A LOOK BACK: KAPPA HISTORY
into the African American community in social programs, business opportunities and housing contracts. He was the first African American lawyer to work for a Wall Street law firm becoming a partner in the firm of Stroock, Stroock and Lavan. Jackson was appointed to the Presiden- tial Housing Commission by President Ronald Reagan. He served on the board of directors for several banks, corporations, and universities. Jet magazine called him the “most significant Black Republican Leader” at the time of his death. ity in Topeka. He was the first African American ever appointed to the position. He brought in better medical care and educational programs to the facility and promoted more minority hiring. A mem- ber of Kansas Correctional Association, he later became president of the association. Joseph “Joe” Douglass, Jr. , was the first African American Fire Chief in Topeka (1983-89) and served as President of the Topeka Board of Education. Richard Mack played on the first North Carolina Central University champion- ship basketball team in 1940-41. He later went on to be the head basketball coach at Southern University (1964-72) and won the SWAC Championship in 1964. He was inducted into the Southern University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. Authors Kevin L. Burnett, Beta Psi ‘75 National Guide Right Commission Chair- man Dr. Samuel Odom, Beta Gamma ‘93 Healthy Kappa Chairman (SW) Military and Veterans Affairs Commission George Thompson was appointed warden in early 60s of the state correction facil-
ball coach at Sumner High School in Kan- sas City, KS, where he prevailed on the Kansas High School Activities Association to integrate high-school athletics through- out the State of Kansas. He was appoint- ed to the Kansas State Parole Board in 1955 and served under several governors. Onan was the founder and first principal of Capital City High School for emotion- ally disturbed children. He began the school with a staff of three, in just three
Sam Jackson, Jr. , 1929-1982, law partner in the Scott, Scott, Scott, Jackson Firm. He was a civil rights activist, spokesman for higher education and corporate lawyer. In his early years as a lawyer, he traveled hundreds of miles in remote parts of Kansas representing clients in civil rights cases.
He was the first African American to
subject areas. His fundamental belief was that “all kids could be taught and educated”. He focused on providing qual- ity education for emotionally dis- turbed students. He aggressively increased teach- er-student rations and encour- aged teachers to become certified in their areas of expertise and acquire a gradu- ate degree in the field of Special Education. He continued to pursue his dream of providing quality education through train- ing programs for teachers and mentoring doctor- al students from Kansas University specializing in
the education of emotionally disturbed children. As a result of his persistence and efforts, students received state accred- ited diplomas upon completion of this program. When Onan resigned, he had a staff of 52. He moved on to become Director of Governmental Relations for the Topeka Public Schools. He held every office with the Topeka Alumni Chapter including Polemarch.
co-chair the Kansas GOP Committee. He became an NAACP regional lawyer and then a NAACP lobbyist during the Eisenhower Administration. Jackson was appointed to the Equal Employ- ment Opportunity Commission under the Johnson Administration. He was appointed Assistant HUD Secretary in the Nixon Administration. He was credited with funneling billions of dollars
Cleophus Thomas, Jr., Esq., Eta Chi ‘74 General Counsel
Publishing achievement for 105 years
THE JOURNAL SPRING ISSUE | 79
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