TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Dr. Alvin V. Blount, Jr. 1922–2017 Civil Rights Icon, Pioneer in Desegregation of Hospitals
A man of character, great devo- tion, and unparalleled-esteem, Dr. Alvin Vincent Blount Jr., 94, left a legacy of global significance. It is no exaggeration to say that Dr. Blount perpetually showed al- truism through his tireless contributions to humanity and civil rights. The modest Brother Blount was born February 24, 1922 in Raleigh, North Carolina and was the eldest of four chil- dren. After graduating from Washington High School in Raleigh, NC in 1939, he enrolled at the North Carolina Agricul- tural and Technical State University. During his matriculation at A&T, He served as the student body president and
chairman of the campus newspaper. He was a fall 1940 initiate of the Alpha Nu of Kappa Alpha Psi ® at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State Univer- sity. In 1943, he graduated with his B.A. in Chemistry (magna cum laude). He was unaware that his future endeavors would lead him to be awarded an Hon- orary Doctorate Degree in Humanities from his Alma Mater in 1983. Brother Blount was also a charter member for the Winston Salem (NC) Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi ® . Brother Blount continued his educa- tional journey by enrolling in Howard University Medical School where he received his M.D. degree in 1947. He
completed a general surgery residency at Kate Bittings Reynolds Memorial Hos- pital in Winston-Salem, NC. Brother Blount showed his love and desire to serve the great nation by becoming a member of the 2 nd Mobile Army Surgi- cal Hospital in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. During his years of honorable military service, Brother Blount served as interim Chief of Surgery for the 8225 th MASH Unit in Korea from 1951 until 1952, and was appointed Chief of Surgery for the 74 th U.S. Combat Surgical Hospital in Southeast Asia. He returned to the United States in 1954.
Upon his return, Brother Blount was challenged with discrimination, but he
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