LOOK BACK KAPPA HISTORY
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Reflections of Early Conclaves
My first Conclave was not as a brother but as a Scroller at the 1953 Conclave [the 43rd GCM] in Chicago. My pledge group was fortunate enough to have worked with the brothers in planning and setting up all of the different venues. We worked the banquets, dances, and parties, and had as much fun as the brothers. We learned a lot that we carried over when we became brothers. The Conclave in Chicago in 1953, at which I was 18 years old in the midst of all of these accomplished, educated, and outstanding men, they were impressive and inspiring. They treated us cordially and were open and friendly. No hazing, just talking to us. I met at least two Founders who were in attendance. Several past [Grand] Polemarchs were in attendance. All of the so-called Kappa dignitaries in attendance mingled with us, and we were there to have fun. From how these men conducted themselves, I saw where the reputation of Kappas being open, fun-loving men came from. An older brother called me over and opened his coat—it was the first time that I saw a Laurel Wreath pin, it was magnificent. On one memorable occasion [the following year in 1954] in Washington, D.C., W. Henry Greene, the then Grand Polemarch, walked into a party, and the brothers gathered around him and started to worship him. Brother Greene stopped them—he said, “Brothers, I appreciate all of this, but I’m just a brother, so let me go and get one of those beautiful ladies and dance.” That was the atmosphere of the Grand Chapter meetings in the early years. The business was taken care of in sufficient meetings with full participation from all of the
I’ve only missed two Conclaves [since my initiation]. One thing I recall about how the Conclave was different was when I attended the Miami Conclave in 1973, undergraduates didn’t have to wear suits and ties in business meetings, but had to wear delegate badges. At the smaller conclaves, the Loving Cup Ceremony was conducted at the Closed Banquet, and it was done with the traditional circle, with a number of cups being passed simultaneously. At the larger meetings, we remained at our tables and passed a cup. brothers in attendance, not just delegates. In most of the Grand Chapter meetings in those days, you felt good leaving them. The social events were fun, and we tried to go to every one of them. The sponsoring undergraduate chapter had parties that were among our age group, but we were just as comfortable with older brothers at other affairs. The 1956 Conclave in Atlanta, Georgia, was one of the most memorable ones for me. We went to Atlanta on the train and had a good time on the way there. We got to Atlanta, and when we attempted to get cabs to the meeting location, we were denied services from the White cab drivers and directed to the Black cab drivers across the street. After arriving at the hotel, we were told there were no hotel accommodations and we were to be lodged at the various college dormitories. I was assigned to a room in the Atlanta University dorm. The meetings and social affairs were held on the campuses of Morehouse College and Clark College (now Clark- Atlanta University).
THE HONORABLE JAMES H. WILLIAMS (Alpha Rho 1954), Retired Cook County (IL) Circuit Court Judge
KEVIN C. COX (Alpha Xi 1969), 103rd Elder Watson Diggs Awardee
SPRING 2025 ♦ THE JOURNAL 59
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