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.
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. 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.
During the tenure of Brother Jenkins, the Province witnessed the
reactivation of the Beta Delta and Gamma Kappa chapters and the
chartering of the Delta Xi Chapter. Chapters were also granted
to Allendale, Florence, Kingstree and Rock Hill. Brother Jenkins
passed up no chance to advance our undergraduate Brothers in positions
of responsibility - chairmen of committees, making introductions
of speakers, and serving as speakers at Province functions. Brother
Jenkins' "STATE OF THE PROVINCE" reports to the membership
always contained words of praise for the efforts and accomplishments
of the undergraduate Brothers and challenges to the Alumni Brothers
to aid them in their efforts to succeed. Brother Jenkins chartered
seven chapters during his term as Province Polemarch.
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.
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. Consequently, Brother Joseph
A. Johnson, 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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