Black & Gold Ball Sept. 23 at Millennium
Of the St. Louis American
First of all, servants of all, we shall transcend all.
For a century, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., has followed this motto. During those 100 years many of the most historic African Americans have pledged to this organization.
The fraternity was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and the local chapter will honor a century of service during its Black and Gold Ball at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, September 23 at the Millennium Hotel.
The annual fund-raising awards gala recognizes community leaders for their outstanding involvement in community service.
“This is an extremely special year,” said Darryl Jones, president of the Epsilon Lambda Chapter.
“We will honor some great individuals and also share some of our great history with the public. Of course, it will have to be a brief history, because we could go on for hours talking of the great achievements of this fraternity and its members.”
The chapter has partnerships with many area not-for-profit organizations, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Boy Scouts of America and March of Dimes. It also encourages its members to be active in mentoring programs at area schools and with youth organizations.
“One of our great success stories includes the mentoring relationship between Alpha brother Mark Howard and young boxing sensation Devon Alexander,” Jones said.
“He was a mentor to Devon about 10 years ago. They remain in contact with each other to this day. Whenever he makes a move, he talks it over with Mark. That’s not saying Mark is his manager; Kevin Cunningham does a fantastic job at that. But he always talks with Mark, his former mentor, just to see what he thinks.”
The chapter will honor four “Living Legends” at the ball, including John N. Doggett, Ph.D., retired district superintendent and former pastor of Union Memorial United Methodist Church; Wayman F. Smith III, former Anheuser-Busch Cos. senior vice president and attorney with his own firm, the Smith Partnership; Donald M. Suggs, St. Louis American publisher and oral surgeon; and James M. Whittico, MD, physician, surgeon and past president of the National Medical Association.
In addition, four local leaders will also be recognized. They are Robert S. Kenney, an attorney with Polsinelli Shalton Welte Suelthaus, PC; Johnny Little Jr., executive director of communications, St. Louis Public School District; and David K. Giles II, president of Alpha Eta (College Chapter) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
From Cornell to the world
The founders of the fraternity are Henry A. Callis, Charles H. Chapman, Eugene K. Jones, George B. Kelley, Nathaniel A. Murray, Robert H. Ogle and Vertner W. Tandy. They are collectively known as the “Seven Jewels,” and they swiftly expanded the fraternity when a second chapter was chartered at Howard University in 1907.
Beginning in 1908, the Howard chapter became the prototype for six of the remaining eight members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a predominantly African-American fraternal council. Today, there are more than 700 chapters worldwide.
The fraternity has been active in the community’s fight for civil rights through leaders such as W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray and Paul Robeson.
“There isn’t a profession or pursuit that has not had Alphas play a prominent role,” Jones said.
News Channel 4 anchor Vickie Newton will host the event and entertainment will be provided by Jazz Edge and DJ Tossin’ Ted.
Tickets are $65 for general seating and $650 for a table of 10. VIP seating is $100 and $1,000 for a table.
Proceeds will benefit the Epsilon Lambda Charitable Foundation Scholarship Fund.
For tickets, call (314) 231-3500.
