REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE OF DR. RALPH J. BRYSON
Modern Language Association, the National Council of Teachers of Eng- lish, the Association of College English Teachers of Alabama and the Alabama Council of Teachers of English. Dr. Bryson earned academic honors through Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Kappa Mu, Sigma Tau Delta and Phi Mu Alpha. Dr. Bryson was a grant and field reader for the U. S. Department of Education and a Regional Judge of several National Council of Teachers of English nation- wide writing competitions. It has been said that the measure of a man’s success is how a man has positively impacted the lives of others. In the case of Dr. Ralph J. Bryson, the measurement of his success as an edu- cator, as a musician, as a humanitarian and as a Kappa Brother was exhibited daily by his commitment to Achieve- ment, his commitment to mankind and his commitment to academic excellence. The scholarships Dr. Bryson estab- lished at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio State University, and the recently established scholarship at the Kappa Foundation to benefit Southern Province Undergraduates and Montgomery (AL) Alumni Kappa Leaguer’s demonstrate his commitment to enriching the lives of our youth. His legacy will be sustained for future generations to benefit from his greatness. “Dr. Bryson always encouraged and counseled me to serve the Southern Province and all of Kappa Alpha Psi in a manner worthy of being a follower of Brother Toussaint L. Hale, the first Southern Province Polemarch and Everharding Pruitt, long-time Keeper of Records and Exchequer of the Southern Province. To our departed Eminence, I say, we’ll miss your annual typewritten Christmas letters and your exemplary service to Kappa Alpha Psi. Rest in Peace Good Brother, Rest in Peace,” stated Bertram K. Orum,10 th Southern Province Polemarch. Objectives of Kappa Alpha Psi ® & Phi- lanthropy Personified Brother Dr. Bryson was consistently
striving and continuously thriving to assist the aims and purposes of colleges and universities with his innumerable financial contributions in higher educa- tion as this endeavor transformed his volition to inspire service in the public’s interest. Dr. Bryson’s legacy lives on at the University of Cincinnati. The Bryson Endowed Scholarship is awarded an- nually to an undergraduate or graduate student in the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH) majoring in secondary edu- cation or educational administration, helping to foster educators and educa- tional administrators for generations to come. In recognition of his dedication to the field of education and his legendary service, CECH presented Dr. Bryson with their highest honor as CECH Dis- tinguished Alumnus. Several academic scholarships bear the name of Dr. Ralph J. Bryson including but not limited to the Bryson Endowed Scholarship at the Ohio State University which gives pref- erence to members of Kappa Alpha Psi and African Americans and the Bryson Endowed Scholarship at the University of Cincinnati which gives preference to members of Kappa Alpha Psi and African Americans as well as the Bryson Endowed Scholarship administered by the Kappa Alpha Psi® Foundation. Military Service Dr. Bryson served two years of Com- bat in the United States Army within the European Theater of Operation during World War II, escorting troops to and from the front lines. Bryson was enlisted as a company Clerk in the U. S. Army’s 33 rd Troop Battalion. During his two-year tenure as a Soldier, he participated in the Battle of the Bulge, which facilitated in the liberation of Southern France. Kappa Man, Keeper of Records, & Grand Historian Brother Dr. Bryson celebrated his 75 th Anniversary as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi on December 14, 2021. He was a very active member of the Mont- gomery (AL) Alumni Chapter, 5 th Life Member of the Southern Province and
also a Life member of the Kappa Alpha Psi as well. He also served as the Keep- er of Records for the Montgomery (AL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi for more than 45 years at which time captured numerous milestones for both the Montgomery (AL) Alumni Chapter and the Southern Province. It is also very noteworthy to point out that his service as editor of “Books and Such” for the Kappa Alpha Psi Journal began in 1969 - 1982 and a significant aspect of his work included authorship of the History of the Southern Province with 38 th Elder Watson Diggs Awardee Ever- harding Pruitt in 1999. Penultimately, it was also during this era that Dr. Bryson was bestowed the 56 th Elder Watson Diggs Award as a member of the Elder Watson Diggs Class of 1995. Dr. Bryson was elected as the 13 th Grand Historian under the 28 th Administration of Kappa Alpha Psi led by Grand Polemarch Ronald R. Young during the 73 rd Grand Chapter Meeting in Detroit, Michigan in 1997. During his tenure as Grand Historian, the 5 th Edition of the Story of Kappa Alpha Psi, 1911-1999 (Bryson, 2003) was published. Chapter Advisor for 50 Years Renowned and well regarded as an engaged community leader, Brother Bryson served as the chapter advisor to the Alabama State University Chapter, the Beta Zeta of Kappa Alpha Psi for a half century. Brother Dr. Bryson’s guidance, leadership and supervision as Chapter Advisor led to the establish- ment of several Beta Zeta Colonies which would later become under- graduate chapters including the Miles College Chapter, the Delta Tau (1957), Stillman College Chapter, the Epsilon Epsilon of Kappa Alpha Psi (1963), Jacksonville State University Chapter, the Eta Mu of Kappa Alpha Psi (1974), University of South Alabama Chapter, the Eta Nu of Kappa Alpha Psi (1974), University of Alabama Chapter, the Eta Chi (1975), Auburn University Chapter, the Theta Delta of Kappa Alpha Psi (1975), University of North Alabama Chapter, the Theta Upsilon of Kappa
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