman; Centennial Committee; National Headquarters Administrator; National Foundation President; National President (1972 - 1984)

Honors received: Ada A. Norton Alumnae Awards Recipient (1970); Mary Louise Doyle Panhellenic Award (1984); Order of the Yellow Rose (1996); President Emerita (1999)