A Brief History of the Triple X Fraternity
The Triple X Fraternity (Trex) was formed in 1918 by a group of young Armenian students at Fresno High School. They were tired of being repeatedly restricted from participating in various school clubs simply because they were Armenians. As a result, they determined to organize their own fraternity of brothers and called themselves the Triple X. They chose the Roman numerals for 30 (XXX) to both name their group and to set a visible goal for recruitment purposes. Thus, the Triple X Fraternity was established.
In 1928, both the Los Angeles and Golden Gate (San Francisco) Chapters were founded. This created the need for a Grand Chapter, which was formed in April of 1928. The Selma Chapter was formed soon after in 1933. In the years since, the Oakland, Peninsula, Capitol, Sequoia, San Diego, Mt. Diablo, Orange County, Las Vegas, and Palm Desert Chapters were chartered as official members of the growing Fraternity.
The organization’s Founding Fathers were Arsen Alchian, Gurken Bacon, Lee Dederian, Richard Dederian, John Kasparian, Armen Nishkian, Lee Rustigan and Charles Ashjian, who also served as the fledgling Fraternity as its first Grand Master.
While no longer a school fraternity, our “Trex” brothers maintain a strong, fraternal spirit and bond. The fraternity is not now – nor ever was – a religious or political organization. Our common tie is that we share a proud Armenian heritage. It is our purpose and objective to promote charity, benevolence, mental improvement, and social culture, and to strengthen the bonds of friendship, as well as to observe and adhere to the principles of truth, justice, and loyalty.
Throughout almost 120 years of existence, our members have generously donated to worthwhile charities, funded scholarship programs, and provided invaluable services to our local communities.
Past Grand Masters
Charles Ashjian (1929)
D. K. Tateosian (1930-1931)
Kay B. Paul (1931-1932)
Dr. J. V. Shahbazian (1932-1934)
Mardie J. Bakjian (1934-1935)
Harry Hairabedian (1935)
Sooren Toomajian (1935-1936)
Paul Bozajian (1936)
Ara F. Normart (1936-1938)
Haig Hovey (1939)
Henry Zakian (1939-1940)
Lousander A. Markarian (1940-1941)
Lee Krikorian (1941-1946)
Michael Sohigian (1946-1948)
Andy Sarkisian (1948-1949)
Charles Haron (1949-1950)
Albert Nalbandian (1950-1951)
Andy Bakjian (1951-1952)
Mose Hachigan (1952-1953)
Vaughn Poochigian (1953-1954)
Fred Markarian (1954-1955)
Edward Arslan (1955-1956)
Heront Julian (1956-1957)
Ralph Boghosian (1957-1958)
Jack Kazanjian (1958-1959)
John Simonian (1959-1960)
Joe Hagopian (1960-1961)
Herb Elmassian (1961-1962)
Soren Shamshoian (1962-1963)
Haig Kayajanian (1963-1964)
Joe C. Kellejian (1964-1965)
John Barigian (1965-1966)
James Taylor (1966-1967)
Charles Chitchjian (1967-1968)
Mose Ametjian (1968-1969)
Ray Hovey (1969-1970)
Sam Kassabian (1970-1971)
Aaron Aaronian (1971-1972)
Kay Cloud (1972-1973)
Joe Zorigian (1973-1974)
Sarkis Sarkisian (1974-1975)
Dick Ekizian (1975-1976)
Michael Kershaw (1976-1977)
Ed Sarouhan (1977-1978)
Joe Garabedian (1978-1979)
Charles Hazarian (1979-1980)
Z. Harry Astor (1980-1981)
Aram Poladian (1981-1982)
Joe G. Kellejian (1982-1983)
Haig Kasparian (1983-1984)
Sam Krikorian (1984-1985)
Robert Alchian (1985-1986)
Haig Jamgotchian (1986-1987)
Mike Chakalozian (1987-1988)
Abby Mamigonian (1988-1989)
Alan Khaoonian (1989-1990)
George Solakian (1990-1991)
Shavarsh Hazarabedian (1991-1992)
Greg Avedesian (1992-1993)
Jack Bedrosian (1993-1994)
Ed Hokokian (1994-1995)
Mooney Najarian (1995-1996)
Jack Ouzounian (1996-1997)
Bob Juskalian (1997-1998)
David G. Maseredjian (1998-1999)
Jeff Hazarian (1999-2000)
Archie Cholakian (2000-2001)
Charles Paskerian (2001-2002)
Charles Parigian (2002-2003)
Frank Korkmazian (2003-2004)
Jerry Poochigian (2004-2005)
Pete Cholakian (2005-2006)
Peter Babagian (2006-2007)
Mel Shanoian (2007-2008)
Nick Nigosian Jr. 2008-2009)
Jack Bedoian (2009-2010)
Harold Bazarian (2010-2011)
Vaughn Vartanian (2011-2012)
Garo Mirigian (2012-2013)
Sam Bagdasarian (2013-2014)
Ron Shanoian (2014-2015)
John Casparian (2015-2016)
Greg Safoyan (2016-2017)
Gregg Chorbajian (2017-2018)
Steven Bedoian (2018-2019)
Jack Kayajanian (2019-2020)
Chuck Simonian (2020-2021)
Richard Jebejian (2021-2022)
Larry Avedisian (2022-2023)
Michael Mooradian (2023-2024
Kenny Melkonian, Jr. (2024-2025)