The Journal: Hamilton-Rodgers Double Cover Issue

The Journal: Hamilton-Rodgers Double Cover Issue

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J. Leonard Hamilton: A Consummate Achiever and an Effortless Pioneer

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VOLUME CVII, ISSUE 1

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Journal Notes

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Grand Polemarch's Message

34 NIT Feature Story 41 National News 46 Kappa Foundation 48 Alumni News 54 A Look Back: Kappa Hisotry 58 To the Chapter Invisible 74 The Directory 80 Undergraduate News

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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The Kappa Alpha Psi ® Journal Established 1914 First Editor Frank M. Summers, Esq. Past Permanent Editors Lionel F. Artis 1921–1937 G. James Fleming 1938–1950 William L. Crump 1950–1975 Earl S. Clanton 1975–1985 Jonathan P. Hicks 1985–1989 Van Jordan 1989–1990 Mel L. Davis 1990–1999 Keflyn X. Reed 1999–2010 Jonathan P. Hicks 2011–2014 Thomas L. Cunningham IV 2014–2015 Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq. 2016— Editor Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq. Jacksonville (FL) Alumni Chapter [email protected]

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Copy Manager Aaron Williams Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter [email protected] Features Editor Clarence Tucker Norfolk (VA) Alumni Chapter [email protected]

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Feature Writers Nicholas Cole Dr. Charles H.F. Davis III Earl T. Tildon Dr. Samuel Odom Aaron Williams

National Photographer Michael L. Hume

Published quarterly by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., 2322-24 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19132-4590. Periodic postage paid at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: $10 per year. USPS 291-300. No responsibility may be assumed by the Journal for receipt or return of material, news stories, photographs or creative pieces. Postmaster: Send address changes to: 2322-24 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132-4590. International Headquarters 2322-24 North Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19132-4590 Phone: (215) 228-7184 www.KappaAlphaPsi1911.com Belleville-O'Fallon (IL) Alumni Chapter [email protected] Photographers Kevin Sellers Gregory L. Williams Graphic Artist Keith C. King Grand Historian Kevin P. Scott Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter [email protected] Advertising Sales Director Clifford D. Franklin St. Louis (MO) Alumni Chapter [email protected] Cell: (314) 406-3472

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JOURNAL NOTES

Creating Inspiration Through Achievement in Spite of the Chaos Around us H ope. Strength. Inspiration. Satisfaction. Edification. Wisdom. Respect. These are some of the dispositions first Commanding General of Combat capabilities development command (CCDC), in the Combat development element of U.S. Army Futures Com- mand prior to his retirement after 34 years of service. See page 41.

I took away from editing these stories in this pre-Conclave issue of The Journal. We also recognize the Centennials of the Omicron of Kappa Alpha Psi (see page 11) and the St. Louis (MO) Alumni Chapter (see page 20). When you consider that we are living through the effects of a once-a-century- type pandemic, glaciers from Asia to Alaska have shrunk 4% in 10 years. As Rev. Dr. Samuel Dewitt Proctor pointed out in the December 1996 issue of The Journal we are hurtling between democracy and tyrannical forces (see Plato's Republic) (see also The Journal, Spring 2020, page 55) challenging our faith in the rule of law while legislating away our rights to critique its abuse. We are seeing the majority will in the United States being used not ascend to our better angels but devolve into tribalism, xenophobia, and racism. Bar- riers to participation on issues of voting, challenging the abuses of government, access to a quality public education...I could go on. Kappa Alpha Psi is nevertheless built on "Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor." Our Spring 2020 issue is a testament to our enduring successes. So too are the stories found in this issue. Clarence Tucker, our Deputy Editor for Features interviewed J. Leonard Ham- ilton, the winningest coach in Florida State Basketball history (see page 24). With an emphasis on education, he has helped ensure his athletes consistently graduate. Major General Cedric T. Wins, USA, Retired, is leading the Virginia Military Institute. Brother Wins was the last commander of RDECOM, in the U.S. Army Materiel Command, and the

Associate Provost Dr. James A. Wilson, Jr., shows the importance of integrating understanding of other cultures through his leadership of the Honors Program at Prairie View A&M University. See page 50. A trio of Kappas at the University Memphis led by Brother Anfernee Hard- away, achieves coaching success in the NIT Championships. See page 34. Grand Board Member Daniel I. Nixon realizes his dream in the U.S. Olympic Trials by running in the 800-meter race. See page 80. Traelon T. Rodgers tops off his incred- ible career at Dillard University as Valedictorian. See page 82. And there are other stories of edifica- tion. Brothers across the spectrum of industries and campus life are trans- forming barriers into stepping stones of achievement. We also officially welcome Keith C. King (Epsilon Zeta 2003), as a graphic artist for The Journal . He is responsible for the congratulatory ads along with Brother Tucker. Finally, the Grand Polemarch reminds us about the importance of the network that is Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. See page 8. The stories in this issue reflect that network. Brothers working together, supporting one another and their respective communities. So it is good to know not only whose we are in the end but also be able to over- come the travails that surround us while using the tenets of Kappa Alpha Psi as a foundation for that network until we reach that Golden Shore.

Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq., Editor

Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq., Editor

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GRAND POLEMARCH’S MESSAGE

Achievement in Every Field, A Networking Gold Mine

Life, generally, and membership in Kappa Alpha Ps i® , specifically. In an environment that has many organiza- tions competing for our time, talents and resources, it is important to make the case that Kappa is an organization that offers a tremendous return on one’s investment. I, normally, have only a short time to make my elevator pitch when others ap- proach me about this topic but a short time is truly all I need. In my brief colloquy about the value and virtues of fraternal life I usually begin with an experience I had in New York just weeks after my initiation. It only takes a minute to share my line brother’s and my interaction with then Brother Mayor Tom Bradley while at- tending the Broadway play, “Fences.” Based only on our fraternity regalia, Brother Bradley, whom we had never met before, invited us into his VIP box and influenced my trajectory in the fraternity in ways I am sure he did not intend and I never imagined. I am certain my simple anecdote is merely exemplary of experiences broth- ers have had all over the world and throughout their Kappa lives. The main value Kappa has to its members is the membership itself. The networking op- portunities are enormous as we navigate our respective professions looking for that proverbial edge that gets our feet in doors smashes glass ceilings. So, it is important to know about each other and how we have achieved in every field of human endeavor. More importantly, we need to know how to contact each other and make those important “Nupe” connections. Social media and communication platforms like the Kappa Journal play a critical role in that regard.

This issue is an important network- ing tool as we discuss the magnificent careers of Brothers Leonard Hamilton, famed Florida State basketball coach and Traelon Rodgers, Assistant Secre- tary of the NAACP. With this issue, we continue the tradition of highlighting our achievements and enhancing the Kappa network. That is why it is important to respond to the pleas of Journal Editor, Brother Cleveland Ferguson, when he asks for stories about our brothers and their career progression. We are doing so many great things across the nation but it is impossible for Brother Ferguson to know about them all. Province and lo- cal chapter Reporters are key to compil- ing the information we need to keep the membership informed. The Achieve- ment Academy, chaired by Brother Dr. Christopher Johnson, is another vehicle we use to expand our networking op- portunities but he, similarly, needs our help to identify achieving brothers in positions to help jump start the careers of aspiring members. So, we need your help to fortify my pitch. My elevator speech is simple. For more than 110 years we have estab- lished and nurtured an organization that, irrespective of many of the dif- ferences that divide our society as a whole, serves as a network of amazingly accomplished individuals who are will- ing to help each other in every possible way and promote the betterment of the Bond which in turn works to the benefit of our communities. Now, who could turn down membership in an organiza- tion like that?

Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq. Grand Polemarch I am always amazed by the many achievements for well over a century and I continuously marvel at the contribu- tions they make to the world and the communities they serve. Together we have shared each other’s stories in all platforms of social media. I especially delight in posting our stories in Facebook on the 34th Administra- tion’s group page because it is important and varied accomplishments of our members. We have celebrated our brothers’ for us to know about the impressive things our brothers are doing in all aspects of their lives. I raise this subject because people often ask me to explain the value of Greek

Yours in the Bond, Reuben A. Shelton, III, Esq. Grand Polemarch

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Getting back to birthday parties starts with getting informed.

Get the latest information about COVID-19 vaccines at GetVaccineAnswers.org

100 YEARS

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By Hwesu Samuel Murray, Esq. and Noel Hankin. Edited by Kevin P. Scott and Aaron Williams

W ith its chartering coin- cided with the dawn of the Harlem Renaissance, the Columbia University Chapter, the Omicron of Kappa Alpha Psi, celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2021. The Grand Board of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. chartered Co- lumbia University Chapter, the Omicron of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., on February 27, 1921. The chartering was a watershed event for the young frater- nity. The chapter was the fraternity’s first at an Ivy League institution and provided the fraternity with a chapter in New York City. The Fraternity previously attempted to establish a chapter on the Columbia University campus before 1921. Be- fore obtaining his master’s degree from Columbia University in 1914, Founder Byron K. Armstrong contacted Columbia administrators to propose establishing a chapter on campus. However, the idea was not supported at that time. Founder Paul Waymond Caine also made an un- successful proposal while also attending Columbia in 1917. Omicron eventually was established as the result of efforts led by C. Udell Turpin (Beta 1916), picured in the 1921 issue of The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal . At the end of World War I, Turpin enrolled at Columbia University, where he met John A. C. Jackson (former polemarch of the Lincoln (PA) University Chapter, the Epsilon of Kappa Alpha Psi), Henry G. Ridgley, also an initiate of Epsilon Chapter, and former football star and Charles C. Bruen from the Wilberforce University Chapter, the Delta of Kappa Alpha Psi. The Chartering of Omicron Chapter

pin, Jackson, and Ridgley, the chapter’s inaugural pledges were selected where a celebratory banquet in the private dining room of the local Y.M.C.A. and a smoker followed the initiation. The Omicron charter initiates were: W. Louis Davis; C. French Foushee; Robinson M. Hayden; Edward J. Levy; Alfred W. Tucker; Ernest M. Wood; and Deavor P. Young. The initiation of these young men marked the birth of the Omicron Chapter. The first officers were: Turpin as Polemarch; Tucker as Vice Polemarch; Young as Keeper of Records; Wood as Keeper of Exchequer; Levy as Strategus; and Davis as Lieuten- ant Strategus. Jackson and Ridgeley became members of Omicron. Later in 1921, William S. Parker, Archie J. Parsons, Alfred M. Layton, and Robert S. Boyd were initiated into the Omicron Chapter. Even at its inception, Omicron Chapter proved to be outstandingly suc- cessful. Just two years after the charter- ing of the Chapter, Polemarch Turpin established an inter-fraternity debating club. Under his leadership, the dynamic Omicron Chapter became the best debating team in the east. In 1925, Omicron Chapter hosted the 15 th Grand Chapter held in New York City. The chapter sponsored a reception ball held at the International House on Riverside Drive, just off the Columbia University main campus. The 1925 Grand Conclave was described as “… such a success that not even the most sanguine could imagine any improve- ment” for the 1934 Grand Conclave, also hosted by Omicron in New York City. Omicron Chapter continued to grow by adding chapter members from other schools in the New York City metropoli-

