
|
KAΨ
| Dr. Ezra D. Alezander (1892-1971)
was born in Bloomington, Indiana in 1892, the site of Indiana
University. He was graduated from Bloomington High School in 1910. He
matriculated at Indiana University in the fall of 1910 and was
graduated from Indiana University in 1917 with the A.B. degree. He
received his M.D. degree from the Medical School of Indiana University
in 1919. He practiced medicine in Indianapolis. In 1920, he married
Mary Hunter, a teacher in the Indianapolis Public School system.
Alexander served several terms as a member of the Grand Board of
Directors. |

|

|
Byron K. Armstrong (1890-1980) was
born in Westfield, Indiana, entered Indiana University where he studied
philosophy, mathematics, and sociology. After finishing Indiana
University, he earned his Master's degree at Columbia University in
1913, and subsequently the Doctor of Philosophy degree from the
University of Michigan. He held teaching positions in Florida, Indiana,
Kansas, and Oklahoma. During World War I, he served as an investigator
for the Department of Labor. He was awarded the Laurel Wreath in 1935. |
| Henry T. Asher (1892-1963) was born
in Woodburn, Kentucky in 1892, was graduated from the Bloomington High
School in 1910. He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Indiana
University in 1914 and the next year was an instructor at Lincoln
Institute at Jefferson City, Missouri. He was a graduate student at the
University of Minnesota in 1917. He received the degree of LL. B. at
the Detroit College of Law in 1928. |

|

|
Dr. Marcus Peter Blakemore(1889-1959)
was born in Franklin, Indiana in 1889, attended common and high schools
in Anderson, Indiana. He was graduated from High School in 1909 and
entered the University of Indiana the following year. After leaving the
University, he organized the Electric Engineering Company, which he
operated until he enlisted in World War I. He later entered the Dental
School of the University of Pittsburgh, from which he was graduated in
1923. At the time of his death in October 1959, he was residing in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he maintained his practice of dentistry. |
|
Paul
W. Caine (1891-1922) was born in Charleston, Indiana, in 1891
and attended grade school and high school in Greencastle, Indiana. He
enrolled at Indiana University in 1909 and helped the other Founders in
organizing Kappa Alpha Nu. Because of a disastrous fire in the
Fraternity house in which he was employed, he never finished his
sophomore year.
Brother
Caine went into the catering business in his hometown, later attended
Columbia University, set up a catering business in Gary, Indiana, and
published a book on catering, which was copyrighted in 1919 by the
Hurst Publishing Company. Brother Caine was instrumental in setting up
the Gamma, Delta, and Zeta chapters. He later went into business in
Peoria, Illinois and was fatally burned during an explosion of gaseous
materials in his business in 1922. |

|

|
Elder
Watson Diggs (circa 1890-1947), born in Christian County,
Kentucky, was a graduate of Indiana State Normal (now Indiana State
Teachers College) and Indiana University, the birthplace of Kappa Alpha
Psi Fraternity. He served as Grand Polemarch for the first six
consecutive years of the Fraternity's existence. For this and other
outstanding contributions to the Fraternity, he was awarded the
Fraternity's first Laurel Wreath in December, 1924.
An
educator by profession, he taught in the public schools of
Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was elevated to a principalship. After
his death on November 8, 1947, the name of the school where he taught
was changed to the Elder Diggs School in his memory. Upon America's
entrance into World War I, Diggs resigned his principalship to enter
the Nation's first Officer's Training Camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa,
and was commissioned a lieutenant. After European service with the
368th Infantry, he became a captain in the Reserve Officers Training
Corps. Diggs was instrumental in having the Indiana Constitution
amended to permit Negro enlistment in the Indiana National Guard.
|
|
George W. Edmonds (1890-1962) was
born in Vandenburgh County, Knight Township, Indiana on August 13,
1890. He entered Carver Elementary School and Clark High School in
Evansville, graduating in 1910. In the fall of 1910, George entered
Indiana University at Bloomington. He joined nine other students in
founding Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
After
George returned home for the summer of 1911, his father became ill with
pneumonia and died. His father had worked in the coal mines of
Vandenburgh County for many years. George, being the eldest son, became
head of the family, thus preventing his return to school. With the new
responsibility of supporting the family, George took a job with the
area coal mines and worked with the coal mines and the railroad until
he died of pneumonia on June 13, 1962.George married the former Willa
Mae Forte and settled in Stevenson, Indiana. They became the parents of
one son, Noel.
|

|

|
Dr. Guy Levis Grant (1891-1973),
born in New Albany, Indiana, attended public schools in that city, was
graduated from Scribner High School in 1909, and later entered Indiana
University. While there, he majored in chemistry, graduating with the
A.B. degree in 1915. In 1920, he received the D.D.S. degree from
Indiana Dental School, then a part of the University of Indiana; he
practiced dentistry in Indianapolis. In 1929, he married Laura Hammons.
He served as a member of the
Grand Board of Directors and was the Fraternity's Historian. In
addition to his activities with Kappa Alpha Psi, Brother Grant held
memberships in several civic, professional, and business organizations.
He was a member of the Second Baptist Church in Indianapolis.
|
|
Edward
G. Irvin (1893-1983) was born in Spencer, Indiana, on August 13,
1893, was graduated from Kokomo, Indiana High School in 1910 and
entered the University of Indiana the same year. After leaving school,
he pursued a Journalistic career in various cities throughout the
country until World War I.
Aside from
his success as a Journalist, Brother Irvin was a pioneer in promoting
basketball and track athletics in the small town schools of Indiana. He
was an active member of the Methodist Church of Chicago and a member of
the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges. He organized and operated the
Afro-American Manufacturing Company in Chicago, which produced
novelties, candies, and specialties.
|

|

|
John Milton Lee was born in
Danville, Indiana, September 7, 1890, was graduated from the Danville
High School in 1910 and entered the University of Indiana and there
completed three years of pre-medical work. He later became a student at
Temple University (1915) but was compelled to leave school because of a
death in the family. He enlisted in the 349th Field Artillery in March
of 1918 and served overseas as a First Class Sergeant and Gunner. His
battery enjoys the unique distinction of having been the first battery
of Negro Artillerymen ever to open fire upon an enemy. John Milton Lee
fired the first shot.
He
helped organize, and for several years was president of, the Fairview
Gold Club, the first Negro Golf Club in Pennsylvania. In 1931 he
married Mary Walker Robinson. Vocationally, he was engaged in several
enterprises. For eight years, he conducted a successful catering
business in Philadelphia; he organized and served as Vice-president and
Secretary of the Mutual Emergency Union, a mutual aid company in
Philadelphia. He was also a member of the board of Managers of the
Columbia Community Branch of the YMCA.
|
LAST UPDATED: 28
April 2004
© Copyright 2004 Kappa Alpha Psi
|