Shreveport (LA) Alumni Chapter
The Shreveport (LA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was chartered on November 20, 1948, during a pivotal period in American history when African American leadership, institution-building, and civic organization were essential to community advancement in the segregated South.
The establishment of the chapter reflected both foresight and resolve—an understanding that alumni engagement would be critical to sustaining progress beyond the collegiate sphere.
Founders as Community Architects
The chapter’s charter members—Dr. Elbert E. Allen, George P. Hendrix, Thomas E. Howard, James C. Merrick, Dr. Richard T. Nelson, John I. Reddix, Dr. O. S. Simpkins, and John H. Wilson—were not merely fraternity men; they were architects of Black advancement in Northwest Louisiana
Education emerged as a defining pillar. Brother James C. Merrick, the first Kappa man initiated in Louisiana (Alpha Sigma Chapter, 1948), served as Principal of Booker T. Washington High School, shaping generations of students during segregation. Brother George P. Hendrix, the chapter’s first Polemarch, was a respected Caddo Parish educator whose influence was so enduring that an elementary school was later named in his honor.
Leadership Beyond the Chapter
From its earliest decades, the Shreveport Alumni Chapter demonstrated influence far beyond its local boundaries. Dr. Elbert E. Allen stands as one of the most consequential leaders in the fraternity’s history. His service as Province Polemarch (1956–1964), Senior Grand Vice Polemarch (1970–1973), and ultimately 21st Grand Polemarch positioned the Shreveport Alumni Chapter as a national leadership incubator. His recognition as the 35th Laurel Wreath wearer further affirmed the chapter’s stature within the fraternity.
Civil Rights, Courage, and Legal Progress
The chapter’s history is inseparable from the civil rights struggle. Brother John H. Wilson, an original Tuskegee Airman, embodied both military valor and civic courage. As President of the Shreveport Negro Chamber of Commerce, he filed one of the area’s earliest class-action housing discrimination lawsuits, challenging systemic injustice at a time when such actions carried significant personal risk. The John H. Wilson Building at Zion Baptist Church stands as a permanent marker of his legacy .
Media, Medicine, and Cultural Influence
The Shreveport Alumni Chapter also exerted influence through media and medicine. Brother Melvin Collins, Jr., publisher of The Shreveport Sun, preserved Black voices through Louisiana’s oldest Black weekly newspaper, founded in 1920. Dr. Joseph Sarpy, President and CEO of Sarpy Medical Clinic for 45 years, combined medical excellence with civil rights advocacy and academic service at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport.
Athletics and National Traditions
Athletics provided another avenue of national impact. Brother Collie J. Nicholson, a WWII combat correspondent turned Sports Information Director at Grambling College, used promotion and storytelling to elevate Grambling football and band to international acclaim. His collaboration with Eddie Robinson led to the creation of the Bayou Classic, one of the most enduring HBCU rivalries in the nation.
Brother Riley Stewart, a Negro League baseball player and educator, carried Shreveport’s influence beyond U.S. borders, playing professionally in Cuba and Venezuela before returning to serve as a principal and community leader.
Public Service and Legislative Impact
Public policy and governance further reflect the chapter’s reach. Brother Willie J. Singleton, after service on the Caddo Parish Police Jury, represented Louisiana in the State Legislature for twelve years. His tenure resulted in a dramatic expansion of Black judicial representation statewide—from six to eighty judges—marking a structural shift in Louisiana’s justice system.
Continuity, Brotherhood, and Generational Legacy
One of the chapter’s defining characteristics has been continuity across generations. Father-and-son legacies—including the Jacksons, Pipers, Howards, Nelsons, Mims family, and Williams family—reflect a living transmission of values, leadership, and commitment. The chapter has consistently honored senior members while reclaiming and reintegrating brothers through structured reclamation efforts .
Institutional Longevity and Milestones
Over more than seven decades, the Shreveport Alumni Chapter has hosted multiple Southwestern Province Meetings, celebrated landmark anniversaries (60th, 70th, and 75th), and maintained an uninterrupted line of leadership culminating in the current administration under Polemarch Reginald Mims, Jr. (2024–Present)
