Bill Text: MS SC571 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Recognize Centennial (100th) Anniversary observance of founding of Kappa Alpha Psi Community Service Fraternity.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-02-03 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC571 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2011-SC571-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jones, Butler (38th), Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd)
Senate Concurrent Resolution 571
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING THE CENTENNIAL (100TH) ANNIVERSARY OBSERVANCE OF THE FOUNDING OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI COMMUNITY SERVICE FRATERNITY.
WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was founded on January 5, 1911, on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. The young, intellectual and talented 10 undergraduate college students herewith revered as the Founders were Elder Watson Diggs, Dr. Ezra Dee Alexander, Atty. Henry T. Asher, Dr. Byron K. Armstrong, Dr. Marcus Peter Blakemore, Paul W. Caine, George Wesley Edmonds, Dr. Guy Levis Grant, Edward Giles Irvin and John Milton Lee. This was the first and only fraternity to this date that was founded on that campus and the third African-American college based fraternity founded in the country; and
WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., has grown to include over 700 chapters and has initiated over 30,000 men and still maintains and lives by motto from inception "Achievement in every field of human endeavor." The national programs which define the fraternity to date are the Guide Right Program commonly known as the Kappa Leadership Development League, the Sunday of Hope Project which directly benefits St. Jude Children's Hospital and has raised over a Million Dollars, such that the fraternity will now have a wing at the hospital named in its honor and the well-known Kappa Kamp held each year at Piney Woods Boarding School here in Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., chartered its first chapter in Mississippi on February 27, 1941, with the naming of the Jackson (MS) Alumni Chapter. Mississippi now has 22 chapters with 12 designated as Alumni Chapters. They are Canton-Madison; Cleveland; Columbus; Greenville; Gulfport; Hattiesburg; Holly Springs; Jackson; Meridian; Natchez; Oxford and Vicksburg. The remaining 10 chapters designated as Undergraduate Chapters are located at Alcorn State University; Tougaloo College; Jackson State University; Mississippi Valley State University; Rust College; Mississippi State University; University of Southern Mississippi; University of Mississippi; Delta State University and Millsaps College. Our state membership includes all professions such as architects, attorneys, businessmen, dentists, doctors, educators, engineers, pharmacists, etc. Noted Mississippians who are members of the fraternity are the Honorable Bennie G. Thompson, U.S. Congressman; the Honorable Carlton Reeves, U.S. Federal District Judge; Representative Credell Calhoun, Mississippi State Legislature; Senator Kenneth Wayne Jones, Mississippi State Legislature; three past Presidents of the Metro Jackson Chamber of Commerce Howard Catchings, Socrates Garrett and LeRoy G. Walker, Jr.; all of the Presidents of Piney Woods Country Life School from its Founder, Dr. Lawrence Jones, to the current President Dr. Reginald T.W. Nichols; and the late Representative Charles Young was a respected member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; and
WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., has weathered over the past 100 years many challenges but has faced adversary with dignity and maintained loyalty to their members and commitment to provide service to the communities of which it domiciles. Having been led nationally by 31 strong men, the fraternity is dedicated to being creative in its purpose and give substance to its existence as it celebrates 100 years. As the fraternity looks to its future it renews all of its tenets and maintains that they must be true to themselves and thusly true to others; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we acknowledge this landmark event in the history of a respected service organization nationally and in the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and salute Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., on the occasion of its Centennial (100th) Anniversary celebration and extend our best wishes on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Mississippi Chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
