In October 1958, sufficient interest had generated on the University of Arizona campus in the forming of an AGR Colony to merit a visit of Maynard a Coe, Grand Secretary. Faculty members who played a large part in becoming the nucleus group were Dr. R. R. Humphrey, Lambda, and Dr. Hiroship Muramoto, Alpha Lambda. The local group was formed and in December 1958, eight members moved into a house at 1308 East Speedway Boulevard in Tucson. The Colony made application and was accepted into the activities of the College of Agriculture, Greek system and the University. Within a year, the colony had grown and on September 1, 1959, moved into a two-story house at 445 East Fourth Street, with 25 men. Occupying "the nicest house any colony ever had." In early October, the dining room was opened and Mrs. Fern M. Curtis served as both housemother and cook. Soon thereafter, the adjacent house was rented as a graduate annex.

Alpha Gamma Colony, as it was called, entered into the Greek week activities in the fall of 1959 and won its first trophy for the "Most Beautiful Chariot." On October 30, 1959, Alpha Gamma Colony petitioned the National Fraternity for a charter; Gerry Ault serving as president---and Marc Clausen as secretary at the time. The petition was approved by the National Council and Alpha Pi Chapter was installed December 12, 1959. Maynard Coe, Grand President Fenske and Province Counselor Briggs, Iota; installed the new chapter. It was a family affair for Rodney as he initiated his brother as a charter member of Alpha Pi. By a streak of good fortune, the Chapter was able to secure an exceptional housemother in the person of Mrs. Ada Walster, whose late husband, Dr. H. L. Walster, Iota; had for many years served as Dean of Agriculture at North Dakota State University. The members of Alpha Pi held many prominent offices during 1961-62. The first year of the Chapter's activities was under the leadership of Marc Clausen, Noble Ruler; Herbert Rose, Vice Noble Ruler; Charles Weaver, Secretary, and Dan Klingenberg, Treasurer. The Chapter was, indeed, fortunate in having Dr. Humphrey serve as adviser. Alpha Pi soon joined hands with Alpha Xi at Arizona State University to set up an FFA Award. This award is given annually to the graduating FFA high school senior with the highest scholastic standing in the state of Arizona.

Through the efforts of the faculty and alumni group, business arrangements were completed for the purchase of a Chapter house at 545 East Third Street in October 1963. The Ladies' Auxiliary, which had been formed by the wives of AGR alumni, assisted the Chapter in obtaining furniture, kitchen utensils, and arranging a long-term plan for interior decoration of the fraternity house. 

Alpha Pi Chapter served as host for the Regional Officers Training School in April 1965. The Chapter had been doing well in scholarship since its formation and stood first in scholarship among the fraternities on the campus in 1965. Mrs. Adria Gray succeeded Mrs. Walster as housemother in the fall of 1965. Since she was a former hospital dietitian, she saw that the Chapter was well fed and properly nourished. Through her activities, a Co-Ed Auxiliary known as Golden Sheaves was formed. During the spring semester of 1967, the Chapter sponsored a foreign student from The Netherlands, Jan Banga, who came to the campus through the People-to-People Program. At the February 18, 1968 initiation, an unusual event took place. James W. Hammond, Ohio State ‘06 was initiated along with a group of actives. Hammond had been invited to join the local when the original chapter of Alpha Gamma was formed at Ohio State University in 1905. As he said at the initiation regarding his failure to join the group of founders, "For some reason, I guess it was just negligence, I never got around to the meeting to which I had been invited." Brother Hammond, who was 83 at the time of his initiation, lived for many years at Wooster, Ohio, serving as regional sales manager for the Dr. Salisbury Laboratories. After his retirement, he and his wife moved to Tucson, Arizona. 

The Alpha Pi Chapter has continued to grow and the Alumni Corporation decided it was time to improve the house faculties for the Chapter. A larger house located at 503 East Third Street was purchased in June 1968. Remodeling was undertaken immediately and the Alpha Pi Chapter moved into its new home in October 1968.