TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
versary celebration for the church, with the Bishop of Kansas officiating. Milan was elected by the Diocese twice to rep- resent it at the General Convention of the national church, and he also served on the board of trustees of the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. Milan retired as a deacon in 2013 and received the Bishop's Cross Award for his lifetime of outstanding service to the Episcopal Church. Milan and his wife, Alversa, founded the Kansas City, KS chapter of Mother- to-Mother Ministry that partners established women with disadvantaged mothers. In Kansas City, he also served on the Turner House community center and the Vernon Center Foundation for senior citizens. He founded the Turn- erites square dancing troupe that did performances for free throughout the Kansas City area. A Life Member of the Fraternity, Milan served as Chapter Advisor for the Mu of Kappa Alpha Psi from 1956- 1968 while his wife, Mrs. Alversa Milan served as housemother at the Mu Chap- ter House. During his time, Milan became a friend, supporter, and mentor to Mu Chapter member named Gale Sayers. In Sayers' autobiography, I am Third, the book mentioned Milan's role in supporting and encouraging Sayers' academic efforts, boosted his self-confi- dence, and helped Sayers overcome his speech impediment. Milan had a long history of commu- nity activism and civic leadership. He led the bond issue for building the first integrated public swimming pool in the state of Kansas. Milan established a co- alition of Black and White supporters for the bond issue. The results of an elec- tion on the bond issue were successful. In the summer of 1967, the community swimming pool opened. Recognized early for his contribu- tions to the community, Milan received in 1958 the Lawrence Junior Chamber of Commerce Young Man of the Year Award. In 1973, the Lawrence Branch of Concerned Black Parents jointly
presented Milan and his wife with its Martin Luther King Award. In 1997, the Jesse Milan Pre-School at Pinkney Elementary School in Lawrence, KS named its pre-school facility after Milan, which included the Lawrence City Commission declaring the day as "Jesse Milan Day." In 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush appointed Milan to the commis- sion commemorating the 50 th anniver- sary of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. In 2001, the Midwest Region IV State Conference of NAACP chapters recognized Milan for his civil rights works in Kansas with its Benjamin Hooks President of the Year Award. In 2014, the 71st Annual NAACP Kansas State Conference presented Milan with its Hero Award. For his work in educa- tion and ending discrimination, Baker University awarded Milan an honor- ary doctorate. Local officials selected Milan to carry the Olympic Torch as it passed through Kansas City in 1996 and 2002. Brother Jesse Milan was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years Al- versa (née Brewster) Milan, in 2014; his parents and four siblings. He is survived by his immediate family of son, Jesse (William Roberts) Milan, Jr., son, John Edward Milan; daughter, Julie Ann Milan; daughter, Joy Lynne (Jon Walls) Milan; and granddaughters, Milana Walls and Courtney Walls; and Robert L. Milan, Sr.; and a host of nieces, neph- ews, grandnieces, nephews, brothers, and sisters-in-law The Spencer Research Library Archi- val Collection at the University of Kan- sas maintains the Jesse Milan Papers. The archival collection includes profes- sional and personal papers, records, and materials documenting his historic work in Kansas for education, civil rights, and for the faith community, along with his massive collection of awards and cita- tions.
208 | SUMMER 2021 ♦ THE JOURNAL
VIRTUAL 85 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING
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