House Resolution 27

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING EPSILON XI LAMBDA CHAPTER OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC., UPON THE CELEBRATION OF ITS 70TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND UPON ITS COMMUNITY SERVICE.

WHEREAS, on May 10, 1951, a meeting was held in Clarksdale, Mississippi, by eight dynamic Black college-educated men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., who had the desire to uplift the Mississippi Delta by establishing a graduate chapter of the fraternity; and

WHEREAS, those forward-thinking men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., which is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-American men, were Fred Miller, B.T. Johnson, O.B. Smith, Charles H. Jones, Wendell Fant, Gerald Cyrus, Charles Peterson and Bennie Cooper - all of whom realized that by consolidating their talents and resources that they could uplift their community through the power of brotherhood; and

WHEREAS, on August 20, 1951, in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter was chartered with the fraternity's regional director conducting the services and with members of the Alpha Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Jackson, Mississippi, serving as assistants; and

WHEREAS, the charter members of the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter are as follows: B.T. Johnson (President), Bennie Cooper (Secretary), Charles Jones (Parliamentarian), Charles Patterson, Fred Miller, Gerald Cyrus (Vice President), G.E. Adams, James Trimm (Editor of the Sphinx), Leo Hall, O.G. Smith (Treasurer) and Wendell Fant; and

WHEREAS, notably, Fred Miller of Mound Bayou has the distinction of serving as the third general president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., from 1911 to 1912, and it was under his administration that the fraternity became incorporated a second time; and

WHEREAS, another distinguished member of the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter is the chapter's first initiate, Samuel Lee Blackburn of Clarksdale, Mississippi, who was initiated on May 12, 1953; and

WHEREAS, since being initiated into the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter, Mr. Blackburn, who has the distinction of reaching the blessed age of 101 years old, has been devoted to serving the Mississippi Delta for over 67 years, and he has not waivered in his commitment to serving others; and

WHEREAS, despite being the oldest member of the chapter, Mr. Blackburn is the essence of an Alpha man, who is blessed to walk without needing assistance, is very active in the chapter and attends regular chapter meetings and all other events in a consistent and punctual manner, thus serving as a fine example to his younger fraternity brothers; and

WHEREAS, in addition to having supportive and remarkable members such as Mr. Blackburn, the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter is also supportive of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.'s national level programs: Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College, A Voteless People is a Hopeless People, Brother's Keeper, Project Alpha, the March of Dimes and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America; and

WHEREAS, the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter's support of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.'s national level programs are carried out in the chapter's local level programs as follows: Dr. MLK, Jr. Oratorical Scholarship, Dr. William Ross Story Scholarship, Dr. Tyrone Jackson Presidential Scholarship and LaDarrius Milton 1,906 Book Campaign, Premier College Prep Academy and ACT Tutorial Workshops - all of which are community outreach mentoring initiatives that benefit the community; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend organizations such as the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., which has continually upheld the fraternity's aims of manly deeds, scholarship and love for all mankind as the chapter continues to be a beacon of hope in the Mississippi Delta and surrounding areas:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the men of the Epsilon Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., upon the special occasion of the organization's 70th year anniversary, and wish them continued success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.