The Most Honored and Revered Founder Elder Watson Diggs
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.
Ezra Dee Alexander
Ezra Dee Alexander 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.
Dr. Byron Kenneth Armstrong
Byron
K. Armstrong, 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.
Atty. Henry T. Asher
Henry
T. Asher, 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
Marcus
Peter Blakemore, 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 Waymond Caine
Paul
Waymond Caine 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.
George W. Edmonds
George
W. Edmonds 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 parents of one son, Noel.
Dr. Guy Levis Grant
Guy
Levis Grant, 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 Giles Irvin
Edward
Giles Irvin, 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
John
Milton Lee, 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.
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