Miami Kappas celebrate 70 years of service to community residents
Banquet closes out the anniversary festivities of chapter’s frat house
The Miami Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, founded on Nov. 23, 1946, celebrated 70 years of service and brotherhood at the chapter’s fraternity house located in Miami’s West Little River area.
Fraternity and sorority alumni chapters, in contrast to undergraduate chapters, consist of members who have graduated from their respective colleges but are still involved in the fraternity both socially and in service to the community. Undergraduate chapters are those commonly found on college campuses.
Throughout its history, the Miami Alumni Chapter has boasted amongst its members many of Miami’s most prominent leaders, including former Opa-locka Mayor Robert Ingram; Johnny Jones, Miami’s first Black school superintendent; the late Miami commissioner, Arthur Teele; George Knox, Miami’s first Black city attorney; State Sen. Oscar Braynon II; architect Ronald Frazier, past President of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce; Dewey Knight Jr., the county’s first Black interim and assistant county manager; Judge Rodney Smith; former County Commissioner Dorrin Rolle; newly elected Miami-Dade Public Schools board member Steve Gallon III; attorney H.T. Smith, the founder of the Dade County Black Lawyers Association and first Black assistant county attorney; and Thomas L. Battles Jr., who now sits as the 33rd Grand Polemarch and the international leader of all of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Rolle was also saluted for his 50 years of membership and service to the fraternity. He originally became a member at Florida A&M University.
Community service is the benchmark for fraternities and sororities.
“We pride ourselves in being involved in community service, and make sure we always contribute in some way,” said Chris Frazier, the Polemarch of the Miami Alumni Chapter. Through the years, the Miami chapter has been recognized by the fraternity for its accomplishments. In 2013-2014 it received the Chapter of the Year Award for medium-size chapters, and again in 2015-2016; Community Service Chapter of the Year in 2014-2015, and 2015-2016; and the Alumni Website for the Year in 2014-2015.
“The future looks strong for Miami [Alumni Chapter],” said Frazier, “Given that we just celebrated 70 years. We are seeing more membership involvement and as we finish the completion of the remodeling of our house, the chapter will really expand and provide more service for the community.”
The anniversary festivities will end with a banquet celebration on Sunday, Dec. 11, 4-7 p.m., at Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club, 6842 Main St., in Miami Lakes.
