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Chapter while completing his Ph.D. He also affiliated with the Birmingham (AL) Alumni Chapter and, since 1953, the Montgomery (AL) Alumni Chap- ter under civil rights icon Rev. Ralph Abernathy as Polemarch. He served the Montgomery (AL) Alumni Chapter for forty-three years as Keeper of Records. He was also an advisor to the Beta Zeta at Alabama State University for over 50 years. Dr. Bryson served on the South- ern Province Board of Directors and remained Southern Province Historian from 1994 until his death. As a writer, he authored several pub- lications. Dr. Bryson served as editor of the Kappa Alpha Psi Journal ‘Books and Such’ column from 1969-1982. He was co-author of the History of the Southern Province in 1997 and the second edition
in 2010. Also in 1997, he was elected Grand Historian and continued in this office for fourteen consecutive years. In this position, Dr. Bryson authored the 5th edition of The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi. In 2011, Dr. Bryson stepped down from his office and was bestowed the title of Grand Historian Emeritus – the only member to be conferred with this honor after Founder Guy L. Grant. His meritorious contributions to the Frater- nity earned him the 56th Elder Watson Diggs Award in 1995. Dr. Bryson’s extra meritorious contributions to the Frater- nity and his outstanding achievements in the field of education earned him the 64th Laurel Wreath in 2009. He was one of eight members who were given the two highest awards offered by the Fraternity.
Dr. Bryson was an active participant in the formative actions of the civil rights movement in the 1950s. He was present for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1953 trial sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, leading to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Dr. Bryson was among the first to ride on the front seat of a city bus once the strike concluded. He was an acquaintance of King, his wife, Coretta, and Abernathy. He has been an active member of the church since his first service attendance. Since 1960, he has headed and participated in various church committees until his death. Dr. Bryson has also been actively en- gaged with the community. Some of his activities include involvement with the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the Montgomery Teachers Association.
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