During the early Spring 1986 semester, Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal began to explore the idea of establishing a Latino based Fraternity. After months of intensive research, Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal called a special meeting on Monday, March 7, 1986 with some of the Latino students at the Chicano Indian American Cultural Center in the University of Iowa.The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the need and feasibility of creating a new social Fraternity with an emphasis on the Latino Culture.

At that point in time, the student body at the University of Iowa was predominantly Caucasian. In addition, the Latino community on campus was divided into different social groups.
As a result, the students who attended the first meeting wanted to solidify and unify the Latino community. Furthermore, the students wanted to promote a positive image of Latinos in the University.

After the first meeting, the enthusiasm in favor of the Fraternity was so encouraging that the word spread throughout the University of Iowa. Everyone knew that something special was about to take place. On Friday, April 4, 1986, the members finalized the philosophy of the Organization. Hence, April 4, 1986, is the official founding date of the Fraternity.

The Eighteen Founding Fathers founded Sigma Lambda Beta with the following principles in mind: BROTHERHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, COMMUNITY SERVICE, & CULTURAL AWARENESS.

On the night of January 17, 1996, seven men gathered at a meeting and decided that Southern Illinois University needed an organization that would help and promote Latinos on campus. These seven men decided it should be a latino-based fraternity and had found someone to help them achieve this goal. This was the inspirational Brother named Gabriel Cerda, a transfer student from Beta Chapter, Western Illinois University (Reformistas ‘87).

On the night of February 22, 1996, these seven men were formally inducted to the new membership education process. Brother Gabe Cerda guided these men through their journey of darkness. These seven men were: Federico Medina, Antonio Gutierrez, Juan Manuel Rodriguez, Jason Ayala, Ralph Cortes, Marcos Lopez Jr., and Juan Antonio Ortiz Jr. After due process, on the 24th of November 1996, the Associate Class “Los Patrones,” crossed into the brotherhood of Sigma Lambda Beta . The initiation took place at Northern Illinois University, Eta Chapter. Therefore November 24, 1996 is the day that was marked and was to be acknowledged as the founding date of the Southern Illinois University Colony.

The following semester proved to be one of positive growth as Los Patrones held their first formal informational on Monday, February 3, 1997. It was here that five new men came forward and accepted the challenge. The rest is "Notorious" Nu Alpha History.