Turpin’s efforts to establish a chapter. Turpin’s approach to the University is reflected in letters received from the President and the Secretary. President Nicholas Murray Butler wrote, “I am much interested in the uplift of the Negro youth, and it is with pleasure that I welcome Kappa Alpha Psi.” The Secretary of the University, Mr. Frank D. Fackenthal, assured Turpin that “Columbia University has long looked for such an organization as you represent, and it is with plea- sure that we welcome your Fraternity on the University campus.” Turpin lived with two promising students, Deavor P. Young and Ernest M. Wood, at a place called “The Den,” located at 133 West 140th Street in Harlem. “The Den” became the meeting place for other students (in addition to Jackson and Ridgley), Alfred W. Tucker, C. French Foushee, Robinson M. Hayden, Edward J. Levy, and W. Louis Davis. Under the leadership of Tur-

Columbia school officials supported

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tan area. As its achievements multiplied, so did its fame. As its membership grew, so did its long list of prominent and famous men in our society. O micron was the fraternity’s first chapter chartered in New York City. Not thought of as a “typi- cal college town” due to its reputation as ‘The Big Apple’ with its skyscrapers, commerce, and tourism, New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area has more than 200 public and private colleges and universities, making it the second greatest concentration of colleges and universities in the United States. In addition to Columbia Univer- sity, Omicron drew membership from several of the four-year colleges and universities in the metropolitan area: from Iona College in New Rochelle, NY in the north, to Brooklyn College in the south, to Hofstra University in the east, to Wagner College in the west, and other colleges and universities in between, including City College of New York (C.C.N.Y.), New York Univer- sity, St. John’s University, Long Island University, Pace University, and Queens College. With its numerous colleges and universities in the area and few young black men on any one campus, Omicron historically had intake lines of initiates comprised of members attend- ing different schools. Most Omicron members have lived at home and commute to campus. However, the general lack of dormitory life is somewhat compensated by the extraordinary entertainment, sports, and arts venues and activities available in what some call “The Greatest City in the World.” During the 1960s, some individual Omicron members attended the March on Washington 1963. Some participated in on-campus student protests, rallies, and marches for black faculty members, Black Studies courses, and other issues. Some Omicron members were engaged in a voter registration campaign in the summer of 1964 when the Harlem Ri- Kappa College Life in the Big Apple

Omicron Chapter members with Kappa Sweetheart, Dawn Simons, 1965 on Kastle Steps.

ots, aka “Urban Rebellion,” broke out.

joy of the Omicron Chapter. Omi- cron’s Kourt was comprised of young ladies who lived in the New York City metropolitan area. Many were college students. For many years, the signature event of the school year was the Kappa Koronation Ball, at which a Kappa Sweetheart Queen and two runners-up were crowned. Past Grand Chapter Officers from Omicron • Francis E. Corbie, Junior Grand Vice Polemarch (1926)

Omicron members who competed in collegiate track and field participated in track meets held at the famous Madison Square Garden each year before travel- ing to Philadelphia for the Penn Relays. O ne of the most popular out- ings of the Omicron Chapter was a summer outing at Jacob Riis Beach in Brooklyn with Omicron’s Kappa Kourt. Year over year, the Kappa Sweetheart Kourt was the pride and Omicron's Kappa Sweetheart Kourt

Omicron Brothers in front of Kappa Kastle, circa 1968.

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Classic Omicron Chapter Coronation Photo: then-Immediate Past Polemarch, Veron E. Johnson Jr., Kourt Queen, Lois Clark, Polemarch David E. Bryan Jr., circa 1969. white shirts. Other brothers wore their crimson Kappa blazers or dark suits, with white shirts and crimson ties. In addition to brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi from other chapters, family members and Omicron Diamonds/Sweethearts attended. Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, (Pi 1968), a New York (NY) Alumni Chapter member, delivered the opening prayer. The 34 th Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi, Reuben A. Shelton, III, Esq. delivered the keynote address in which he spoke of the road traveled thus far and the challenges faced ahead. The Grand Polemarch praised Omi- cron for being “a beacon of light across Kappa, and certainly across the halls of the Ivy League culture in which you find yourselves.” Other dignitaries who provided remarks on occasion included the 30 th Grand Polemarch Samuel C. Hamilton, Junior Grand Vice Polemarch Evan R. Jackson, Northeastern Province Polemarch Christopher Thompkins, Omicron Chapter Advisor Gregory Thomas (Nu Zeta 1988), New York (NY) Alumni Chapter Polemarch

Ebony/Jet Magazine features the service of the Omicron Chapter.. Omicron Queen circa 1957. Omicron Scrollers circa 1957. Used by permission from author.

