The 10 Illustrious Founders
Elder Watson Diggs
Elder Watson Diggs, 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.
Ezra Dee Alexander
Ezra Dee Alexander 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.
Byron K. Armstrong
Byron K. Armstrong, 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.
Henry T. Asher
Henry T. Asher, 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
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.
Paul Waymond Caine
Paul Waymond Caine 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.
George W. Edmonds
George W. Edmonds 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.
Guy Levis Grant
Guy Levis Grant, 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.
Edward Giles Irvin
Edward Giles Irvin, 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.
John Milton Lee
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.
