108 TH ELDER WATSON DIGGS AWARDEE
Willie F. Brooks, Jr.
J ohn Maxwell is quoted as saying, “a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” If this is true, then our first recipient tonight is a living example. Willie Brooks is a 1977 initi- ate of the Lemoyne-Owen College Chapter, the Beta Mu of Kappa Alpha Psi; 42 years in the Bond. He has served in various leadership roles including, Undergradu- ate Chapter Polemarch; Beta Mu and Kappa Beta (Uni- versity of Memphis); Gradu- ate Chapter Polemarch; Memphis (TN) Alumni Chapter; Senior Province Vice Polemarch (SC) and the 22 nd South Central Province Polemarch. His signature achievement is his service on St. Jude Chil- dren’s Research Hospital Multicultural African-Ameri- can Advisory Committee and National Chairman of St. Jude Partnership Initiatives that resulted in more than $2.7 million raised through the Sunday of Hope Pro- gram, for which he currently serves as the fraternity’s National Vice Chairman. Professionally, he is a Hu- man Resource Program Management Advisor at FedEx and administers corporate compensation pro- grams for U.S. Operations. His record of excellence has earned him the FedEx Five Star Award, the company’s most prestigious global hon- or bestowed upon FedEx’s
employees worldwide.
In community and civic endeavors, he was elected in 2003, to the Memphis City School Board of Commis- sioners and in 2006, to the Memphis Charter Com- mission. He was elected to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners August 7, 2014 and Chairman Pro Tempore in 2017. He is married to the love of his life, Dianne Brooks and has two children, a daughter, Kemmashela (David) and a son, Willie III (Brittney) who is also our fraternity brother and two grandchildren. Here's to Elder Watson Diggs Awardee, Willie F. Brooks, Jr.! “First, in the signature words of FedEx ® I am abso- lutely positively delighted to receive the Elder Watson Diggs Award, named in honor of our Founder. To God be the glory for the great things he has done. It is an honor to share this moment with each of tonight's outstanding hono- rees who have demonstrat- ed the fraternity's motto: achievement...This year, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity celebrates 108 years of existence. I am proud to be the 108 th recipient of this prestigious award. What an honor.”
THE JOURNAL ♦ FALL 2019 | 69
Publishing achievement for 105 years
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