TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Michael O. Randolph 1953–2018 Tallahassee (FL) Fire Chief, U.S. Army
Jesse L. Reiger 1929–2018 Reverend, Korean War Veteran
Lt. Col Maurice E. Ripley, Jr. (Ret.) 1931–2018 U.S. Air Force
Jesse L. Reiger en- tered the Chapter Invisible on Labor Day, September 3, 2018 at the age of 89. He was born on May 14, 1929; one of four children from the union of Leon L. Reiger and
Michael O. Ran- dolph entered the Chapter Invisible on September 24, 2018. He was born on September 26, 1953 to Bishop John and Mazeria Arlene Randolph in Talla-
Retired United States Air Force Lieutenant-Colonel Maurice “Rip” Ripley entered the Chapter Invisible on August 15th at the age of 86 in his San Antonio, TX.
hassee, FL and graduated from FAMU High School. Thereafter, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served his country and received an honorable discharge. He continued his education at the Florida State Fire College and the Cen- tral Florida Community College earn- ing Fire Science Certifications; Dillard University in Executive Fire Manage- ment; Tallahassee Community College, receiving his Associate Degree in Fire Sciences; a Bachelor of Science from Nova Southeastern University; a Master of Science from Florida State University; and he continued his studies at Harvard University. Professionally, he served 26 years with the Tallahassee Fire Department where he rose to Captain and retired as Interim Chief of Training with the Tallahassee Fire Department Academy while serving as an Adjunct Instructor & Literacy Spe- cialist with multiple educational institu- tions. He returned to the professional arena as the Chief of Training with the Gainesville Fire Rescue. He concluded his professional services as the Tallahas- see Fire Academy Program Coordinator. Brother Randolph was a 2002 initiate of the Tallahassee (AL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Preceded in death by his parents, Broth- er Randolph is survived by his wife of 41 years: Vernea; sons: Michael (Shena) of Apopka, FL and Shamar, of Tallahassee, FL; daughter: Tiffany of Tallahassee, FL; granddaughters: Rian and Jordan Randolph, of Apopka, FL; and a host of family, friends and colleagues.
He was born on September 26, 1931, in Lexington, KY to David and Beatrice Bledsoe. He graduated from Tuskegee Institute in 1953 earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engi- neering. He joined the fraternity as a 1953 initiate of the Tuskegee Institute Chapter, the Gamma Epsilon of Kappa Alpha Psi ® . Ripley served over 26 years with distinc- tion in the U.S. Air Force (UASF) as a Transportation Officer and served his country in the Vietnam War, where he earned several medals, including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and one Oak Leaf Cluster, and National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star. After retiring from the Air Force, he went to work for Pacific Architect and Engineers (PA&E), an American defense and government services contractor. As a PA&E logistics contractor, his as- signments took him to Crete, Greece; Yokota, Japan; and Sierra Leone, West Africa. He was also a Life member with the San Antonio Chapter-Tuskegee Airmen, Inc (TAI). He was Central Region 1st Vice President and Board Representative. He also served as Central Region President and Past Vice-President of the San Antonio Chapter. He was instrumental in establishing chapters in the Central Region and brought many organizational innovations during his tenure. For his dedicated involvement in preserving the legacy of the Tuskegee Experience and advancing the objectives of TAI, he
Jessie (nee Rosemond) Reiger. After high graduating high school,
Reiger attended historic Howard Uni- versity in Washington, DC where he studied pre-med prior to leaving school to join the United States Army where he fought in the Korean War. While in col- lege, he joined the fraternity as a 1950 initiate of the Howard University Chap- ter, the Xi of Kappa Alpha Psi®. Honor- ably discharged from the military, Reiger continued his education at Crain Junior College in his hometown of Chicago, IL. After completing Crain Junior College, he matriculated at Chicago Teachers College (now Chicago State University) and earned a b.s. degree in addition to a teaching certificate. He briefly taught on the westside of Chicago in the Chi- cago Public School system. He was also a Chicago Policeman who taught at the Chicago Police Academy. Reiger served as a reading special- ist at St. Thaddeus Catholic School. He also was the founder and owner of Reigers’ Reading Foundation and a community block club organizer. He at- tended Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary located in Evanston, IL where he, along with his wife Patricia, gradu- ated together in 1993 where he received a master’s degree in christian education. Reverend Jesse L. Reiger is preceded in death by his parents and siblings. He is survived by wife of 61 years, Rev. Dr. Patricia Reiger; daughter, Dr. Patrice Reiger; grandsons, Eric and Scott Phil- lips (Diana) and Patrick Griffin and his great grandchildren, Esra and Esme Phillips.
72 | THE JOURNAL
Publishing achievement for 105 years
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online