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On February 25, 1955, the Lake Charles Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity was organized. The second Sunday in February has been has been established as a day of observance for the chapter's origin. However, it was not until October 2, 1956, that the chapter received official national status and recognition. On that date, Attorney Richard Millspaugh, then a member of the Board of Director's presided as Grand Chapter Representative. The official installation began when Brother Millspaugh took the floor and turned over to the Keeper of Records, B.H. Lane all necessary materials for implementation of the chapter's task. Since the initiation of the Lake Charles Chapter into the National Body, Brother Millspaugh has been elevated to the position of Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. The host chapter extended extra greetings to Brother Millspaugh, in particular; it was he who installed the chapter. A gift was presented to the Grand Polemarch in commemoration of his new position. |
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Arbitrarily speaking, a story has no beginning or ending. As P. Wylie once remarked "One choose that place with which to begin and with which to end." The Lake Charles Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity was born in the minds of its chapter members far before its sanction by the Grand Chapter and still farther before receiving of the Lake Charles Alumni Charter. The first known Kappa to live in the Lake Charles area is said to be George Laws who left PI Chapter during the 1920's and erected a home on what is now Railroad Avenue. The home still stands in that location, but the agileness of Brother Laws relative to Kappa has faded like the Attakapians Indians signifying nothing. The second known Kappa to inherit the rolling prairies of Lake Charles is alleged to be Dennis C. Ware II. Brother Ware came to this city via Beaumount, Texas in the year 1949, shortly after graduating from Wiley College. While attending Wiley he affiliated with Alpha Chi Chapter. He came to Lake Charles and entered the City Public School System bringing with him devoted Kappa traditions and thus became one of the chapter members. Brother Ware holds the Master of Arts Degree from the University of Chicago. The nest known Kappa to live in the Lake CHarles area is said to have been Roscoe Moore, a graduate of Southern University and a member of Alpha Sigma. Brother Moore lived and worked in DeQuincy as a teacher and coach at the Grand Avenue High School. In 1954, Brother Moore moved to the City of Lake Charles and began working at Washington High School in the same capacity he held at Grand Avenue High School. Brother Moore is a recent graduate of Indiana University where he holds the Degree of Master of Science in Physical Education. Also, he holds the dual distinction of being the first Polemarch of the Lake Charles Alumni Chapter and one of its charter members. Among the oldest known charter members in terms of Kappa affiliation is said to be James Ward, who lives in Jennings, Louisiana. Brother Ward initial fraternity days were at Alpha Sigma. Rightfully, he may be called the "Father" of the chapter because his days as a Kappa far exceed that other chapter members. Brother Newman Braud also became a charter member. During the 1950's more Kappa's came to the area, among them were James Kelly, edward M. Johnson, and Bernard Lane. It has been said that with the coming of Brother Lane the Lake Charles Alumni Chapter was founded. Brother Lane became the first Keeper of Records and Exchequer of the Lake Charles Alumni Chapter, and later he was elevated to the rank of Polemarch, a position he held for two consecutive years and one shared one by Brother Johnson. Brother Lane is also a charter member. Perhaps there were other Kappa's in the Lake CHarles Area prior to and between the intervals of Brother Laws and those who came during the 1950's. If this were true, they left no traces of their coming in the historical records. |
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