THE DALLAS (TX) ALUMNI CHAPTER CELEBRATES 85 YEARS
Lattimore served on the Grand Board of Directors [1995-1999]. Lattimore was President of the province's newly formed Southwestern Education Lead- ership and Training Foundation, which operates as the 501(c)(3) non-profit arm of the Southwestern Province. He also led the Guide Right Foundation of Dallas, Inc. as its president. Lattimore was the Chief of Staff for 31 st Grand Polemarch Dwayne M. Murray, Esq.'s administration.
Southwestern Province Council Meet- ing, the fifth time DAC hosted province council. This meeting was very success- ful and proved to be a rehearsal for a larger fraternal event in Dallas ten years later. During this time, DAC's annual awards program, the Spring Formal, evolved into the ultra-klassy affair known today as, the Dallas Alumni Black and White Ball. Brother Robert Brown (DAC 1978) attended Denver (CO) Alumni's annual ball and noticed that ev- eryone in attendance wore strictly black and white formal wear. He, in turn, urged DAC to adopt the same format. After much discussion and debate, DAC changed the event's format to strict en- forcement of the new dress code. Over time, the event with its modified dress code became more popular among broth- ers, silhouettes, and guests alike and has continued with this format ever since.
Host Chapter
The Southwestern Province selected DAC to host Province Council Meet- ings in 1936, 1947, 1960, 1969, 1978, and 2010. DAC hosted its only Con- clave, the 68 th Grand Chapter Meeting, held from August 14 – 19, 1988, which included a theme of giving "A Salute to the Black Military Experience." Led by Conclave Chairman Sylvester Alford (Delta Upsilon 1961) and DAC Polemarch Wendall Parker, the city's largest hotel, the Loews Anatole, was the Conclave host hotel and convention center. Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price received the Distinguished Citizens Award, and Rev. Jesse Jackson received the Humanitarian Award. Bas- ketball legend Brother Oscar Robertson presented special awards to the three living Black recipients of the Congres- sional Medal of Honor. At the DFW Conclave, the Fraternity posthumously awarded the Laurel Wreath to the 14 th Grand Polemarch, Frank M. Summers, Esq.
Advising Chapter
Throughout its history, DAC advised numerous area undergraduate chapters, including the Delta Sigma at Bishop College, the Zeta Upsilon at North Texas State University) (now University of North Texas), the Eta Phi at East Texas State University (now Texas A&M- Commerce University. Currently, DAC is the advising chapter of the Lambda Lambda at Paul Quinn College and the Nu Beta at Southern Methodist Univer- sity (SMU).
"The Mecca" of the Southwestern Province
Other signature DAC events and activities include the successful and lucrative fall annual golf tournament that supports the Guide Right Foundation. Also the chapter began another tradi- tion, the Prairie View/Grambling Tailgate Party. This event would become an unof- ficial Kappa reunion, attracting Brothers from all over the DFW Metroplex and beyond.
Guide Right Foundation of Dallas, Inc.
Evolution of Key Events
In 1990, DAC established the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation of Dallas, Inc., the chapter's 501(c)(3) philanthropic orga- nization with an emphasis on education, to more effectively reach out to cor- porate entities that might be reluctant to donate funds to a fraternity. DAC changed the name of the foundation in 1991 to the Guide Right Foundation of Dallas, Inc, to avoid confusion with the Fraternity's national foundation of the same name. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to deserving youth. The Dallas community has consistently rec- ognized the Foundation with numerous awards for its community service and its emphasis on making young men of color a priority in its programs. The Guide Right Foundation continues to sponsor the chapter's Kappa League program and other programs that support the cause of education.
In the late 1970s, DAC established its signature event and primary fund- raiser. The Kappa Karnival began an amusement park themed event complete with belly dancers, stuffed animal prizes, and magicians. Sylvester "Syl" Alford (Delta Upsilon 1961) was polemarch [1976-1979] when DAC created this an- nual event. The event later evolved into a full-fledged Las Vegas-style "Kasino Night," with live music, professional dealers, and slot machines. The city's largest and finest hotels hosted the event at its height, welcoming as many as 3000+ guests and inspiring other chapters and groups to organize similar events. This fundraiser is still an annual event on the chapter's calendar and raises money for annual scholarships.
The Kappa Kastle
After many years of meeting at the homes of various Brothers, the Martin Luther King Community Center, the American Woodmen's Center, and other locations, the discussion of the idea of our own "frat house" became serious in the early 1980s. The chapter established the Dallas Alumni Life Membership Program, which had a $2,500 member- ship fee used as seed money for a down payment. by the late 1980s, the DAC commissioned a feasibility study in a survey regarding purchasing a house. Other chapters like Baltimore (MD) Alumni, Houston (TX) Alumni, Wash-
In 1978, DAC hosted the 42 nd
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Publishing achievement for more than 105 years
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