• William N. Chisholm, Senior Grand Vice Polemarch (1954- 1959) • David J. Billings, Junior Grand Vice Polemarch (1961) • Bennie F. Giles, Grand Lieuten- ant Strategus (1962) • Melvin V. Christy, Grand Lieuten- ant Strategus (1963) • Michael C. Blum, Grand Strat- egus (1967) • Alexander Dent, Grand Board of Directors Member (2008) Northeastern Province Polemarchs from Omicron • 1 st and 3 rd : James Egert Allen (1930, 1933 – 1937) • 2 nd : Harcourt A. Tynes (1930 – 1933) • 4 th : I. T. Donaldson (1937-1940; 1945-1946) • 9 th : William N. Chisholm (1951 – 1953) • 10th: Ernest L. Dimitry (1953 – 1957) • 11 th : Livingston Wingate (1957 – 1959) • 14 th : Albert G. Oliver (1969 – 1974) • 17 th : Melvin Taylor (1981 – 1982)

Omicron Centennial Chapter

Observances O n February 27, 2021, and on March 20, 2021, the Columbia University Chapter, the Omi- cron of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., celebrated its Centennial via Zoom, drawing more than 200 participants, including Omicron initiates spanning 1953 to 2019. Collectively, the two ses- sions comprised the most extraordinary gathering of Omicron initiates in the chapter’s history. Despite the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom provided the Omicron initiates and guests to participate from across the country and worldwide. The cur- rent Omicron Chapter Polemarch Ivan McDaniel (Omicron 2019) and past Omicron polemarchs Robert Robinson (Omicron 1989) and Hwesu Samuel Murray (Omicron 1967) hosted the Zoom sessions. Session 1- February 27, 2021 T he first session was an elaborate affair that ran over three hours. The virtual centennial celebration was held exactly 100 years to the day, February 27 th , of the chartering of Omi- cron. The official attire was semi-formal: many of the brothers in the bond for 50 years or more wore their white, 50-year Kappa blazers with crimson ties and

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Michael J. Hatcher (Alpha Nu 1998), and Judge Leland DeGrasse, (Omicron 1965). Archbishop and past Grand Board Member Dr. David J. Billings, III (Xi 1960) who was instrumental in the revival of Omicron in the early 1960s, after the Chapter had been dormant for a few years, provided remarks. Pre-recorded Kappa music highlighted the affair. Hsweu Murray reminisced about Omicron winning the National Song Contest at the Grand Conclave in Baltimore in December of 1968, referring to it as, Omicron’s own “little National Collegiate Championship.” A nostalgic Omicron Chapter video montage was played, with live narration by Col. Terrance R. Holliday (Omicron 1967). The montage included some genuinely memorable photographs of the Omicron brothers. The call also included a memorial honoring Omicron members who tran- sitioned to the Chapter Invisible. The Omicron Centennial Celebration was highlighted with remarks from a repre- sentative from each intake from 1961 to 2019. The Closing Prayer was given by Rev. Dr. William M. Meanes, Sr., the fraternity’s National Chaplain. After the conclusion of the formal event, the brothers of Omicron retired to a Zoom

Breakout Room.

Merit from the Centro Studi E Scambi International.

Session 2 - March 20, 2021 Shortly after the initial Zoom celebra- tion, Omicron organized a second Zoom celebration after discovering several Omicron brothers from the 1950s who had not been identified and were living in New York City, Florida, and Califor- nia. Prominent Men of Omicron C. Udell Turpin (Beta 1916), a charter member of Omicron, became Na- tional Director of the Negro Market for Remington Rand Co., makers of office machines and equipment. He identi- fied the Black consumer market as the “nation within a nation.” He achieved the rank of Captain in the Illinois Eighth Infantry. Dr. James Egert Allen (Omicron 1925) graduated from Johnson C. Smith University and N.Y.U. He also earned a certificate from Oxford. He served as the Northeastern Province Polemarch (1933-1934) and was The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal associate editor for more than 20 years. He pursued graduate work at Colum- bia, Syracuse, and Boston. He also was a lecturer and the author of Negro in New York . He was elected to the International Committee of the Y.M.C.As of the United States and Canada. He received the Medal of Honor and Diploma of

Born in Trinidad in 1891, Francis Eu- gene Corbie (Omicron 1925) grew up in New York City and graduated from De- witt Clinton High School. He attended Lincoln (PA) University before returning to New York City to attend C.C.N.Y. Professionally, Corbie was an accom- plished orator, writer, and actor. In 1925 at the 15 th Grand Chapter Meeting, the Fraternity elected Corbie to the newly created position of Junior Grand Vice Polemarch. The fraternity’s first Junior Grand Vice Polemarch served in the fifth Grand Polemarch Earl B. Dickerson administration. The Honorable Livingston L. Wing- ate (Omicron 1938) graduated from St. John’s University and its Law School. He was an active member of the New York (NY) Alumni Chapter for many years and the Northeastern Province. Wingate served as a Criminal Court Justice, New York State Supreme Court, New York County. He was a Harlem civic leader and provided legal work for the N.A.A.C.P. He was Associate Chief Counsel - House Committee on Edu- cation and Labor; Executive Director – HARYOU-ACT. Executive Director – New York Urban League. Brother Wing- ate later became Director of Community Activities for the Citizens’ Crusade

Omicron Chapter members celebrate Omicron's 89 th anniversary.

Omicron Chapter members celebrate Omicrons 95 th anniversary.

