Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity celebrating a century of brotherhood, service
Members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity lead Ohio University’s 2019 Silent March, held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and in honor of the civil rights leader. Photo by Hannah Ruhoff/Ohio University Communications and Marketing
Ohio University’s upcoming Black Alumni Reunion (BAR) will honor a significant milestone in the history of the University and for a group of Bobcats who over the past 100 years have established a legacy of excellence, service and brotherhood.
May 17, 2019, marked the 100th anniversary of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Phi Chapter, the first African-American student organization and fraternity at Ohio University. During OHIO’s triennial BAR, to be held Sept. 12-15, Alpha Phi Alpha brothers past and present will come together to celebrate the organization’s rich history and the impact it has made on the campus and in the community.
Pictured is the 1925 class of Alpha Phi Alpha Phi Chapter members at Ohio University. Photo courtesy of Sherman Lee, BSH ’98, MHA ’99
“With the 100th anniversary, we’ll have a lot of alumni coming back (to campus),” said Tyrell Carter, the fraternity’s current president who is a senior studying psychology. “These are all very involved and respectful men, and I know our chapter has a huge legacy to carry on.”
In fact, it is those men that inspired Carter to join Alpha Phi Alpha.
“The guys that were here before me, they just had a great foundation,” Carter said. “They were great individuals. They were leaders on campus, and they sparked my interest and made me want to follow in their footsteps.”
Terry Frazier, BS ’99, MED ’00, was also moved to join the fraternity, in 1996, by those who came before him.
“This fraternity has such a rich history with so many strong African-American men,” said Frazier, noting that Alpha Phi Alpha was founded in 1906 as the first intercollegiate Greek fraternity for African Americans. Among the organization’s members are social justice pioneers Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall and W.E.B DuBois. “When I was on campus and was becoming acquainted with the brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha, I saw how they embodied this legacy.”
Frazier, who continues his involvement with the fraternity through its alumni chapter in East Lansing, Michigan, is coordinating the 100th anniversary celebration that will be held during BAR – 20 years after organizing the chapter’s 80th anniversary events as an OHIO undergraduate.
According to Frazier, BAR weekend will include a formal dinner celebrating the Phi Chapter’s 100th anniversary and the dedication of a room in Baker University Center that will serve as a formal and lasting tribute to the organization’s legacy.
“This is a commemorative symbol,” Frazier said. “It shows we’ve left a legacy.”
Members of Ohio University’s Phi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha gather in 1999 for the chapter’s 80th anniversary celebration. Photo courtesy of Terry Frazier, BS ’99, MED ’00
That legacy, according to Sherman Lee, BSH ’98, MHA ’99, includes a strong commitment to community involvement, outreach and service.
“What stands out to me is, after becoming a member, I realized I was a part of something that was greater than myself,” said Lee who joined the fraternity in 1997. “When people look at you, they associate you with this organization, so you have to say to yourself, ‘How do I want this organization represented?’ … It made me a better student. It made me a better person. It made me a better man.”
The OHIO chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha has made significant strides in illuminating black history for both the University and local communities. Among the organization’s efforts is its involvement in Ohio University’s annual weeklong celebration honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Alpha Phi Alpha sponsors the week’s Silent March and Brunch, leading members of the OHIO and Athens communities in a silent march through campus. This year’s event drew more than 200 people, building on a legacy started decades ago.
“We’d have a candlelight vigil on MLK weekend, and we’d bring out the community,” Lee recalled from his days on campus. “Not only the college, but Athens County as well.”
What started out in 1919 with a group of nine Ohio University men has not only survived but thrived. The Phi Chapter was recognized as Ohio District Chapter of the Year in both 2017 and 2018 and was named 2019’s Fraternity of the Year by Ohio University’s Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life.
It has also paved the way for a host of other multicultural organizations who have contributed to OHIO’s rich and diverse history. Four decades after the Phi chapter’s founding, in 1963, Delta Sigma Theta became the first historically black sorority at the University. There have been several other multicultural groups who are either currently or have once been recognized by OHIO, including: Alpha Psi Lambda National Inc., Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity, Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
After Alpha Phi Alpha members have graduated from OHIO, their commitment to the organization endures. There are fraternity alumni chapters across the country that welcome graduates to remain connected to the brotherhood. Lee said his membership in the fraternity’s alumni chapter in Cleveland encourages generosity and community involvement.
“We have a lot of community-focused initiatives,” Lee said. “Some initiatives include voter registration, also we have a food basket drive around the holidays that supports 100-plus needy families. In addition, we assist in helping take care of individuals in assisted living facilities to assure their needs are met. Really, it’s just about being active in the city you’re in and practicing community outreach and community service.”
Frazier said that the alumni networks keep fraternity members connected. Whenever he travels, he makes an effort to visit with his fellow Bobcat brothers.
Pictured are the current brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Phi Chapter, including President Tyrell Carter (far left).
“If I’m in Cleveland, I’ll see Sherman [Lee],” he said “It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I’ll check in on a brother if I’m in their city. It’s just a very tight brotherhood.”
Come BAR in September, these brothers will celebrate their contributions as the first multicultural organization at the University and the century of memories that accompany this anniversary. Current brothers will look toward the future of the chapter and the impact they hope to make.
“We have to carry on this work, so in another 100 years we can have a 200-year celebration for our brothers,” Carter said.
The Alpha Phi Alpha Centennial Ball will be held Friday, Sept. 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Baker University Center Ballroom. This celebration is open to the public, and tickets are required. For information and to purchase tickets, click here.