100 YEARS
THE NU CHAPTER CENTENNIAL
Previous page: 1969 Nu Debris Yearbook. December 1951 issue of The Journal, 1921, No. 2 issue of The Journal. Above: Nu Chapter house. Right: Myron Jones 1972 issue of The Journal.
sity. He would later earn degrees from the University of Chicago and Indiana University-Bloomington. In 1921, the third Grand Polemarch George David, II appointed Artis as the first perma- nent editor of The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal which he led in 1937. In 1938, city officials appointed Artis manager of Lockfield Gardens, one of the first public housing facilities in the nation and remained in that position until his retirement in 1969. Artis was a commu- nity activist in Indianapolis and a board member of several organizations. A longtime member of the India- napolis (IN) Alumni Chapter, Artis' extra meritorious contributions to the Frater- nity while serving as the Editor of The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal earned him the 8 th Laurel Wreath. Laurel Wreath Lau- reate Artis died in September 1971. A charter initiate of Nu, Robert L. Bailey was a graduate of Talladega (AL) College and earned an LL.B. degree in 1912 from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis. Bailey was the Grand Vice Polemarch in 1923 and was the non-voting member of the Grand Board of Directors in 1931. He led the Indianapolis (IN) Alumni Chapter as its sixth polemarch [1929-1930]. Bailey practiced law in Indianapo- lis and was the only African American member of the Indianapolis Bar Associa- tion. One of Bailey’s most noteworthy
cases representing fellow Nu charter initiate Dr. Lucian B. Meriweather in a case known as the “Spite Fence” case. He served as a judge in the Marion (IN) County Circuit Court. In 1938, Bailey worked as assistant attorney general, the first African American in Indiana to hold that position. When Bailey passed in 1940, the Indianapolis Recorder newspaper remarked, “Despite his record of never having lost a case for the state during his tenure of office as assistant attorney- general, Attorney Bailey was most widely known and loved because of his brilliant battles for the N.A.A.C.P., or some de- serving person whose funds were low.” Aaron A. Banks (Nu 2016) was a Purdue Student Body [2018–2019] president following in the footsteps of fellow Nu initiates that held the office, T arrus Richardson (Nu 1988) and Rodney C. Glass (Nu 1990) . In ad- dition to holding office, Banks was a quarterback on the Purdue Boilermak- ers football team, a member of NSBE and the Minority Engineering Program (MEP). Currently, Banks works in the New York City as a management consul- tant for Accenture. As an industrial engineering up- perclassman, Brother Barnette founded Purdue's Black Society of Engineers (later renamed the Society of Black En- gineers) as a support system for African
American students. The Society met at what was then called the “Black House,” now known at the Black Cultural Center at Purdue. Engineering students met in the library daily to complete their homework and prepare for exams togeth- er. The Society became the strongest and most cohesive academic group on campus for Black engineering students. The activities of the members of the Black Society of Engineers resulted in increased retention and increased enroll- ment. The Purdue student organization became the model that led to the forma- tion of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) in 1975. Barnette was a senior executive with Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and was an ardent supporter of NSBE. Barnette was NSBE’s first recipient of the Golden Torch Award for outstand- ing academic, industry, and community achievements. Barnette passed in 1991. An educator and an ordained min- ister, Cleo Walter Blackburn was the Founder of the Board of Fundamental Education and director of the Indianap- olis-based social service agency, Flanner House, for nearly 40 years. Blackburn also was president of Jarvis Christian College located in Hawkins, TX for 11 years. Blackburn earned a B.A. degree from the Butler University School of Religion and an M.A. degree from Fisk University.
THE JOURNAL ♦ FALL-WINTER 2020 | 19
Publishing achievement for more than 105 years
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