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Elder Watson Diggs (1890 -
1947)
Elder Watson Diggs was born in Christian County, Kentucky. In the spring
of 1908, Diggs graduated from Indiana State normal school in Terre Haute, IN
(previously known as Indiana State Teachers College and currently referred
to as Indiana State University). In 1909 he entered Howard University but a
year later he transferred to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
There he received his degree in June of 1916. He served as Grand Polemarch
for the first six years of the fraternity's existence and in 1924 he was
awarded the first Laurel Wreath, the fraternity's highest recognition for
achievement. An educator by profession, he taught in the public schools of
Indianapolis, Indiana, where he elevated to principalship. Upon America's
entrance into World War I, Diggs resigned from his principalship to enter
the Nation's first Officer's Training Camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and was
commissioned a lieutenant. After European service with the 368th Infantry,
he became a captain in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. |
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Byron K. Armstrong (1890 - 1980)
Byron K. Armstrong was born in Westfield, Indiana. In 1909 he entered
Howard University where he met Elder Watson Diggs. Together they transferred
to Indiana University in the fall of 1910. There he studied philosophy,
mathematics, and sociology. After finishing Indiana University, he entered
Columbia University where he earned his Master's degree in 1913. His early
efforts in the fraternity earned him the Laurel Wreath in 1935. In 1940 he
earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Michigan. He
went on to hold teaching position in Florida, Indiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma. |
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Ezra Dee Alexander (1892 - 1971)
Ezra Dee Alexander was born in Bloomington, Indiana. He graduated from
Bloomington High School in 1910. Ezra entered Indiana University in the fall
of 1910 and graduated with an A.B. degree in 1917. He received his M.D.
degree for the Medical School of Indiana University in 1919 and went on to
practice medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. Alexander took part in the
establishment of Kappa Alpha Nu and served several terms as a member of the
Grand Board of Directors of Kappa Alpha Psi. |
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Henry T. Asher (1892 - 1963)
Born in Woodburn, Kentucky in 1892, was graduated from the Bloomington High School in 1910. He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University in 1914 and the next year was an instructor at Lincoln Institute at Jefferson City, Missouri. He was a graduate student at the University of Minnesota in 1917. He received the degree of LL.B. at the Detroit College of Law in 1928. |
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Marcus Peter Blakemore (1889 - 1959)
Marcus Peter Blakemore was born in Franklin, Indiana. However, he
attended common and high school in Anderson, Indiana. He graduated from high
school in 1909 and entered Indiana University the following year. As a
roommate of Byron K. Armstrong, he became enthusiastic about the new
fraternity and contributed significantly to the establishment of Kappa Alpha
Nu. After leaving the university, he organized the Electric Engineering
Company, which he operated until he enlisted in World War I. He later
entered the Dental School of the University of Pittsburgh, from which he
received his DDS degree in 1923. He remained in Pittsburgh and maintained a
dentistry practice. |
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Paul Waymond Caine (1891 - 1922)
Paul Waymond Caine was born in Charleston, Indiana. He attended grade
school and high school in Greencastle, Indiana. In 1909, he entered Indiana
University and helped the other founders in organizing Kappa Alpha Nu.
However, because of a disastrous fire in the fraternity house in which he
was employed, he never finished his sophomore year. Caine went into the
catering business in his hometown, later attended Columbia University, set
up a catering business in Gary, Indiana, and published a book on catering
which was copyrighted in 1919. He was instrumental in setting up the Gamma,
Delta, and Zeta chapters. He later went into business in Peoria, Illinois
and was fatally burned during an explosion of gaseous materials in his
business in 1922. |
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George W. Edmonds (1890 - 1962)
George W. Edmonds was born in Vanderburgh County, Knight Township,
Indiana on August 13, 1890. He attended Carver Elementary and Clark High
School in Evansville, Indiana. He graduated high school in the spring of
1910 and entered Indiana University that fall. There he joined the nine
other founders in organizing Kappa Alpha Psi. After he returned home for the
summer of 1911, his father became ill with pneumonia and died. George, being
the eldest son, became head of the family, thus preventing his return to
school. With the new responsibility of supporting a family, George took a
job with the area coal mines and worked with the coal mines and railroads
until he died of pneumonia in June of 1962. |
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Guy Levis Grant (1891 - 1973)
Guy Levis Grant was born in New Albany, Indiana. He graduated from
Sribner High School in 1909, and subsequently entered Indiana University.
While there, he majored in chemistry and graduated with the A.B. degree in
1915. In 1920 he received his DDS degree from Indiana Dental School; then a
part of Indiana University. He served as a member of the Grand Board of
Directors and was the fraternity's historian. He held memberships in several
civic, professional, and business organization as he practiced dentistry in
Indianapolis, Indiana. |
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Edward Giles Irvin (1893 - 1983)
Edward Giles Irvin was born in Spencer, Indiana on August 13, 1893. He
graduated from Kokomo, Indiana High School in 1910 and entered Indiana
University the same year. He assisted with the founding of Kappa Alpha Nu
and served on the fraternity's Incorporation Committee. After leaving
Indiana, Irvin pursued a career in journalism. He worked in various cities
throughout the country until he served in World War I. After the war he
worked on the staff of the Indiana Freeman. In March of 1922, he established
the Shining Star, a weekly newspaper in Anderson, Indiana. The success of
this venture brought a bid for Irvin's services from the Gary Sun. He
accepted the position of editor, but later resigned to become sports editor
for the Chicago Daily Bulletin. Irvin later organized and operated the
Afro-American Manufacturing Company in Chicago, which produced novelties,
candies, and specialties. |
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John Milton Lee (1890 - 1958)
John Milton Lee was born in Danville Indiana on September 7, 1890. He
graduated from Danville High School in 1910 and in 1910 entered Indiana
University. There he completed three years of pre-medical study. From the
beginning, Lee was an active participant in the founding of Kappa Alpha Nu.
In 1915, he became a student at Temple University but he was compelled to
leave school because of a death in the family. He enlisted in the 349th
Field Artillery in March of 1918 and served overseas as a First Class
Sergeant and Gunner. His was the first battery of Negro Artillery men to
open fire on an enemy. Vocationally, he was engaged in several enterprises.
He conducted a successful catering business in Philadelphia. He organized
and served as Vice-president and Secretary of the Mutual Emergency Union and
he was also a member of the Board of Managers of the Columbia Community
Branch of the YMCA. |
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