REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE OF DR. RALPH J. BRYSON
A labama State University (ASU) Professor Emeritus, Kappa Alpha Psi ® Grand Historian Emeritus, 56 th Elder Watson Diggs Awardee and 64 th Laurel Wreath Recipient Brother Dr. Ralph J. Bryson transitioned to the Chapter Invisible during the early morning hours on Saturday, February 12, 2022. Grand Polemarch Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq., stated, “Dr. Ralph Bryson was one of the most impressive men I have ever known, yet he was always a bit of an enigma to me. He easily could have had wealth beyond all measure, but he chose to lead a very modest life. He could have risen to the highest ranks of any field of human endeavor, but he chose to work behind the scenes, sup- port others and help them achieve their goals in life. He received the two high- est prestigious awards in our fraternity and several awards within his profession but, in my opinion, far later in life than he deserved. Yet, he never complained, Dr. Bryson always encouraged brothers and others to establish goals, remain diligent, industrious as citizens and to be constantly and regularly engaged in earnest and energetic work and he did it with a smile." Dr. Bryson remained a very complex Kappa, but one thing was crystal clear through it all, he always achieved exactly what he sought. His goals were not
Kappa Alpha Psi celebrated and honored a life, very well lived, by a distinguished man of letters on February 22 - 23, 2022 in Montgomery, Alabama. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio born September 10, 1922, at the turn of the 20 th Century, Brother Bryson lived and was duly initiated during the first fifty years of Kappa’s existence, and notably he helped to cultivate the second fifty years of Kappa’s existence leading up our Centennial post Second Century Kappa. Pastor Cromwell A. Handy of Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church agreed, “Many of us have been blessed and honored to have gotten to know him on several levels: As an Achiever and a Believer…A fraternity brother and a brother in Christ! He was an achiever in academia, a college professor, a histo- rian, advisor to noble men, a musician, and a pianist. He was never so proud as was when the Magnum 38 pledge line earned the honor of highest GPA amongst the Divine 9 in 1978. Because of the humble spirit we knew in him, he never drew any attention to himself. He was a giant in character and intellect. He didn’t have to tell you who he was or what he did…the way he carried him- self, you knew that he was somebody! God blessed him to be an Achiever but blessed him all the more, to be a Believ- er…one is in the past and the other is eternal and forever. Dr. Bryson was the humble and quiet strength in the room.
Dr. Bryson, as a Professor of English, was always willing to take time with his students.
mercenary, but servant driven. He did not seek to substitute but to comple- ment. He never sought combativeness but cooperation. He was a true mentor to me though many times I did not un- derstand his ways. But, through all my dissonance as I looked at Dr. Bryson’s life, I wanted to be just like him. He was a “Quiet Warrior” and I wanted his strength, wisdom, and courage to stand and be the man he truly was absent of what others thought. I wanted his humility to deflect merited attention and compassion to identify and help others in need. He was a role model to me and a guiding light to all who ultimately seek to get to the place where he is right now. I already miss him terribly…and for the record, Dr. Ralph Joseph Bryson did it his way,” he continued.
Grand Polemarch Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq., and Dr. Bryson share quality time at the Montgomery Rennaissance Hotel during the National Founders' Day observance. Above right, Dr. Bryson reacts to the announcement of an endowment housed at the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation in his name.
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