Province History

Brief History of the Southeastern Province... As is documented in The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi, the Southeastern Province can be dated back to 1926 when Deaver P. Young was the Province Polemarch (32). Prior to 1924, the Provinces were known as Regions One through Seven. The Southeastern Province, as we know it today, was formed in 1951. Until that time, the Province included all chapters along the eastern seaboard from North Carolina to Florida, including Georgia and Alabama. The last Polemarch to serve the Province under that organization was Toussaint L. Hale of Birmingham, Alabama. In 1951, Brother Hale was appointed as Polemarch of the Gulf Province (which was later named the Southern Province) which included Florida and Alabama.

Southeastern Province Polemarchs Years of Service 1. W. Dickerson Donnelly (1951-1952) Savannah, GA Alumni
2. Dr. Joseph Roosevelt Jenkins (1952-1967) Savannah, GA Alumni
3. John E. McCall (1967-1967) Cheraw, SC Alumni
4. Joseph A. Johnson (1967-1977) Columbia, SC Alumni
5. Dr. Cornelius W. Grant (1977-1982) Albany, GA Alumni
6. Melvin T. "Mel" Solomon (1982-1985) Atlanta, GA Alumni
7. James B. Hardy (1985-1988) Columbia, SC Alumni
8. W. Kenneth Jackson, Sr. (1988-1993) Atlanta, GA Alumni
9. Preston Smith (1993-1996) Greenville, SC Alumni
10. Dr. Stanley J. Pritchett, Sr. (1996-2002) Atlanta, GA Alumni
11. Chester Leaks (2002-2005) Columbia, SC Alumni
12. James E. Freeman (2005-present) Atlanta, GA Alumni

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Province History - Continued

W. Dickerson Donnelly
1951-1952
W. Dickerson Donnelly (1951-1952) of the Savannah Alumni Chapter was named the first Polemarch of the newly formed Southeastern Province that consisted of only South Carolina and Georgia. Shortly thereafter, Brother Donnelly accepted an assignment as Secretary of Alumni Affairs for Fisk University and left the Province.

Dr. Joseph R. Jenkins
1952-1967
Brother Joseph R. Jenkins, (1952-1967) of the Savannah Alumni Chapter became the second Province Polemarch in 1952. One main accomplishment of the Province during the administration of Brother Jenkins was the adoption of the By-Laws of the Southeastern Province. Another accomplishment was the recommendation of Brother Donald L. Hollowell, Esq., to receive the Laurel Wreath Award for his work in Civil Rights. Brother Hollowell received the Laurel Wreath Award in 1968. After fifteen years of unselfish, untiring, and dedicated service to Kappa Alpha Psi, Brother Jenkins tendered his resignation, effective following the Sixteenth Province Council Meeting in Columbus, Georgia, in 1967. One of his first efforts to ensure cooperation among all chapters was to encourage them to assist the Atlanta Alumni Chapter and the other Atlanta chapters in hosting the forty-sixth Grand Chapter Meeting to be held there on December 26-29, 1956. This possibility was noted because of the success that the South Carolina Chapters had in assisting Columbia Alumni Chapter to host the Third Province Council Meeting, as well as their plans to assist the Charleston Alumni Chapter in hosting the fifth Province Council Meeting. The Province prospered and now is well on its way to remaining a viable financially sound operation. The cooperation of the Province Officers and local Host Chapters helped both entities. Continued...

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Province History - Continued

Dr. Joseph R. Jenkins - Continued
1952-1967
Guide Right was the number one project for the Province and John Camper of the Savannah Alumni Chapter was the Area Guide Right Director. He conducted a very vigorous program in ensuring the success of this program. Each chapter was asked to contribute financially to this effort.

The WATCHWORDS of Brother Jenkins' administration were: Reclamation, Guide Right, Reinstatement of Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters, Formation of new Alumni and Undergraduate Chapters and Cooperation with the Grand Chapter. One main accomplishment of the Province during the administration of Brother Jenkins was the adoption of the By-Laws of the Southeastern Province. Another accomplishment was the recommendation of Brother Donald L. Hollowell, Esq., to receive the Laurel Wreath Award for his work in Civil Rights. Brother Hollowell received the Laurel Wreath Award in 1968. After fifteen years of unselfish, untiring, and dedicated service to Kappa Alpha Psi, Brother Jenkins tendered his resignation, effective following the Sixteenth Province Council Meeting in Columbus, Georgia in 1967. In testimony of his great work in Kappa Alpha Psi and his community, Brother Jenkins received the Elder Watson Diggs Award in 1976. Additionally, the Southeastern Province has named its highest award, the "Joseph R. Jenkins Award."

