THE JOURNAL PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENT
“GRAND POLEMARCH MCBRIDE WAS MORE THAN JUST AN ICON IN KAPPA, HE WAS A LIVING, BREATHING EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANT TO LEAD WITH CONVICTION. OUR FRATERNITY FOUND DIRECTION IN HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE IDEALS OF ACHIEVEMENT.”
– Jimmy McMikle, Grand Polemarch
in Kappa, he was a living, breathing example of what it meant to lead with convic- tion. Our Fraternity found direction in his unwavering commitment to the ideals of achievement.” One of nine children, Ullysses McBride was born on November 27, 1933, in Atmore, AL to the late George and Mamie McBride. He graduated from Escambia County Training School with academic honors. In 1951, McBride left his native Alabama for Tennessee to attend college at Knoxville College where he graduated cum laude in 1955. Later, he earned a master’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington, and a doctorate from Auburn University. He completed additional post graduate
studies at Clark (MA) University, University of New York, Troy University and he was invited to study at Harvard.
department chair, and dean at Faulkner State Commu- nity College in Bay Minette, AL. In 1985, he accepted his final position at Faulk- ner State College as vice president. In 1991, Alabama Governor H. Guy Hunt appointed him as the presi- dent of Reid State Technical College in Evergreen, AL, a position he held until his retirement in 1998. In March 2015, Alabama Community College System Chancellor Mark Heinrich announced Dr. McBride’s appointment as the interim president of Bishop State Community College in Mobile, AL. Heinrich on Dr. McBride’s appointment, “Dr. McBride has been a servant leader in education for decades, and I am very grateful for his willingness to assist and provide strong
leadership during this tran- sitional period at Bishop State.” Dr. McBride reflected on his life in higher education, “I’ve spent half my life with four-year colleges, and the other half with community colleges, so I know how important they are for students and communities. I think community colleges are a godsend. There’s a reason they’re called ‘com- munity’ colleges.” KAPPA ALPHA PSI As an undergraduate stu- dent, Dr. McBride entered the Fraternity as a 1952 initiate of the Knoxville College Chapter, the Beta Phi of Kappa Alpha Psi. His offices through the years included: • Lt. Strategus, Beta Phi Chapter (1952)
PROFESSION IN EDUCATION
He began his professional career in education in 1959 as a teacher and basketball coach at the Escambia County Training School in Atmore, AL. He later tran- sitioned to the faculty of the Escambia County High School. After obtaining his MS degree, he became principal and director at Southern Normal High School in Brewton, AL. He worked as an adjunct professor at Alabama State University and Troy Uni- versity. Once he obtained his doctorate, Dr. McBride served as college professor,
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