Sometime in the late 1970’s the chapter created what would become its signature event and primary fundraiser.  The Kappa Karnival started as a Midway / amusement park type event complete with belly dancers, stuffed animal prizes and magicians.  Brother Sylvester “Syl” Alford, a Fall 1961 Delta Upsilon initiate at Wichita State succeeded Donald Grace as Polemarch from 1976 to 1979 and was instrumental in creating this event.  It would later evolve into a full-fledged Las Vegas style “Kasino Night”, with live music, professional dealers and slot machines.  At its height this event has been held in Dallas’ largest and finest hotels welcoming as many as 3000+ guests and inspiring other chapters and groups to organize similar events.  This fundraiser is still an annual event on the chapter’s calendar and continues to raise money for annual scholarships.

In 1978, Dallas Alumni hosted, for a fifth time, the 42^nd Southwestern Province Council Meeting.  This meeting was very successful and would prove to be rehearsal for a larger meeting to be held in Dallas ten years later.

It was also during this time that the chapter’s annual awards dance known as The Spring Formal evolved into the ultra-klassy affair it is today, the Dallas Alumni Black and White Ball.  Brother Robert Brown, one of two Spring 1977 Dallas Alumni initiates, had attended the ball hosted by his brother’s chapter in Denver, Colorado.  He noticed that everyone in attendance wore strictly black and or white formal wear.  He urged Dallas Alumni to adopt the same format.  After meeting with some reluctance the chapter made the change with strict enforcement of the new dress code at the entrance and over time the event became even more popular among Brothers and guests alike.  The chapter has continued with this format ever since.  The chapter showed enormous confidence in Brother Brown by electing him as Polemarch from 1979 to 1981, only two years after his initiation.

Two years later, on September 12 – 13, 1980, Dallas Alumni, along with the Delta Sigma Chapter, hosted the 2^nd C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference at Bishop College.