76 TH LAUREL WREATH LAUREATE
D wayne M. Murray, Esq., often referred to as “The Visionary,” served as the “Centennial Grand Polemarch” during the 100 th Anniversary Celebration of the Fraternity. He is an attorney, receiver, liquidator, trustee, adjunct law professor, community leader, and family man with a ubiquitous presence in Louisiana. He was sworn into office on July 7, 2007 as the 31 st Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. While serv- ing as Grand Polemarch, the fraternity saw significant expansion under his leadership: 24 chapters were chartered. On September 15, 2010, he was sworn into office as the Chairman of the Council of Presidents for the National Pan-Hel- lenic Council’s 1.5 million member organization. As a fraternity leader our Brother has served on all level of the frater- nity. He has served as Senior Grand Polemarch Vice Polemarch, Grand Board Member, Chairman of the Constitution & Statutes Committee, Chairman of the Council of Province Polemarch, Chairman of the Grand Board of Appeal Com- mittee, Province Polemarch, Senior Province Vice Polemarch, and Province Board Member for the State of Louisiana. He is a Life Member of the Fraternity and the Southwestern Province. Brother Murray is a Charter Member of the Lafay- ette Alumni, former Board Member of the Opelousas (LA) Alumni and is currently affiliated with the Baton Rouge (LA) Alumni Chapter. He was initiated in the Spring of 1977 at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Chapter, the Theta Nu of Kappa Alpha Psi where he served as Vice Polemarch and Chapter Polemarch. Our brother has demonstrated a commitment to young children as exhibited through the creation of Kappa Kamp, a national service program of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. This successful mentoring program, now in its 22 nd year, has benefited over 1,500 boys. On college campuses, Brother Murray has been involved in the establishment of the GLAD Program, an initiative to raise the awareness of financial literacy among college age students. The program has been implemented on over 100 college campuses. Brother Murray guided the fraternity toward a goal of raising over $1.4 Million Dollars for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital through the implementation of a national church initia- tive called the Sunday of Hope. During the 2016 National Founder’s Day he was instrumental in presenting to Grand Polemarch Thomas Battles $10,000 to kick off the Sunday of Hope Campaign for 2016. Ebony Magazine recognized Brother Murray in its Ebony Power 150 in 2008 as one of America’s most influential African Americans. He is the first African American to serve as Chapter 7 Trustee for the United States Bankruptcy Court for Louisiana and Mississippi and as CEO and President of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees. He has been recognized by Inspire Magazine, Onyx Magazine, featured in national television commercials for the United Negro College Fund, U.S. Census Department and appeared on the televised 2010 NAACP Image Awards. Under his watch as Southwestern Province Polemarch the organization saw fit to create its Life Membership Program, Kappa Kamp Program and the Southwestern Education and Leadership Training Foundation, Inc.
Brother Murray holds the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and obtained the Juris Doctorate from the Southern University Law Center.
"I am thrilled that you saw in me that which made this conferral possible...Our ancestral footprint is embedded and deeply rooted in the struggle for civil rights, social justice, economic and educational equality and in the implementation of public policy to create an informed body of voters....Realizing this, we must stand together as One Kappa in this fight for equality. Kappa must be willing to grapple with difficult scenarios that are further complicated by record unemployment, race relationships, police reform, budget deficits...and the perceived disregard for issues vital to the health and moral welfare of our nation. The drama of the moment requires that we stand up as One Kappa and speak to the urgency of directing attention to public policy initiatives in the interests of the communities we serve...I will wear the Laurel Wreath with honor all of the days of my life...thank you."
THE JOURNAL ♦ SUMMER 2021 | 33
VIRTUAL 85 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING
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