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Against Poverty.

tan School of Music in New York, and an Ed.D. from Columbia University’s Teachers College. Byrd mastered the trumpet while still a student at Detroit’s Cass Techni- cal High School, during which time he played with Lionel Hampton. He learned his craft of music by formal study and by informal learning from other prominent jazz artists. He came into prominence as a member of the famous group Art Blakey’s Jazz Messen- gers. Byrd’s early style was a variation of Bebop called Hard Bop, a blend of gos- pel and blues. He later created a style that was a mix of jazz, rhythm & blues and funk that became very popular. Brother Byrd spent many years teach- ing music, then became a pop star with the release of his groundbreaking, cross- over album, Black Byrd in 1973, on which he played fluegelhorn in addition to his well-known trumpet, combining funk with an R&B guitar to create what became known as “Jazz Fusion.” Black Byrd was, for many years, the best- selling album of all-time for Blue Note Records. Byrd taught music at Howard Univer- sity, Cornell University, North Carolina Central University, Rutgers University, the University of North Texas, and else- where. He formed a group called, The Blackbyrds, whose members had been his students at Howard. The records that he produced with them included

the hits, Walking In Rhythm and Rock Creek Park.

Emile Treville Holley (Omicron 1922) was a 17-year-old freshman at C.C.N.Y. when, on March 24, 1922, United States Congressman Martin Ansorge sponsored Holley’s admittance application to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. According to The New York Times , Holley would have been “First of His Race Sent to An- napolis Since the Civil War.” However, Brother Holley’s “Appointment … as Midshipman (was) Deplored by Of- ficers in Navy – The color Line at Both Academies.” The Times reported, “So far as the midshipmen are concerned, the fate that awaits the candidate is social ostracism,” known as “Coventry.” Instead of attending Annapolis, Holley transferred to Middlebury College in Vermont and graduated cum laude in 1925 (the school’s first Black graduate) with honors in philosophy and English. He earned his master’s degree the fol- lowing year. Professionally, Holley was a Professor of English and Journalism at Miner Teachers College inWashington, D.C. Born in 1932 in Detroit, MI, famed jazz musician and educator Dr. Donald Toussaint L’Overture Byrd, II (Omi- cron 1955), was one of the greatest jazz trumpeters. He earned a B.A. degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, a master’s degree from the Manhat-

Archbishop Dr. David Joseph Mathew Samuel Billings, III (Xi 1960) is an important figure in the story of Omi- cron Chapter. After a year, he returned to New York City and worked with the New York (NY) Alumni Chapter to revive Omicron, which had become dormant during the late 1950s. His efforts were successful, and Omicron bloomed once more. In large part, it was because of Billings' efforts a succession of young men were initiated into the fraternity through the Omicron Chapter from 1961 to 1972. During his college days and after that, Billings led brothers in song as one of the great Song Masters of Kappa Alpha Psi. He became Junior Grand Vice Polemarch in 1961 under the administra- tion of the 17 th Grand Polemarch Richard B. Millspaugh. He earned his master’s degree at C.C.N.Y., and Ph.D. from Cornell, Wayne Theological Seminary, and Trinity Hall College and Seminary. He served on the President’s Task Force of Neighbor- hood Government and the Council of Churches of New York. He is Archbishop of ICHCOC.

Tyrone Sidney Pannell (Omicron 1962) passed into Chapter Invisible

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while serving his country in Vietnam on November 30, 1965. Pannell was a track star for Manhattan College in both the high hurdles and the high jump. The Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame Web site includes the following on Pannell: Pannell “won the 60-yard high hurdles at the IC4A Championships and the high jump at the indoor Met's in 1962. Won the 60-yard high hurdles, the long jump, and the high jump at the indoor Met's, and the high jump at the outdoor Met's in 1963. High jump champion at the 1964 indoor Met's and in the 120- yard high hurdles at the outdoor Met's. Senior co-captain. Entered the Marine Corps after college and lost his life in active duty in Vietnam.” The Honorable Leland George De- Grasse (Omicron 1965) graduated from St. John’s University in 1967 with a de- gree in Spanish and in 1972 graduated cum laude from Howard University Law School. He was an active member of the New York (NY) Alumni Chapter. DeGrasse is best known for being the trial judge who, in a landmark decision, ruled against New York State’s system for financing public schools in the case known as Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. State. His decision was appealed to the New York Court of Appeals, which ulti- mately ordered an additional $1.9 billion in state aid annually for New York City’s schools. DeGrasse’s brilliant decision improved the quality of education for millions of New York City public school children. In 1985 he was elected Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York, and three years later was elected a State Su- preme Court justice. In 2008, Governor David A. Paterson appointed Justice De- Grasse to the Appellate Division, First Department, where he served until he retired from the bench in 2015. Justice DeGrasse had served as president of the Supreme Court Justices Association of the City of New York in 2003 and as president of the Supreme Court Justices

U.S. Army paratrooper in the 82nd Air- borne Division and piloted helicopters. He later became a member of the 101 st Airborne Division. Brown is the highest-ranking Black official in the State of Kentucky. He is Secretary of the Executive Cabinet of the State of Kentucky, reporting directly to Governor Andy Beshear. Brother Brown has served as Deputy Attorney General for the State of Kentucky and Secretary of Kentucky’s Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. Before that, he served as a district court judge in Jeffer- son County and law director for the City of Louisville, Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, and on the Board of the Louis- ville Regional Airport Authority. He was a partner at the law firms of Stites and Harbison and also Wyatt, Tarrant, and Combs. He is a former board member of Republic Bank and several Louisville-ar- ea civic groups and non-profit organiza- tions, including Metro United Way and the Louisville chapter of the American Red Cross. He was elected the first African American president of the Lou- isville Bar Association and chaired the Kentucky Bar Association’s Task Force on Minorities. He is a current member of KBA’s Ethics Committee and has served as a member of the University of Louisville Board of Overseers and the Board of Directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters. In 2015, he received the Nelson Mandela Award from the Department of Public Advocacy.

