Elder
Watson Diggs (circa 1890-1947), born in Christian County,
Kentucky, was a graduate of Indiana State Normal (now Indiana
State Teachers College) and Indiana University, the birthplace
of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He
served as Grand Polemarch for the first six consecutive
years of the Fraternity's existence. For this and other
outstanding contributions to the Fraternity, he was awarded
the Fraternity's first Laurel Wreath in December, 1924.
An educator by profession, he taught in the public schools
of Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was elevated to a principalship.
After his death on November 8, 1947, the name of the school
where he taught was changed to the Elder Diggs School in
his memory. Upon America's entrance into World War I, Diggs
resigned his principalship to enter the Nation's first Officer's
Training Camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and was commissioned
a lieutenant. After European service with the 368th Infantry,
he became a captain in the Reserve Officers Training Corps.
Diggs was instrumental in having the Indiana Constitution
amended to permit Negro enlistment in the Indiana National
Guard.
John
Milton Lee, born in Danville,
Indiana, September 7, 1890, was graduated from the Danville
High School in 1910 and entered the University of Indiana
and there completed three years of pre-medical work.
He later became a student at Temple University (1915)
but was compelled to leave school because of a death
in the family. He enlisted in the 349th Field Artillery
in March of 1918 and served overseas as a First Class
Sergeant and Gunner. His battery enjoys the unique distinction
of having been the first battery of Negro Artillerymen
ever to open fire upon an enemy. John Milton Lee fired
the first shot.
He helped organize, and for several years
was president of, the Fairview Gold Club, the first Negro
Golf Club in Pennsylvania. In 1931 he married Mary Walker
Robinson. Vocationally, he was engaged in several enterprises.
For eight years, he conducted a successful catering business
in Philadelphia; he organized and served as Vice-president
and Secretary of the Mutual Emergency Union, a mutual aid
company in Philadelphia. He was also a member of the board
of Managers of the Columbia Community Branch of the YMCA.
Byron
Kenneth Armstrong (1890-1980),
born in Westfield, Indiana, entered Indiana University
where he studied philosophy, mathematics, and sociology.
After finishing Indiana University, he earned his Master's
degree at Columbia University in 1913, and subsequently
the Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of
Michigan. He held teaching positions in Florida, Indiana,
Kansas, and Oklahoma. During World War I, he served as
an investigator for the Department of Labor. He was awarded
the Laurel Wreath in 1935.
Guy
Levis Grant (1891-1973),
born in New Albany, Indiana, attended public schools
in that city, was graduated from Scribner High School
in 1909, and later entered Indiana University. While
there, he majored in chemistry, graduating with the A.B.
degree in 1915. In 1920, he received the D.D.S. degree
from Indiana Dental School, then a part of the University
of Indiana; he practiced dentistry in Indianapolis. In
1929, he married Laura Hammons.
He served as a member of the Grand Board
of Directors and was the Fraternity's Historian. In addition
to his activities with Kappa Alpha
Psi, Brother Grant held memberships in several civic,
professional, and business organizations. He was a member
of the Second Baptist Church in Indianapolis.
Ezra
Dee Alexander (1892-1971)
was born in Bloomington, Indiana in 1892, the site of
Indiana University. He was graduated from Bloomington
High School in 1910. He matriculated at Indiana University
in the fall of 1910 and was graduated from Indiana University
in 1917 with the A.B. degree. He received his M.D. degree
from the Medical School of Indiana University in 1919.
He practiced medicine in Indianapolis. In 1920, he married
Mary Hunter, a teacher in the Indianapolis Public School
system. Alexander served several terms as a member of
the Grand Board of Directors.
Henry
Taliaferro Asher (1892-1963), born
in Woodburn, Kentucky in 1892, was graduated from the
Bloomington High School in 1910. He received the degree
of Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University in 1914 and
the next year was an instructor at Lincoln Institute
at Jefferson City, Missouri. He was a graduate student
at the University of Minnesota in 1917. He received the
degree of LL.B. at the Detroit College of Law in 1928.
Marcus
Peter Blakemore (1889-1959),
born in Franklin, Indiana in 1889, attended common and
high schools in Anderson, Indiana. He was graduated from
High School in 1909 and entered the University of Indiana
the following year. After leaving the University, he
organized the Electric Engineering Company, which he
operated until he enlisted in World War I. He later entered
the Dental School of the University of Pittsburgh, from
which he was graduated in 1923.At the time of his death
in October 1959, he was residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
where he maintained his practice of dentistry.
Paul
Waymond Caine (1891-1922)
was born in Charleston, Indiana, in 1891 and attended
grade school and high school in Greencastle, Indiana.
He enrolled at Indiana University in 1909 and helped
the other Founders in organizing Kappa Alpha Nu. Because
of a disastrous fire in the Fraternity house in which
he was employed, he never finished his sophomore year.
Brother Caine went into the catering
business in his hometown, later attended Columbia University,
set up a catering business in Gary, Indiana, and published
a book on catering, which was copyrighted in 1919 by the
Hurst Publishing Company.Brother Caine was instrumental
in setting up the Gamma, Delta, and Zeta chapters. He later
went into business in Peoria, Illinois and was fatally
burned during an explosion of gaseous materials in his
business in 1922.
Edward
Giles Irvin (1893-1983),
born in Spencer, Indiana, on August 13, 1893, was graduated
from Kokomo, Indiana High School in 1910 and entered
the University of Indiana the same year. After leaving
school, he pursued a Journalistic career in various cities
throughout the country until World War I.
Aside from his success as a Journalist,
Brother Irvin was a pioneer in promoting basketball and
track athletics in the small town schools of Indiana. He
was an active member of the Methodist Church of Chicago
and a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges. He
organized and operated the Afro-American Manufacturing
Company in Chicago, which produced novelties, candies,
and specialties.
George
Wesley Edmonds (1890-1962)
was born in Vandenburgh County, Knight Township, Indiana
on August 13, 1890. He entered Carver Elementary School
and Clark High School in Evansville, graduating in 1910.
In the fall of 1910, George entered Indiana University
at Bloomington. He joined nine other students in founding Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity.
After George returned home for the summer
of 1911, his father became ill with pneumonia and died.
His father had worked in the coal mines of Vandenburgh
County for many years. George, being the eldest son, became
head of the family, thus preventing his return to school.
With the new responsibility of supporting the family, George
took a job with the area coal mines and worked with the
coal mines and the railroad until he died of pneumonia
on June 13, 1962.George married the former Willa Mae Forte
and settled in Stevenson, Indiana. They became the parents
of one son, Noel.