Chapter History
Wilmington (DE) History
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. chartered the Wilmington (DE) Alumni Chapter, the third alumni chapter chartered in the Northeastern Province, on Saturday, March 8, 1947 at the Walnut Street YMCA, 10th and Walnut Streets in Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Idel (“Prof.”) William Edward Taylor, a native of Lewes, Delaware, and Dean of Men at (then) Delaware State College presented the charter. Dr. Taylor, a 1930 graduate from Wilmington’s Howard High School, joined Kappa through the Lincoln University chapter, the Epsilon of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
After chartering the Wilmington (DE) Alumni Chapter, Dr. Taylor traveled to Delaware State College to charter the Beta Sigma Chapter later on March 8, 1947, forever linking the chapter’s in history. Dr. Taylor joined the faculty at (then) Morgan State College in Baltimore, Maryland where he served for almost four decades as Advisor to the Alpha Iota Chapter.
The Wilmington (DE) Alumni Chapter’s chartering process began in January 1946 while Rev. John B. Redmond served as the newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Walnut Street YMCA. The Fraternity’s Grand Board of Directors unanimously approved the charter petition on January 30, 1947. The total cost for the chartering procedure was $21.00 ($10.00 for the charter fee; $10.00 for a set of five rituals; and $1.00 for a copy of the Grand Chapter Constitution).
Charter to Achievement
Rev. Redmond personally enlisted the other sixteen charter members of the Wilmington (DE) Alumni Chapter and reminded them of their duties and obligations to the Fraternity. Each charter member was assessed six dollars ($6.00) as well as a reinstatement fee of one dollar ($1.00) if the brother was not currently financial. The officers and charter members were Dr. Charles H. Butler (Strategus), N. Watson Brown (Keeper of Records), D. Edward Fleming, Richard Fleming, Dr. Louis D. Giles (Vice Polemarch), Phillip Gooden, Paul D. Haughton, John O. Hopkins, Sr., George A. Johnson, a 1911 initiate of Alpha Chapter (Reporter), George L. Johnson (Historian), Clarence C. Jones (Polemarch), Rev. James L. Morgan, Millard A. Naylor, Walter L. Purnell, Rev. John B. Redmond, Jr. (Keeper of Exchequer), Dr. Oscar N. Smith, and Dr. John H. Taylor.
Initially, monthly meetings of the Wilmington (DE) Alumni Chapter were held in the homes of the active brothers. The first chapter dance was held at the Nur Temple Shriner’s Club. Scholarships were awarded from the proceeds of this activity. A leadership conference was held in 1963 at the Walnut Street YMCA. In 1964, the chapter sponsored a Black Art Show. A significant achievement of Wilmington Alumni was its integration of the Hotel DuPont, which was used as the site for its Christmas formal dance.
The Wilmington (DE) Alumni Chapter has hosted six Northeastern Province Councils at various locations over the years: in 1948 at the Walnut Street YMCA, in 1961 at the Hotel DuPont, in 1971 at the Holiday Inn, in 1987 at the Radisson Hotel, in 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel, and in 2023 at the Doubletree Hotel.
Wilmington (DE) Alumni Brothers Who Have Served
On The Grand Chapter Level
The following persons have served the Grand Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity®, Inc.:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
|
Name
Delbert Horton
|
Position
Undergraduate Summit Speaker, Risk Avoidance Committee, Strategic Planning Committee
|
|
Name
Stanley W. Smith
|
Position
Kappa Choir
|
|
Name
Darryl A. Parson
|
Position
Co-Chair Risk Prevention and Education Committee
|
Wilmington (DE) Alumni Brothers Who Have Served
On The The Northeastern Province Level
Several Wilmington (DE) Alumni Brothers have also served the Northeastern Province as officers and committee chairmen:
| Name | Position | Year |
|---|---|---|
|
Name
Hon. Clarence S. Bennett
|
Position
Parliamentarian
|
Year
|
|
Name
Joseph Bryant, Jr.
|
Position
Deputy Chief of Staff to Province Polemarch
|
Year
2012-2024
|
|
Name
Kenyon L. Camper, Sr.
|
Position
Province Vice Polemarch,
Editor, The Diamond Newsletter
|
Year
1973-1975
|
|
Name
Donald M. Evans, Sr.
