Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity: A Legacy of Notable Members
The Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, established at Morehouse College, boasts a distinguished legacy defined by excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service. Chartered on January 5, 1924, on the historic campus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, Alpha Rho has maintained a prominent presence for many years since its founding.
Origins and Early Years
Established on May 20, 1920, Eta Lambda Chapter was organized to serve the fraternal needs of both undergraduate and graduate brothers at Atlanta University and Morehouse College. Brother Roderick Harris, along with fellow Morehouse juniors Charles W. Greene, William E. Anderson, and W.G. Dixon, were among Eta Lambda’s 21 charter members. These four men introduced Alpha Phi Alpha to the Morehouse campus, paving the way for the eventual establishment of Alpha Rho four years later.
The Chartering of Alpha Rho
On January 5, 1924, the Alpha Rho Chapter was chartered at Morehouse College and was installed by Brothers Oscar Brown and Norman L. Rozier.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Alpha men such as Burrell Brown, Hugh M. Gloster, T.M. Alexander, Andrew Generalissimo Lewis, George Key, Asa Yancey, William M. Nix, and James E. made their mark on the chapter.
Prominent Figures Through the Decades
The chapter continued to flourish through subsequent decades. In the 1940s, Alpha Rho initiated brothers such as Charles V. Willie, Albert Wardlaw, Otis Smith, Wendell Whalum, Calvin Brown, Artis White, Noah Wills, Jr, E. Bruce Phillips, and Samuel McKinney.
Read also: Leadership and Achievement in Alpha Phi Alpha
The 1950s and 1960s brought influential figures such as Charlie Moreland, Otis Moss, Maynard Jackson Jr., Louis J. Sullivan, Willie “Flash” Davis, James R. Hall, Willis Sheftall, J.K. Haynes, Earl Hilliard, Abraham Davis, and Hamilton E. Holmes. These men joined the fraternity during times when pro-Black, anti-Greek sentiments resurfaced.
The Honorable Bro. Circuit Court Judge served the fraternity as a regional leader in both 1950 and 1951. Bro. Dr. Louis Sullivan, who went on to become the Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bush and later became the President of the Morehouse School of Medicine, served in 1953. Bro. Hamilton E. Holmes transferred from Morehouse to integrate the University of Georgia in 1961 but maintained his membership in Alpha Rho due to UGA’s not having a chapter at that time.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Alpha Rho emerged as a dominant force in student leadership, with membership exceeding 60 brothers annually. During this era, Alpha Rho was seen as the powerhouse of student leadership. Throughout its history, the Alpha Rho chapter has served as the standard for all others to follow.
Notable Members and Their Contributions
The Alpha Rho Chapter has produced a multitude of accomplished men who have made significant contributions in various fields. Here are some notable members:
Rozier Earl Bland: A graduate of Morehouse College and MeHarry Medical College, Captain Bland made a remarkable record in his profession. He served in the Army Medical Corps and was a former president of the Bluff City Medical Society and chairman of the insurance section of the National Medical Association.
Read also: Benefits of Alpha Phi Sigma Alumni
Father Henry James Charles Bowden: Father Bowden served as President of the Fulton County council of Aging, as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging, Co-Chairman of the Task Force on Aging, and an Episcopal Diocesan Designee on the Ministry of Aging. The naming of the H.J.C. Bowden Senior Multipurpose Facility in East Point, GA honored his work on behalf of senior citizens. Father Bowden was born on November 15, 1902 in Brunswick, Georgia to parents Milas and Florence Baker Bowden. He married Minnie Lee Perry on July 3, 1929. He graduated from St. Augustine’s High School (1921), Morehouse College, Bachelor of Arts (1925), General Theological Seminary LTH (1928), Union Theological Seminary Columbia University, Master of Arts (1929), St. Father Bowden was Ordained Priest by Bishop Manning, Cathedral of St. John the Divine in 1929, and his lifetime religious appointments included: Curate at St. Philip's, New York City (1929), Vicar and Assistant to the President at St Philip’s Junior College, San Antonio, TX (1929-31), Rector at St Marks, Wilmington, North Carolina (1931-1934), Dean Colored Convocation, Diocese of East Carolina (1933-1934), Rector of St. Paul's Atlanta, Georgia (1934-1942), Secretary of Conference Church Workers among Colored People, Providence 4 (1938-1942), Instructor at Gammon Theological Seminary (1940-1941), Chaplain in the Army of the United States (1941-1957), Chaplain, Veterans Administration Hospital, Tuskegee, Alabama (1946-1964), President, AFGE Lodge No. 110 (1953-1963), Chaplain, Franklin Delano Roosevelt VA Hospital, Montrose, New York (1965-1969), Certified a Professional Mental Health Chaplain and named a Fellow of the College of Chaplains (1970), Commissioner for God and Country, Boy Scouts of America, Atlanta Area Council (1971), L.H.D. St. Augustine's College (1971), Vicar, St. (and National Convention Chaplain), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He received the Georgia Governor’s Leadership Award in 1990, was cited at the 77th annual Council on the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta in 1984 for his 55 years as a priest - 50 years in the Diocese, and on various occasions Father Bowden served as college preacher at Albany State College and Fort Valley State College, Georgia; Tuskegee Institute, Alabama; and St.
Joseph Lucien Carwin: Dr. Carwin was the first African American elected as head of the Fairfield County Medical Association since the group's inception in 1792. He was a staff member of Stamford and St. Dr. Carwin was past president of the Stamford Chapter of the American Academy of General Practice and of the Stamford Medical Society; and served as delegate to the house of delegates of the Connecticut State Medical Society. Dr. Carwin received his B.A. degree at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., and was graduated from the McHarry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn.
