Background/History

Written by Brother Stacey J. Hitt, PhD. from dialogue and records provided by Brother Larry D. Meredith, Esq. Contributions also made by Brothers McGeorge, Taylor W. “TC” Cannon, Jr. (Chapter Invisible), Michael “Black Magic” J. McLendon, Maj. Raphael H. Sayles, and Albert H. Taliaferro, Jr.

“Evolution of the Dream!”

The beginning of the Erie (PA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Inc. has its origin with the vision of Brother Larry D. Meredith, Esq., a native son of Erie, Pa. When Brother Meredith, an initiate of Howard University’s Xi Chapter, returned to Erie, Pa in the mid ‘70s, he envisioned bringing together a bond of Brothers to form a local alumni chapter and an undergraduate chapter. Here’s the story:

Brother Meredith officially initiated the process in 1977 through correspondence with the International Headquarters (IHQ) requesting the steps needed to start an alumni chapter. During this process Brother Meredith was assisted in his efforts by Brother Maj. Raphael H. Sayles (Alpha Mu), who worked at Gannon College (now Gannon University) at the time. Although Brother Meredith was pursuing an alumni chapter, he was also working with Brother Sayles to pursue an undergraduate chapter at Gannon College.

However, the requirements at the time, of establishing an alumni chapter consisted of having ten members. The requirements of an undergraduate chapter consisted of having seven members. Brother Meredith was always able to gather a group of nine, but fell a little short of the requirement of ten. The undergraduate chapter at Gannon was never able to get started.

‘80s

However, in 1982 a little luck, coincidence and fate seem to have pushed the “dream” of having an alumni chapter a little closer to reality. More Brothers relocated to the Erie area. Brother Meredith started adding the new Brothers to his list for consideration of establishing a new chapter. During this time he was assisted by E. Scott Law, G. Neal Horton and Albert H. Taliaferro, Jr. Listed below are some of the Brothers who were in the area at that time (some of these Brothers later became charter members of the alumni chapter). The Brothers are listed in alphabetical order):

  1. Taylor W. “TC” Cannon, Jr. – Eastern Illinois University – Beta Swing
  2. Lt. Col. (Ret) Frank T. Chance, Esq. – Kent State – Gamma Tau (Chapter Invisible)
  3. Kenneth G. Evans – Southern University at New Orleans – Epsilon Nu
  4. Jackie Harper – Alcorn State – Gamma Pi
  5. G. Neal Horton – Harrisburgh Alumni
  6. Leonard I. Jefferson, Marquette University – Delta Kappa
  7. Tim Knupp – California State University – Zeta Eta
  8. E. Scott Law – Beta Epsilon Chapter – California State University of Pennsylvania (Chapter Invisible)
  9. Rev Paul P. Martin – Case Western – Alpha Omega (Chapter Invisible)
  10. Theodore McNeil – (Chapter Invisible)
  11. Larry D. Meredith, Esq. – Howard University – Xi
  12. Maj. Raphael H. Sayles – Lincoln University – Alpha Mu
  13. Albert H. Taliaferro, Jr. – St Paul College – Delta Lambda
  14. Alexander “Woody” Thompson – Florida Memorial College – Epsilon Mu

While Brother Meredith was pursuing an alumni chapter, there were undergraduates interested in becoming Kappas at Allegheny College. Brother Taylor W. “TC” Cannon, Jr. just happened to be working at the campus. After correspondences between Brothers Lt. Col. George N. Charlton Jr. (Province Polemarch), Meredith, and Cannon regarding this undergraduate interest, Brother Meredith forwarded his updated list of Brothers in the area to Brother Charlton who passed it on to Brother Cannon. There were now two new chapter projects (an alumni chapter and undergraduate chapter) progressing in the area, parallel to each other both under the tutelage of Brother Meredith.

Brother Charlton assigned Brother Michael “Black Magic” McLendon to assist Brother Meredith in the efforts of starting the alumni chapter. Brother McLendon, in addition, assisted Brothers Meredith and Cannon with initiating the first “BE Swing line” in the Greater Erie area.

