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Fraternity Founders
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.
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Ezra Dee Alexander(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.
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Byron K. Armstrong
(1890-1980), 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.
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Henry T. Asher
(1892-1963), 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
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Marcus Peter Blakemore
(1889-1959), 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.
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Paul Waymond 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
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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.
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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
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| Edward Giles Irvin (1893-1983),
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
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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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