James B. Dunn: A native of Monroe, Georgia, Brother Dunn is a member of the class of 1925 at Morehouse College where he played on the varsity basketball team. Alabama State’s arena is named the Dunn-Oliver Acadome after two legendary Hornet basketball coaches, Charles Johnson “C.J.” Dunn and James V. Oliver. The Dunn-Oliver Academe is ASU’s multipurpose facility featuring a 7,400-seat basketball arena, banquet facilities, and laboratory space. Brother Dunn is also the namesake of ASU's C.J. Coach Dunn served as head basketball coach between 1934 and 1963, winning 298 games, the most wins of any Hornet coach. Coach Dunn spent 46 years at ASU serving in a number of capacities, including baseball coach, instructor, dean of students and athletic director. Coach Dunn also served as Commissioner of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) from 1970-72.
James B. Harris: Six new Members have been elected to the Board of Overseers of the School of Medicine at Morehouse College, including U. S. Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia. Other new board members are Dr. Clyde W. Phillips, a Chicago Physician; two Atlanta physicians, Dr. James B. Harris and Dr. Nelson H. McGhee, Jr.; Dr. Howard Jordan, Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia and Dr. Joseph N.
John Wesley Lawlah, Jr.: Dr. Lawlah, Morehouse College class of 1925, was the first African-American to be accepted by the University of Wisconsin Medical School. In 1926, the year preceptorships began, University of Wisconsin administrators attempted to modulate the school’s racial makeup by admitting Lawlah. Although he did not receive admission to the four-year program, his ensuing career proved distinguished in every aspect. At the end of two years he had to leave Wisconsin and complete his medical training at Rush University Medical College in Chicago, Illinois. He completed his internship at Provident Hospital in Chicago as well.
Read also: Celebrating AXO Alumnae
Montague Lay: Dr. Lay was born in Rome and received his preliminary education here, and from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a graduate of MeHarry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and served his internship in the Phillips Memorial Hospital in St.
Hubert Reeves: He graduated from Morehouse College and received his Master's Degree for American University. Department of Labor. He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a member of the Camilla and Zack Hubert Foundation, and the Pigskin Club of Washington, DC.
Melvin Elijah Sykes: During his undergraduate career at Morehouse College Brother Sykes was president of Alpha Rho Chapter his senior year and at 6'5', he served as captain of the basketball team during the 1922-23 season and was an All-American swingman the following year.
Vinicius J. Williams Brother Williams, known campus-wide by the name "Nish Williams," was a member of the Morehouse Baseball Team in the position of catcher, and the "M" Club. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia on February 29, 1904 and died on September 2, 1968 in his hometown. Negro Baseball League records indicate that his birth name was Vinicius J.
Alpha Gamma Rho Hall of Fame
The Alpha Gamma Rho Hall of Fame stands as the ultimate accolade granted to the most distinguished members of the Fraternity. It commemorates individuals within Alpha Gamma Rho who have made truly exceptional contributions to agriculture, the Fraternity, and humanity.
Neil Fruechte: Brother Neil Fruechte was born April 22,1939. He attended the University of Minnesota where he joined the Lambda Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho and received his Bachelors in 1961, majoring in Agricultural Economics. He served as Noble Ruler for the Chapter between 1960 and 1961. Over the course of his 46-year tenure, Brother Fruechte built his career in banking and agriculture finance. He spent the first half of his career with Farm Credit System and the second half as the president of Roundbank, a community bank in Waseca, MN. He started out as a loan officer with Farm Credit System and worked his way up the chain to senior vice president. Brother Fruechte had many achievements and received recognitions for a variety of things over the course of his career. He helped grow Roundbank’s assets from $41 million in April 1987 to $190 million by December of 2003. He was named Businessman of the Year in 1995 by the Waseca Chamber of Commerce. Brother Fruechte is also very active in his communities. He was a member of several organizations and participated in various committees, many of which were tied to the finance industry. He was a board member and sat on the finance committee for the Waseca Medical Center - Mayo Health System for 10 years. He was also a co-chairman and on the finance committee for Republican Minnesota State Representative Connie Ruth. The community of Waseca recognized him for his efforts with the Don Eustice Memorial Award for Community Service in January of 2006. Brother Fruechte is now retired and lives in Waseca, Minnesota with his wife, Sharon.
Richard Carpenter: Brother Richard Carpenter was born October 1, 1939. He was initiated into Gamma Chapter at Pennsylvania State University February 8, 1959, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education. Throughout Brother Carpenter’s career, he held several, high-ranking positions with Farm Credit Bank at different locations, including, assistant vice president, vice president, senior vice president and CEO. Brother Carpenter was active within the Fraternity on the chapter and national levels. He was on the Gamma Chapter Housing Fund Committee. At the national level, Brother Carpenter was a director on the board of the Educational Foundation for 6 years and the Foundation’s President from 1998 to 2000. Brother Carpenter currently lives in Branson, Missouri with his wife Carol.
Other Notable Alpha Rho Brothers
The following is a list of Alpha Rho brothers who have made significant contributions in their respective fields:
- Maynard H. Jackson, Jr.
- Earl L.
- J.
- Nathan L.
- Frank E.
- David C.
- Paul K.
- Emil M.
- Harold R.
- E. T.
- A. B.
- A. B.
- William B.
- Dean C.
- Roland C.
- Milton G.
- John D.
- Loren K.
- Ivan K.
- Karl E.
- Ted A.
- Bobby N.
- Robert L.
- Gerald C.
- Gene L.
- Marvin J.
- J.
- Allan R.
- Paul S.
- James C.
- A. L.
tags: #alpha #rho #alumni #notable #members