Association of the State of New York in 2002.

Basil A. Paterson (Omicron 1946) graduated in 1948 with a B.S. degree in biology from St. John’s University. His time in college was interrupted when he was called to active military duty during World War II. He later earned his J.D. from St. John’s Law School in 1951. He was an active member of New York Alumni. Paterson was very active in politics with the Democratic Party during the 1950s and 1960s. He was a labor lawyer who became a New York State Senator from Harlem. He later became Secretary of State under Governor Hugh Carey. Paterson’s son, David Paterson, served as Governor of New York from 2008 to 2010. A longtime member of the New York (NY) Alumni, Paterson was a member of what was popularly called “The Gang of Four,” the dynamic young Black politi- cians of the Harlem Clubhouse who included: David Dinkins (who became the first Black person elected Mayor of New York City); Percy Sutton (New York (NY) Alumni 1971); and U.S. Congress- man Charles Rangel. Ernest T. Hemby (Xi 1920) was a tal- ented and celebrated singer and served as Omicron’s polemarch. He honed his skills during two years of vocal study in Italy. Hemby rendered songs in English, French, Italian, and German.

John Michael Brown (Omicron 1967) with Vice President Kamala Harris. Brother Brown was among the Kentucky Governor's delegation who greeted the Vice President upon her landing in Kentucky as she traveled to promote President Biden's American Rescue Plan in early May 2021. John Michael “Mike” Brown (Omicron 1967), a past Polemarch of Omicron, gradu- ated from the C.C.N.Y. with a B.S. in political science. He later earned a J.D. from the University of Louisville. Brown served as

a

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100 YEARS

THE OMICRON CHAPTER CENTENNIAL

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Past Northeastern Province Polemarch Ernest L. Dimitry (Omega 1925) be- came a member of the Omicron Chapter after he relocated to New York City. He served as Special Editor of The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal for the 24 th Grand Chapter hosted by Omicron. Dimitry was a stalwart member of the New York (NY) Alumni Chapter for decades. He passed into Chapter Invisible in 1973. Alvin R. “Skip” Miller (Omicron 1965) played football for Hofstra University, earning a B.S. degree in chemistry. After serving in the Vietnam War, Miller entered the entertainment industry, including working at Motown Records in various capacities for 17 years. In 1980 he received the Recording Industry As- sociation of America’s Music Executive of the Year award. In 1987, Brother Miller became President of Motown Records. At Lion Track, he managed Lionel Richie. He later organized Panda Entertainment Group and, in addition to Lionel Richie, managed R. Kelly, Lina, Nathan Stone, and Megan Peeler. William Grant Still (Delta 1915) stud- ied at Oberlin College, where he was awarded its first scholarship for music. He then studied at the New England Conservatory. His performances took him to New York City, where he affili- ated with Omicron Chapter. Still was “the first African American to conduct a professional symphony orchestra in the United States.” Still composed the Theme Song for the New York World’s Fair of 1939. Simon P. Gourdine (Omicron 1961) graduated from C.C.N.Y. in 1962 and earned his J.D. from Fordham Law School in 1965. Gourdine served in Vietnam as a captain in the U.S. Army. In 1974, the National Basketball As- sociation (NBA) hired Gourdine as its Deputy Commissioner, making Gour- dine, at that time, the highest-ranking African-American executive in American professional sports.

of the St. John’s University Track and Field Team. His many athletic achieve- ments included champion of the 1964 and 1965 Indoor Canadian AAU in the 300-yard dash. He competed in many major track and field meets, including the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden and the Penn Relays. Agard-Jones enjoyed a prominent career in education at William Paterson University at the New York City Board of Education. He rose from Assistant Professor in African and African-Ameri- can Studies and Chairman of the Black Studies Department to Dean of the Col- lege of Education at William Paterson University. From 1993 to 1995, he was Director of the Office of Multicultural Education at the New York City Board of Education. Brother Agard-Jones has lectured prolifically and has written a great many articles that were published in many publications. He has an exten- sive record of service in a wide range of areas related to education. Agard-Jones was a Fulbright Fellow in West Africa, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Senegal, in 1985. He was with a group of 10 Fellows who met with government officials, higher education faculty members and administrators, U.S. Embassy officials, community members, and villagers, primarily in Liberia. Dr. Claude J. Mangum (Omicron 1964) earned his Ph.D. at Columbia University. . He earned his B.A. and M.S. degrees at Queens College. Mang- um is the Emeritus Associate Professor of African American Studies and History at Fordham University. He specializes in African American and Caribbean History. His research interests and publications pertain to the education of African Americans and the experiences of African Americans in the Catholic Church. He serves as a Trustee for both the Uniondale Public Library and PLUS Group Homes (a non-profit agency that runs residencies for adults with autism). He served New York (NY) Alumni for