Although there were many more Brothers in the area, the group still only had nine financial Brothers, one short of the required ten for an alumni chapter. According to Brother Tailaferro, he and a group of Brothers identified a Brother they never met who was away from the fraternity for many years. After a visit to his home, they explained to him that they needed him in the Bond in order to get ten members to qualify for an alumni chapter. The Brother agreed, and the group of Brothers “kollaborated” and paid his necessary fees, and the Brother was reclaimed back into the Bond! Brother Taliaferro feels this was one of his most memorable Kappa moments during the chartering of the Erie Alumni Chapter.

Furthermore, 1983 was a milestone year for the area. The group of Good Brothers were notified that their efforts were rewarded. Brother Earl A. Morris informed the Erie Brothers that on April 29, 1983, the Grand Board of Directors approved the petition for the establishment of a chapter named Erie (PA) Alumni Chapter. On April 7, 1984, Grand Polemarch Robert L. Gordon signed the proclamation naming Erie (PA) Alumni as a chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

According to records, the Brothers in the area that were listed as charter members were:

  1. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Frank T. Chance, Esq.
  2. Kenneth G. Evans
  3. Jackie Harper
  4. G. Neal Horton
  5. Leonard I. Jefferson
  6. E. Scott Law
  7. Rev Paul P. Martin
  8. Theodore McNeil
  9. Larry D. Meredith, Esq.
  10. Albert H. Taliaferro, Jr.

One of the first items that were conducted was the initiation of the first BE Swing line Kappa Ship (KS) Kama Sutra on April 23, 1983. The undergraduates on this line were:

  1. Dwayne Odom – Edinboro University (now Penn West Edinboro University)
  2. Kevin Wright – Allegheny College
  3. Silko Thomas – Edinboro University (now Penn West Edinboro University)
  4. Wendell Oatneal – Allegheny College
  5. Hugh Carter – Edinboro University (now Penn West Edinboro University)
  6. Leonard Hampton – Allegheny College
  7. Nicholas Ward – Allegheny College

So by chance, the interest in Kappa allowed two initiatives (BE Swing and The Erie Alumni Group) to transition into fully fledged chapters – BE Swing became Nu Zeta, and the group of local alumni brothers were able to form the Erie (PA) Alumni Chapter. Erie Alumni was chartered on April 7, 1984, and Nu Zeta (city-wide charter) was chartered on November 21, 1987, at Edinboro University.

There were many in attendance. Listed below is an official list of Charter Members and official Brothers governing the chartering ceremony.

 

The hard work of Brother Meredith and the alumni group of Brothers paid off. Through their collaboration, dedication to the cause, and proven leadership during the chartering process, Kappa was primed to shine its light on the city. The Brothers of the Erie (PA) Alumni Chapter elected Brother Meredith as its first Polemarch. The Har-lin Community Center was the location where the Brothers conducted their meetings and business.

A few years after bringing in new Brothers in the Bond at the undergraduate level, Erie Alumni began to bring in Brothers at the graduate level. The first line of the alumni chapter was initiated in 1986. The members are:

  1. Ronald Miller
  2. Gregory F. Thompson

In addition to bringing in new Brothers, under the direction of Brother Meredith, for five consecutive terms, the chapter instituted their Annual Red and White Ball which raised scholarship funds for local students. In addition, Brothers Leonard Jefferson and Al Taliaferro served as Polemarchs until the end of the 80s.

90s

The ’90s began to pose some challenges for both the alumni chapter and undergraduate chapter. With the loss and migration of jobs at local manufacturers, Erie Alumni struggled to sustain enough members to be considered an active chapter.

Furthermore, due to a nationwide moratorium imposed by IHQ, Nu Zeta was unable to recruit new members, but remained a charter. After the moratorium, Brother Meredith served as the advisor for Nu Zeta until the early 2000s, during which time the chapter continued to initiate Brothers.

2000s – 2022

The Erie Alumni chapter was inactive from the 2000s until 2022. It was re-established in September, 2022.

“The Revitalization – 2022”

Coming Soon!