About Us

These charter members were educators, physicians, civic leaders, and public servants whose influence shaped both the chapter and the region it served

Early Leadership and Governance

Brother George P. Hendrix, a respected Caddo Parish educator, served as the first Polemarch of the Shreveport Alumni Chapter. His leadership tenure spanned multiple periods (1948–1960, 1963–1964, and 1973–1974), providing continuity and stability during the chapter’s formative years. Hendrix Elementary School was later named in his honor, reflecting his lasting contribution to public education.

From its inception, the chapter maintained strong organizational discipline, adhering closely to fraternity governance standards and establishing traditions that emphasized professionalism, accountability, and service.

Provincial and Grand Chapter Leadership

The Shreveport Alumni Chapter has played a pivotal role in shaping leadership at the highest levels of the fraternity. Most notably:

• Dr. Elbert E. Allen served as:
  • Province Polemarch (1956–1964)
  • Senior Grand Vice Polemarch (1970–1973)
  • 21st Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
• Dr. Allen was also recognized as the 35th Laurel Wreath wearer, one of the fraternity’s highest honors

Additional provincial leadership included Thomas E. Howard, Sr., who served as Province Keeper of the Exchequer and was a recipient of the Elder Watson Diggs Award in 1986

Educational, Civic, and Civil Rights Impact

From its earliest years, the Shreveport Alumni Chapter distinguished itself through profound civic engagement:

• Brother James C. Merrick was the first Kappa man initiated in the state of Louisiana (Alpha Sigma Chapter, 1948) and served as Principal of Booker T. Washington High School.
• Brother John H. Wilson, an original Tuskegee Airman, was a principal, business owner, and civil rights advocate. While serving as President of the Shreveport Negro Chamber of Commerce, he filed one of the region’s earliest class-action lawsuits addressing housing discrimination. The John H. Wilson Building at Zion Baptist Church bears his name
• Brother Melvin Collins, Jr. published The Shreveport Sun, founded in 1920 and recognized as the oldest Black weekly newspaper in Louisiana.
• Brother Riley Stewart, an educator and Negro League baseball player, competed in the United States, Cuba, and Venezuela and later had Spar Stadium renamed in his honor alongside Albert Belle.

Public Service, Medicine, and Athletics

The chapter’s legacy extends into public service, medicine, and athletics:

• Brother Thomas E. Howard, charter member and longtime educator, was the first Principal of Green Oaks High School, located on Thomas E. Howard Drive, and served as a provincial officer.
• Dr. Joseph Sarpy, President and CEO of Sarpy Medical Clinic for 45 years, was deeply involved in the civil rights movement and received the NAACP Ann Brewster Award.
• Brother Willie J. Singleton served on the Caddo Parish Police Jury and later as a Louisiana State Representative for 12 years, increasing the number of Black judges statewide from 6 to 80.
• Brother Collie J. Nicholson, a WWII combat correspondent, later became Sports Information Director at Grambling College and co-founded the Bayou Classic rivalry with Eddie Robinson

Continuity of Leadership

The Shreveport Alumni Chapter has maintained uninterrupted leadership through decades of service. A long line of Polemarchs guided the chapter through growth and change, culminating in the current administration led by Reginald Mims, Jr. (2024–Present)

Chapter Milestones and Celebrations

The chapter has consistently honored its legacy through milestone celebrations and major events, including:

• Hosting Southwestern Province Meetings (1955, 1967, 1974, 1982, 1996, 2008, 2024)
• Celebrating its 60th, 70th, and 75th Chapter Anniversaries
• Conducting Founders Day observances, Brotherhood Reclamation initiatives, Senior Kappa recognition programs, and community youth initiatives

Legacy and Enduring Mission

For more than seven decades, the Shreveport Alumni Chapter has served as a pillar of leadership, service, and brotherhood in Northwest Louisiana. Through education, civil rights advocacy, public service, and youth development, the chapter has upheld the fraternity’s core principles while adapting to the evolving needs of its community.

Today, the Shreveport Alumni Chapter stands as a living testament to its founders’ vision—honoring the past, strengthening the present, and preparing future generations to carry forward a legacy defined by achievement, integrity, and service.