REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE OF DR. RALPH J. BRYSON
He always exuded a spirit of leadership, dignity and pride.”
• Like Bounty Paper Towels ® …he seemed to find a way to be the big picker upper • Like Levi’s ® jeans…he never went out of style Some years ago, Alice Mortenson wrote a poem that I will paraphrase and leave with you today: He needed the quiet so God drew him aside Into the shadows where he could confide Away from the bustle where all the day long He hurried and worried when active and strong He needed the quiet tho at first he rebelled But gently, so gently God’s cross he upheld And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things, Tho weakened in body, his spirit took wings To heights never heard of when active and bright, God loved him so greatly God drew him away. He needed the quiet, no prison his bed, But a beautiful valley of blessings instead — A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide
As a Student Brother Dr. Ralph Joseph Bryson was duly initiated during Fall of 1946 at the University of Cincinnati Chapter, the Beta Eta of Kappa Alpha Psi. Brother Bryson graduated with both his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Educa- tion (1947) and his Master of Educa- tion degree in Educational Foundations (1950) from the University of Cincin- nati College of Education respectively. Brother Bryson earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree with a specialization in American Literature and Secondary Education (1953). His master thesis was titled “The Julius Rosenwald Fund and its Contribution to Negro Educa- tion” and his dissertation was titled “The Promotion of Interracial Understanding through the Study of American Litera- ture.” In reflecting on Dr. Bryson's ac- complismentes, Southern Province Polemarch Chauncy E. Haynes had this to say. “It is quite an honor, and yet a daunting task to provide a tribute worthy of a man who so masterfully with the stroke of a pen, became the virtuoso of the written word. For a man who lived 99 years, 5 months, and 3 days, we could easily be here all day describ- ing his attributes and the many ways in which he touched our lives and Dr. Bryson would be worthy of every honor. He is deserving of every minute that we would dedicate to celebrate his homego- ing…for our beloved fraternity, he was honored with our two highest awards. Dr. Bryson was the 56 th Elder Watson Diggs Awardee and the 64 th Laurel Wreath Laureate…to the fraternity, he was our Grand Historian, Journal [Columnist], and author of our history books…to the Southern Province he was the undergraduate advisor extraor- dinaire. But more than that, Dr. Bryson was our brother! And many of us in the fraternity, particularly the Southern Province grieve because our brother has finished the course and kept the faith. We will immensely miss Dr. Bryson. He
was one of a kind! To sit and talk with him, was like being in a classroom, for he never missed an opportunity to drop a nugget of wisdom your way. What does one say about our brother who was a walking encyclopedia? We could never replace the man who made an indelible mark on so many of our lives. Reverend Handy, what could we say about the man who had the deter- mination of Zacchaeus, the courage of David, the wisdom of Daniel, the inquir- ing mind of Gideon, and the leadership of Moses? What do we say about the man who lived every day writing his own personal narrative with his daily walk? We thank God for the life of Dr. Ralph Joseph Bryson and we learn from how he lived his life, for we could all learn a lot from Dr. Bryson.
He needed the quiet and I’m so glad, so glad, that God drew him aside.”
Dr. Bryson and the 4 th President of Dillard University Dr. Samuel DuBois Cook were classmates at the Ohio State University during the 1950s while both pursued and completed their degree for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Bryson and Cook’s friendship con- tinued until the end of Cook’s life in 2017. During the same period at the Ohio State University, Dr. Bryson also befriended and worked very closely with fellow academic and Kappa Brother Dr. Ames W. Chapman (biological brother to Southwestern Province Polemarch Carlyle H. Chapman, 1976 - 1986) for years on end.
He was like Staples ® …he made
everything look easy • He was like Tag Heuer ® …he never cracked under pressure • He was like Allstate ® …we were in his good hands • He was like Apple ® …he thought different • Like State Farm ® …he was always there
Dr. Bryson was as an avid bridge
THE JOURNAL ♦ WINTER 2021 - SPRING 2022
PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENT IN EVERY FIELD OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR
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