He had previously served as the NBA’s in-house legal counsel and later became Executive Director of the NBA. Players Union. Before his work at the N.B.A., he held several positions within New York City government. He served as Commissioner of Consumer Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, and Chairman of the Civil Service Commission. Dr. Albert G. Oliver (Omicron 1950) was Grand Strategus in 1956 and 1957. In 1970, Grand Polemarch W. Thomas Carter appointed Oliver as polemarch of the Northeastern Province. Professionally, Oliver served as Chair- man of the Board of Operation Cross- roads Africa, which President John F. Kennedy called the Peace Corps' " pro- genitor. A longtime member of the New York (NY) Alumni, Oliver later became a New York City Superintendent and established the Oliver Scholars program in 1983 to assist Black and Latino stu- dents obtain entrance into elite colleges. The Oliver Scholars program continues its operations, and New York City’s P.S. 93 – Albert G. Oliver, was named in his honor. B. Adolphe Barber (Omicron 1961) graduated from Columbia College with a B.S. degree in pharmacy in 1962. He spent his adult life in the pharmacy business. A longtime member of the New York (NY) Alumni Chapter, Barber and the late Oliver W. Parson, (Alpha Xi, 1941) are the only two men who served as the polemarch of New York (NY) Alumni Chapter for seven administrations. Dr. Leslie N. Agard-Jones (Omicron 1965) earned his B.A. in History from St. John’s University; his M.A. in His- tory, specializing in African Affairs from St. John’s University; and his Ed.D in Higher Education Administration and Supervision from Seton Hall University. Agard-Jones was an outstanding member

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many years.

founder of the Thurgood Marshall Col- lege Fund and served as Vice Chairman.

College, an M.S. degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journal- ism, and a J.D., from the University of Michigan Law School. As an under- graduate, Murray served as the Omicron Polemarch, Keeper of Records, Board Member and Historian, and several other positions. Murray held member- ship with the New York (NY) Chapter and served as Historian and as a Mem- ber of the Board of Directors. He was a winner in the National Song Contest held at the 55 th Grand Chapter Meeting in Baltimore, MD. In 1972, he became one of the first Black men to work as a Television Program Producer in New York City in a state-of-the-art television studio. He was an on-site Reporter for WNET-TV and PBS at the United Nations Security Council Meeting during The October War in the Middle East in 1973. He produced, directed, hosted, managed, and wrote for more than 700 network and radio broadcasts. He was a member of Queens Col- lege’s 1968 Collegiate Track Conference Indoor Championship Team, member of the gold medal 880-relay team. He won six varsity letters as a member of the Track and Field Team. He was a member of the Andrew Jackson High School Track and Field Team won the New York City Public Schools Athletic League (P.S.A.L.) Outdoor Champion- ships in 1965. He earned an honorable discharge from the 719 th Transportation Company, 369 th Battalion, New York Army National Guard.

Past Omicron Chapter Polemarch Richard Harvey “Ricky” Mangum, Esq. (Omicron 1964) earned a B.A. degree from Queens College; a master's in so- cial work from Adelphi University; and a second master’s in public administration from N.Y.U. He earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. Mangum’s career included work with the Children’s Aid Society, for which he was a trustee. He served in the offices of the Queens District Attorney and of the New York State Special Prosecu- tor, where he served on the prosecu- tion team of the 1987 Howard Beach murder trial. He also served in the Bronx District Attorney's office, from which he retired as Executive Assistant District Attorney in 2002. He retired briefly, then returned to service as Chief Operating Officer of Highbridge Advisory Council Family Services. On May 19, 2014, he was honored for his work with Highbridge through the dedication of The Richard H. Mangum Early Learning Center. Mangum, a Life Member of the Fra- ternity, held memberships in the New York (NY) Alumni and Brooklyn-Long Island (NY) Alumni Chapters. Noel Hankin (Omicron 1965) earned his B.A. degree from Queens College and a certificate from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has an honorary doctorate from Medgar Evers College. Brother Hankin served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Schieffelin & Somerset Co., and Senior Vice Presi- dent of Multicultural Relations at Moët Hennessy USA, where he helped brands such as Hennessy and Moët & Chan- don enjoy above-average usage among multicultural consumers. He also served as President of the New York Urban League. He has more than 36 years of experience at major advertising agen- cies and beverage companies. He is a

Hankin was part of a group called The Best of Friends, (TBOF), which, starting in 1971, monetized their love of danc- ing and music by building a network of discotheques in New York City. Three of the clubs, Leviticus, Justine's, and Bog- ard's, were the first Black-owned clubs in midtown Manhattan. TBOF also owned Brandi's in Brooklyn. These clubs paved the way for Saturday Night Fever, Studio 54, and the nationwide explosion of disco in the late 1970s. Col. Terrance Ramon Craig “Terry” Holliday (Omicron 1967) earned a B.A. degree from St. John’s University, an M.B.A. from the New York Institute of Technology, and a certification from the Academy of Military Sciences. He taught Aerospace History and National Security for the Air Force ROTC De- tachment at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In 2010, New York City Mayor Mi- chael R. Bloomberg appointed Holliday as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs. He advised the may- or on issues and initiatives impacting the veteran and military community. Hol- liday is a veteran with 40 years of service as a member of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserves, from which he retired with the rank of colonel. Col. Holliday’s significant military decorations include the Defense Meri- torious Service Medal; the Meritori- ous Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the Air Force Commendation Medal; the Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the Global War on Terrorism Medal-Expe- ditionary and Service; Southwest Asia Service Medal with device. Additionally, he received the Air Force Award for Ex- emplary Civilian Employee and the Air Force Award for Meritorious Service

Hwesu Samuel Murray, Esq. (Omi- cron 1967) earned a B.A. from Queens

David J. Billings receives the Schomburg Award from Hwesu S. Murray, in 2010.

