Phoenix Alumni - 1947
Seated (L - R) Joseph Flipper, Dr. Alden Thompson, Augustus Shaw, Dr. Thomas Crump
Standing ( L - R) Sgt. James Kidd, J. Westbrook McPherson, Leslie Pittman, Henry Kelly, Dr. Robert Phillips

History of the Phoenix Alumni Chapter

On April 14, 1947 , at the home of Dr. Thomas Crump, six members of Kappa Alpha Psi meet for the purpose of organizing a Tucson-Phoenix Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

On June 15 th , 1947 Brother Frank F. LaVigne, Western Provincial Polemarch presided over the Charter ceremony and installation of officers of the Phoenix Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

Dr. Aldon B. Thompson , Polemarch— Tucson

Brother Thomas Brown , Vice Polemarch— Phoenix

Brother Joseph S. Flipper , Keeper of Records— Phoenix

Dr. Thomas Crump , Exchequer— Phoenix

Brother Lowell Sperling , Stratequs— Phoenix

Brother John Williams , Lieutenant Strategus

Dr. Robert B. Phillips , Historian-- Phoenix

The ceremony started at 12:00 a.m. in the home of Brother Thomas Brown. Brother LaVigne presented to the Polemarch, Dr. A.B. Thompson, the charter, and the gavel. To the keeper of the Records were given five copies of the Rituals and one copy of the Constitution. The Polemarch led the Brothers in a passing of the loving cup ceremony and sang Kappa songs.

The meeting adjourned at 4:45 a.m.

Recent Chapter news of historical significance:

The late Brother Clovis Campbell Sr., Black Media Pioneer honored by Az. Historical Society

Audio file of interview with the Historical Society: http://www.cactusinternetradio.com/ecajab05.mp3

(From the January 2005 edition of the Ebony Cactus magazine)This year, the Historical League will honor five significant individuals: Former Arizona Governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, the Navajo Code Talkers, former Phoenix Mayor John Driggs, Arizona State University Professor Alberto Rios and the late Clovis Campbell Sr. During his life Clovis Campbell Sr's achievements were great. Father of five, grandfather to six, great grandfather to three, elected member of both the State House of Representative and the State Senate, member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and finally having a school named after him he had much to be proud. However, many will remember his greatest legacy as being the Arizona Informant Newspaper. Purchased in 1969 by Clovis and his brother Charles, the Arizona Informant is the primary source of news for the African American community in Arizona . He once said that in the old days he could not give the paper away. However, times they do change for the Informant is now one of Arizona 's largest weekly newspapers. His work encouraged many. Arizona 's Black Pages, Shades magazine, the Az Examiner, ABE magazine, The Write Up and The Ebony Cactus magazine were all inspired by Clovis , Sr.'s example.

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