CHAPTER NEWS CENTENNIAL
“WHILE OUR UNDERGRADUATES CONTINUE TO SERVE AS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE FRATERNITY, IT IS OUR SENIOR KAPPAS THAT ARE THE BEDROCK FOUNDATION. WE MUST CONTINUE TO HONOR THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE FRATERNITY.”
SENIOR BROTHERS RECOGNIZED Charles Howard (Gamma Xi 1968) Ronald Taylor (Xi 1955) Sam McCoy, Ph.D. (Beta Kappa 1956) Thomas Henderson (Alpha Iota 1959) Earl Yates (Xi 1966) Charles Smith (Gamma Theta 1969) Clarence Gilkes, DDS (Xi 1948) Donald L. Hense (Pi 1966) Waite H. Madison, III, Esq. (Epsilon 1970) Presley R. Reed, Jr, Esq. (Chi 1973) George H. Smith (Xi 1949) S. Alex LaBeach, III (Alpha Iota 1971) Philip G. Hampton, II, Esq. (Chi 1975) Weldon Gary Fleming, Jr, DPS (Zeta 1964) how the Chapter has stood on the shoulders of the Fraternity’s Founders. He also acknowledged how Senior Brothers have paved the way for many brothers of Washington (DC) Alumni Chapter. Donald L. Hense (Pi 1966), longtime Executive Director of the Friendship House social service agency and founder of Friendship Public Charter School, served as the keynote speaker. Donald L. Hense received an appreciation award for serving as the 2025 Senior Luncheon keynote speaker.
He stated that good jobs, good housing, and good schools are the components of a good community. He also encouraged the audience to dream big, take risks, and prioritize educating our children. HISTORY OF THE WHITE BLAZER The afternoon continued with the awarding of the white dinner jacket for senior brothers who have fifty years or more in the Bond. Brother Thomas Henderson, the Eastern Province’s Senior Kappa Affairs Chairman, and Brother Ricardo Toye, the chapter’s Senior Kappa Affairs Chairman, led this portion of the ceremony by recog- nizing fourteen Senior Brothers who had reached fifty-year membership milestone, with the issuance of a white colored fifty-year blazer. The tradition of honoring senior brothers with the white blazers reportedly began circa 1978 in the Cleveland (OH) Alumni Chapter.
Past East Central Province Polemarch Girardeau A. Spann and Brother Wil- liam Pitts created the idea of a “white” jacket to formally recognize their chapter’s 50-year members. However, it is the cream dinner jacket that came to fruition when former official fraternity vendor and owner of the Kappa Boutique, Ernest J. Lane began selling the 50-year blazers in 2005. While cream-colored blazers are the primary ones recognized by the Fraternity, the white blazers are also acceptable alternatives ( The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi, 6 th Edition , pg. 247, “Fraternity Paraphernalia”). The chapter’s current Polemarch, Brother Donald Greenwood, con- cluded the afternoon celebration by thanking the attendees, planners, and speaker and stated, “Honoring our senior brothers is a necessary compo- nent of the Fraternity’s progression as they represent a wealth of wisdom and experience of which we all may benefit.” ♦
WINTER 2024-2025 ♦ THE JOURNAL 49
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