John E. McCall
1967-1967
The third Province Polemarch was Brother John E. McCall, (1967) of the Cheraw Alumni Chapter. Unfortunately, his appointment as Province Polemarch was short lived as he joined the Chapter Invisible during the summer of 1967.

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Province History - Continued

Joseph A. Johnson
1967-1977
Consequently, Brother Joseph A. Johnson, (1967-1977) a member of the Columbia Alumni Chapter, was appointed as the fourth Province Polemarch and served until 1977. During the period of 1968, the Province experienced problems because chapters did not submit dues in a timely fashion. Brother Johnson struggled to keep the Province afloat and restructured it to keep things operating. Brother Johnson spent personal funds to keep the Province functioning. During Brother Johnson's tenure, the Province By-laws were revised under the Chairmanship of Brother Johnnie Paul Jones. Brother Johnson left the Province in much better condition than he found it when he relinquished the helm in 1977. Brother Johnson chartered twelve chapters during his term as Province Polemarch.

Dr. Cornelius W. Grant
1977-1982
The fifth Province Polemarch was Brother Dr. Cornelius W. Grant (1977-1982). Brother Grant was and still is a member of the Albany, Georgia Alumni Chapter. He is most known for his work in the field of education. Having served as Director of Student Activities and ultimately a Vice-President at Albany State (College) University, he is affectionately known by most as "Dean" Grant. Although he is retired, many persons still refer to him as "Dean." His most recent involvement in education was having served as the Chairman of the Board of Education for the Dougherty County School System. Brother Grant chartered twelve chapters during his term as Province Polemarch. He received both the Elder Watson Diggs Award and, in 2005, the Laurel Wreath Award.

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Province History - Continued

Melvin T. Solomon
1982-1985
The sixth Province Polemarch was Brother Melvin T. Solomon (1982-1985). Brother Solomon was a member of the Atlanta Alumni Chapter at the time of his appointment. Brother Solomon chartered seven chapters during his term as Province Polemarch. He also served on the Grand Board of Directors - Alumni from 1985-1987.

James B. Hardy
1985-1988
The seventh Province Polemarch was the late Brother James B. Hardy (1985-1988) of the Columbia Alumni Chapter. Brother Hardy chartered four chapters during his term as Province Polemarch.

W. Kenneth Jackson
1988-1993
The eighth Province Polemarch was Brother W. Kenneth Jackson (1988-1993) of the Atlanta Alumni Chapter. Brother Jackson chartered seven chapters during his term as Province Polemarch. He served on the Grand Board of Directors - Alumni from 1993-1995. In 2005 he was a recipient of the Elder Watson Diggs Award and serves as the Director of Organizational Effectiveness under 30th Grand Polemarch, Samuel C. Hamilton.

Preston Smith
1993-1996
The ninth Province Polemarch was Brother Preston Smith (1993-1996) of Greenville-Spartanburg Alumni Chapter. Brother Smith chartered two chapters during his term as Province Polemarch.

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Province History - Continued

Dr. Stanley J. Pritchett, Sr.
1996-2002
The tenth Province Polemarch was Brother Dr. Stanley J. Pritchett, Sr.,(1996-2002) a member of the Atlanta, Alumni Chapter. Brother Pritchett chartered seven chapters. Brother Pritchett received the Joseph R. Jenkins Award in 2005 and is a current member of the Alumni - Grand Board of Directors.

Chester Leaks
2002-2005
The eleventh Province Polemarch was Chester Leaks (2002-2005), a member of the Columbia Alumni Chapter. Brother Leaks chartered six chapters. Under his leadership, the Province witnessed the awarding of two Laurel Wreath Awards (Dr. Cornelius W. Grant and Carl Ware) and one Elder Watson Diggs Award (W. Kenneth Jackson, Sr.), two National Chapter of the Year Awards (Stone Mountain Lithonia Alumni - Medium and Gamma Kappa - Clark Atlanta University - Medium), one National Founders' (Advisors) Award (Willie L. Todd, Jr.), and two National Guide Right Awards (Christopher Johnson - Bert Wadkins - National Alumni Director and Lamar J. White - National Undergraduate Director).

James E. Freeman
2005- Present
The twelfth and current Province Polemarch is James E. Freeman, a member of the Atlanta Alumni Chapter. Having been appointed on July 30, 2005, Brother Freeman has chartered one chapter since his appointment.

*Information provided courtesy of the Southeastern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc.

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