History of Durham Alumni

The Durham (NC) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was chartered on September 12, 1921, as a result of the spearheading efforts of Leo Bruce, C.O. Pearson, Lee Bynum and A. Moore Shearin, all former members of the Delta Chapter at Wilberforce University. The Durham (NC) Alumni was the first graduate fraternity in the City of Durham.

The charter members of the Chapter were Thomas Tinsley, a Physician; W. M. Studwick, a Physician; T.D. Parham, A Businessman; Charles Shepard, a Physician; T. Gatling, a Physician; A. S. Nurse, a Physician; D. Joyner, a Physician; A. Hunter, a Dentist; John Avery, a Professor; William Wilson, a former U.S. Army Lieutenant; John Dyer, a Bookkeeper at North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company Real Estate Agency.

Approximately two years after the Chapter was organized, the following outstanding citizens of Durham were initiated into or affiliated with the Chapter; James Edward Shepard, Founder and First President of North Carolina College at Durham (now North Carolina Central University); W. G. Pearson, a pioneer in Business, Masonic Fraternalism and Education; C. C. Spaulding and E.R. Merrick, pioneers in Business.

The Polemarchs of the Chapter have been:

C.L. Bynum, 1921-24; J.M Hubbard, Sr., 1925; W. L. Joyner, 1926; J.M. Hubbard, Sr., 1927-29; J.W. Davidson, 1930; T.D. Parham, 1931; D.B. Martin, 1932-33; Frank G. Burnett, 1934-36; E.C. Pratt, 1937; L.M. Berry, 1938-39; E.M. Merrick, 1940-41; E.A. Carter, 1942-43; James T. Hawkins, 1944-49; Frank G. Burnett, 1950-52; John L. Stewart, 1953-55; Frank H. Alston, 1956-57; J.G. Thompson, 1958-59; J.J. Henderson, 1960-74; Murphy D. Jenkins, 1975; Dewitt Sullivan, 1976-77; Robert L. McAdams, 1978-80; Randal M. Rogers, 1981-1982; George B. Smith, Sr. 1983-84; C.N. Parrish, 1985-1987; R. Edward Stewart, 1987-89; Redditt Alexander, 1989-91; James W. Hill, 1991-93; Dwight A. Peebles, 1993-95; Willie F. Boyd, 1995-97; Tyrone M. Baughman,1997-98 and Frederick H. Black, 1998-present.

The Keepers of Records have been: 

T.C. Tinsley, 1921-24;C.L. Bynum, 1925-26; A. Moore Shearin, 1927-30; D.B. Martin, 1931; A. Moore Shearin, 1932-33; J.J. Henderson, 1934-59; Robert L. McAdams, 1960-77; Redditt Alexander, 1978-82; Joseph K. Davis, Jr., 1983-89; Jasper Anstead, 1989-91; Willie F. Boyd, 19991-93; Mark A. Melton, Ph.D., 1994-97; and Wendell Andrews, 1997-present.

Some nationally known members of the Chapter are: A. Moore Shearin, Past Grand Polemarch; James T. Hawkins, Past Senior Grand Vice-Polemarch; J.J. Henderson, Past Board of Directors Member, Past Grand Keeper of Records, and Exchequer, and Laurel Wreath Laureate; J.M. Hubbard, Past Southeastern Province Polemarch; C.C. Spaulding, President of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, the world’s largest Black Financial Institution, and Laurel Wreath Laureate; Frank G. Burnett, Past Middle Eastern Province Polemarch; Attorney C.O. Pearson, Civil Rights Pioneer and Director of Region 3(Province Polemarch); John L. Stewart, who received a Journalistic Award at the 58th Grand Chapter Meeting in Miami, Florida; Lenzie G. Barnes, Elder Watson Diggs Awardee; Randal M. Rogers, Past Middle Eastern Province Polemarch; Ronald O. Rohadfox, CEO of Construction Control Services, Corp.; Charles Johnson, MD, Past President of National black Medical Association; and Joseph K. Davis, Jr., Past Middle Eastern Province Keeper of Records and Exchequer, and the Immediate Past Middle Eastern Province Polemarch.

J.J. "Babe" Henderson succeeded A. Moore Shearin in 1934 as Keeper of Records of the Chapter. After serving in this post for twenty-five years, he was elected Polemarch of the Chapter, the office he held until 1974. He was subsequently honored as Polemarch-Emeritus of the Durham (NC) Alumni Chapter.

The Durham (NC) Alumni Chapter Distinguished Kappa Man of the Year has been presented to the following Brothers: Charles Johnson, 1976-77; Ralph A. Hunt, 1977-78; Harvey D. Williams, 1978-79; Frank Howard Alston, 1979-80; Dewitt Sullivan, 1980-81; Raymond McAllister, Sr., 1981-82; Cleveland Hammonds, 1982-83; Lewis N. Owens, Sr., 1983-84; Randal M. Rogers, 1984-85; Willie S. Smith, Jr., 1985-86; Joseph K. Davis, Jr., 1986-87; Sanford Williams, 1987-88; Lenzie G. Barnes, 1988-89; Willie F. Boyd, 1989-90; R. Edward Stewart, 1990-91; Elbert Avery, 1991-92; Tyrone Baughman, 1992-93; James W. Hill, 1993-94; Dossie N. Jones, 1994-95; Carl S. Paschall, 1995-96; Mark A. Melton, 1996-97; Dwight A. Peebles, 1997-98; and John W. Perry, 1998-99.

Throughout the years the Chapter has engaged in a variety of worthwhile endeavors. It has conducted the Guide Right Program since its inception; entertained the Grand Chapter Conclave in 1929;sponsored the establishment of the Alpha Kappa Chapter at North Carolina Central University, the Theta Omicron Chapter at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and the Iota Xi Chapter at Duke University; aided in the development of high school men by sponsoring the Beautillion Militaire Leadership Training and Scholarship Program; contributed to the development of elementary students through the Little Brother Program; hosted the Annual Middle Eastern Province Council Meeting on several occasions; and supported a multitude of civic endeavors in the Durham Community.

Individual members of the Chapter, from its inception to the present day, find themselves represented in all professions and engaged in all aspects of human endeavors that constitute life and living in the Research Triangle Park Area.