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A LOOK BACK: KAPPA HISTORY

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The Har l em Rena i s sance Chapt er ' s Ar turo Al fonso Schomburg

By Hwesu Samuel Murray, Esq. Edited by Kevin P. Scott and Aaron Williams.

purpose of this museum is to encourage a fuller understanding of history and the unique role Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has played in that history. Schomburg died in 1938. In 1940, the New York Public Library renamed its division of Black history, literature, and prints after him. There are many of Brother Schom- burg’s private papers that probably have not been seen by anyone in the fraterni- ty since the late 1930s. Below are some examples.

A historian, scholar, and activist who was a central figure in collecting and preserving the artifacts and the experiences and culture of the Black Diaspora during the Harlem Renaissance, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (Omicron 1922) was born on January 24, 1874, in the Spanish colony of Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico to a Black West Indian mother and a German immigrant father. In 1891, Schomburg migrated to New York, where he became involved with the nationalist intellectuals of the Cuban and Puerto Rican communities and later Black internationalism. After experiencing racial discrimina- tion, he began calling himself "Afro- borinqueño" which means "Afro-Puerto Rican." He became a member of the "Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico" and took an active role advocating Puerto Rico's and Cuba's independence. While Schomburg was in grade school, one of his teachers claimed that Blacks had no history, heroes, or accomplish- ments. Inspired to prove the teacher wrong, Schomburg determined that he would find and document the accom- plishments of Africans on their conti- nent and in the diaspora. Over the years, he collected a vast amount of literature, art, slave narra- tives, and other materials of African history, which were purchased in 1926 by the New York City Public Library. So impressed with Schomburg's collection that the Carnegie Corporation pur- chased it from him for $10,000 to form the cornerstone of the Library's Division of Negro History named in his honor at its 135th Street Branch in Harlem. The proceeds from the sale were used to fund his travel to Spain, France, Ger-

Arturo A. Schomburg (Omicron 1922). Schomburg collection of the New York Public Library.

many, and England, to seek out other pieces of Black history to further add to the collection. In 1929 Schomburg retired from the Bankers Trust Company and took a position at Fisk University as curator of his vast collection of papers, which now bears his name. The collected works consist of more than 5000 volumes and thousands of pamphlets, old manu- scripts, prints, and bound sections of newspaper and magazine clippings, the largest and finest of its kind. He ranks as the foremost historian and collector of books on Blacks. In 2003, the New York Alumni Founda- tion (of New York (NY) Alumni Chapter of ΚΑΨ ) created the Schomburg-Wat- son Memorial Museum. This museum is housed in the historic NY Alumni Kappa House and named in honor of Arthur Schomburg and Robert Watson. The

Above: a letter from James Egert Allen, Provincial Polemarch, Northeastern District, on behalf of the General Committee for the Entertainment of the 24 th Grand Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, and below, on Omicron letterhead from 1935.

All are a testament to the deep roots the Omicron Chapter has planted in Kappa Alpha Psi.

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THE ST. LOUIS (MO) ALUMNI CHAPTER CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL

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St. Louis (MO) AL Breaks New Ground with Virtual Celebration

By Matt Whitener

On April 19, 2021, the St. Louis Alumni chapter marked its 100th an- niversary in a unique –and previously unanticipated— fashion. With the chal- lenges of COVID-19 still ever-present, plans were forced to pivot and adapt to the times. And what ultimately came of it was an event that showcased the diverse skills and collective history of the chapter in a previously unapproached fashion. Hosted by Grand Board of Directors member Clifford Franklin, who has been a member of St. Louis Alumni since 1987, and highlighted by words from Grand Polemarch Reuben A Shelton, Esq and Brother Cedric the Entertainer, a St. Louis-native and initiate at the Mu Zeta chapter, the St. Louis Alumni Virtual Centennial Celebration was a first-of-its kind event. Celebrating the history and highlights of the chapter, the celebration was transformed into a vari- ety show, highlighted by musical perfor- mances, tributes and much more.

of alumni chapters in the continual expectation of lifelong service of the fraternity. Chartered on April 19, 1921, the St. Louis Alumni Chapter is the oldest continuous alumni chapter west of the Mississippi River. The chapter has hosted five Grand Chapter meetings and was the birthplace of the Guide Right program in 1922, that has since become a leading initiative for the fraternity at large. For 2021, the chapter was named Large Chapter of the Year in the Middle Western Province, while winning a fifth- consecutive honor as Guide Right Chap- ter of the Year in the Province as well. Over the years, the chapter has held two Kappa Houses, that have served as both gathering points for the brothers, but also event spaces for the commu- nity at large. It was at the first St. Louis Kappa House that a young man that would go on to one day become Grand Polemarch made his first earliest forays into graduate life within the fraternity,

Having the opportunity to participate in such an event marked a special type of synchronicity for Brother Franklin. “To be on the Grand Board of Directors in 2021, 100 years after the chartering of SLA is surreal for me” he says. “More importantly, it crystallizes for me the importance of this chapter in the history of Kappa Alpha Psi. The St. Louis Alumni chapter does indeed play an important part in the history of Kappa Alpha Psi, its westward expansion and the affirmation of value

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Publishing achievement since 1914