The history and legacy of the 61st chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha and one of the oldest chapters in the state of Louisiana is one that begins with the hard work and intense drive of the charter members. The interested men of Southern University, at that time, had many hurdles to overcome in order to bring Alpha Phi Alpha to the deeply racist south, but more importantly, to the deepest and most racist state in the south. During that time the granting of charters was a complicated process. One must show that there is sufficient interest in a the fraternity to insure its' longevity on the campus, as well as prove that the potential university was "worthy" of the nation's premier organization for young black leaders. This was not as formidable a task for many predominately white and ivy league schools since many of the schools' reputations preceded them. For Historically Black Colleges and Universities, however, interested young men had their work cut out for them. This is why the introduction of Beta Sigma chapter to Southern University was so important, not only to Alpha Phi Alpha, but to the campus of Southern University. It showed the nation that Southern was not only one of the premier colleges in the south, but in the nation and a bastion of black academia.
These 10 visionary young men were:
James P. Christy
George A. Davis
John D. Davis
Henry A. Dumouil
Charles C. Guthrie
James S. Peters (last living
charter member)
Othneil R. Thompson
Hugh J. Thornton
Edgar T. Thornton
Earl L. Walters
On December 11, 1936, in a ceremony conducted by Brother H.B. Evans, the hard work paid off and their dreams came to be when these men chartered the Beta Sigma chapter at Southern University.
Some of the many notable men
of the Beta Sigma chapter are:
Bobby Phills-guard Charlotte
Hornets
Adrian Wallace-General President,
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Gregory Troy Jackson- National
Intake Director Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Huel Perkins-1998 Alpha Award
of Merit winner/author of the fraternity's sweetheart song
James Joseph- U.S. Ambassador
to South Africa
Felton Grandison Clark-Founder
of Southern University and A&M College
Today the men of Beta Sigma continue
to uphold the light through various programs such as:
Alpha Phi Alpha Health Fair,
Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant, Campus Clean-up, Let's Talk About
Sex Forum and various others. Since 1936, the men of the
Beta Sigma chapter continue
to prove that,
"First of all, Servants of all,
We shall Transcend All."