The Founders of Kappa Alpha Psi
Founder Picture Source: National Kappa Alpha Psi Website/Founder
Profiles taken from exceprts of The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi
Elder Watson Diggs
Elder Watson Diggs, "affectionately known as the Dreamer", was born in
Christian County, Kentucky and was a graduate of Indiana State Normal School(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.
Diggs was an Educator by profession, and he taught for many years in the
public schools of Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was elavated to a
principalship. After his death on November 8, 1947, the name of the school where
he had 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 officers 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.
Dr. Byron Kenneth Armstrong
Born in Westfield, Indiana, Armstrong 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(the Fraternity's highest award) in 1935.
Dr. Ezra Dee Alexander
Ezra Dee Alexander was born in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1892. During the
fall of 1910 he entered Indiana University where he later earned the A.B degree
in 1917. He received his M.D. degree from the Medical School of Indiana
University in 1919. He practiced medicine in Indianapolis. Alexander served
several terms as a member of the Grand Board of Directors.
Dr. Marcus Peter Blakemore
Marcus Peter Blakemore, 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.
Dr. Guy Levis Grant
Guy Levis Grant, born in New Albany, Indiana, attended public schools in
that city and graduated from Scribner High School in 1909, and later entered
Indiana University. While there he majored in chemisty, graduating with the A.B.
degere in 1915. In 1920 he received the D.D.S. degree from Indiana Dental
School, then a part of the University of Indiana; and he practiced dentistry in
Indianapolis. In 1929 he was married to 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,
organizations. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church in
Indianapolis.
George W. Edmonds
George W. Edmonds was born in Vandenburgh County, Knight Township,
Indiana on August 13, 1990. 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 oldest son, became
head of the family, thus preventing his retun 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 unitl he died of pneumonia
on Junie 13, 1962.George married the former Willa Mae Forte and settled in
Stevenson, Indiana. They became the parents of one son Noel.
Paul W. Caine
Paul Waymond Caine was born in Charleston, Indiana, in 1891 and attended
grade 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 home town, later
attending 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.
Henry T. Asher
Henry T. Asher, born in Woodburn, Kentucky in 1892, was a graduate of
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
Institued 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.
Edward Giles Irvin
Edward Giles Irvin, born in Spencer, Indiana August 13, 1893, was a
graduate of Kokomo, Indiana High School in 1910 and entered Indiana University
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 pormoting basketball and track
athletics in the small town schools of Indiana. He was an active member of the
Methodist Church of Chicago, a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges. He
organized and operated the Afro-American Manufactuing Company in Chicago, which
produced novelties, candies and specialities.
John Milton Lee
John Milton Lee, born a Danville, Indiana, September 7, 1890, was a
graduate of 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 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
Golf Club, the first Negro Golf Club in Pennsylvaia. In 1931 he was married to
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 Y.M.C.A.
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