|
Position
Province Keeper of Exchequer
|
Year
1979-1981
|
|
Name
Delbert Horton
|
Position
Undergraduate Summit Speaker, Risk Avoidance Committee, Strategic Planning Committee; Committee Chairperson of Job Bank, Job Resources/Development, and Achievement
|
Year
|
|
Name
Brian D. Lewis
|
Position
Assistant Keeper of Records
|
Year
2015 - 2023
|
|
Name
Dr. William E. Bazzelle, Sr.
|
Position
Chair, Guide Right Committee,
Grand Chapter Guide Right Commission
|
Year
2003 - 2011
|
|
Name
Darryl A. Parson, Esq.
|
Position
Chair, Northeastern Province By-Laws & Risk Education Committees; Co-Chair, Grand Chapter Risk Education Committee
|
Year
2012-2025
|
|
Name
James “Ray” Rhodes
|
Position
Chair, Achievement Committee
|
Year
|
|
Name
Wali W. Rushdan, II, Esq.
|
Position
Political Action Committee
|
Year
|
|
Name
Calvin L. Smith
|
Position
Assistant Southern Region Board Member
|
Year
2007-2009
|
|
Name
Stanley W. Smith
|
Position
Kappa Choir, Northeastern Province Reclamation Committee, Grand Chapter Reclamation Committee, and Social Action Committee
|
Year
|
Meritorious Awardees
Several Wilmington (DE) Alumni brothers have received Northeastern Province Awards:
The James M. Kidd Distinguished Service Award:
- Dr. William E. Bazzelle, Sr.
- Joseph Bryant, Jr.
- Donald M. Evans, Sr. (Chapter Invisible)
- Delbert Horton
- Stanley W. Smith
- Darryl A. Parson, Esq.
The Samuel C. Hamilton Alumni Achievement Award:
- Dr. William E. Bazzelle, Sr.
- Stanley W. Smith
- Joseph Bryant, Jr.
- Patrick V. Sweet
- Darryl A. Parson, Esq.
- Joseph Bryant, III (Chapter Invisible)
- Brian D. Lewis
The Bert V. Wadkins Award for Most Outstanding Guide Right Director:
- Dr. William E. Bazzelle, Sr.
- Brian D. Lewis, Adib Rushdan
- Wali W. Rushdan, II., Esq.
Chapter Awards
The Chapter has won numerous provincial awards:
- Northeastern Province Reclamation Award: 2001, 2023.
- Northeastern Province Student of the Year Competition Award: 1999, 2001, 2011, 2014, 2015
- Northeastern Province Guide Right Chapter of the Year: 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Northeastern Province Chapter of the Year: 1999, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2025
Significant information about the Wilmington Alumni Chapter is as follows:
The Chapter currently includes 51 Brothers. At its height, the Wilmington Alumni Chapter carried 88 Kappas on its roster.
On-going activities of the Wilmington (DE) Alumni Chapter include the Halloween Safe House Party, Christmas Adopt-a-Family, Kappa League, The Achievers, Inc., Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Affair, Northeastern Province Student of the Year, Sam Brown Fellowship Breakfast, and Summer Bar-B-Que. The Chapter maintains Achievement, Audit, Founders Day, Nominations, Reclamation, and Senior Kappas committees. Wilmington (DE) Alumni also supports its not-for-profit foundation, Kappa Mainstream Leadership, Inc. and supervises the University of Delaware Chapter, the Nu Xi of KAΨ.
In 1987, the Wilmington (DE) Alumni Chapter teamed with the Wilmington, Delaware Chapter of The Links, Incorporated to sponsor “The Achievers,” a program to promote excellence among African-American male youth in New Castle County, Delaware. The program is open to male high school juniors and seniors who have maintained at least a 2.0 grade point average. The theme, “Promoting Excellence in African-American Young Men”, reflects the overall purpose and goals of the program, which are to provide a comprehensive, enriching experience for African-American male youth that will assist them in developing:
♦ Self-Awareness, Self-Esteem, and Self-Pride
♦ An Understanding of their Importance to our Culture and Society
♦ An Appreciation of their Familial and Cultural Values and Racial Pride
♦ An Understanding of How to Succeed
♦ Respect and Tolerance for Others
Over the 38 years of its existence, 660 young Black males have participated in the Achievers Program, earning over $1,100,000 in scholarships and merit awards.
