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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 116
BY REPRESENTATIVES BURRELL, WESLEY BISHOP, DIXON, JEFFERSON, AND
PIERRE AND SENATORS BROWN AND GUI LLORY
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To commend Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, upon the celebration of its one
hundred sixth anniversary as an organization.
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, was founded on December
4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, as the first intercollegiate Greek-letter
organization established for African American men; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha has provided voice, insight, inspiration, and direction
to African Americans and people of color around the world; and
WHEREAS, the visionary founders of Alpha Phi Alpha, known as the "Seven
Jewels" of the fraternity, were Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene
Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and
Vertner Woodson Tandy; and
WHEREAS, the fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority
students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell; and
WHEREAS, the founders and early leaders of the fraternity succeeded in laying a
firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha's principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character,
and the uplifting of humanity; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were developed at other colleges and
universities soon after the founding at Cornell; and
WHEREAS, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, has numerous chapters
in the state of Louisiana, and its hundreds of chapters worldwide continue the legacy of their
predecessors by helping out their fellow man, serving their community by acting as mentors
to youths, and carrying on the tradition of one of their members, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
by actively discussing civil rights; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 116
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WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha spearheaded and oversaw the designing and building
of a monument in Dr. King's honor, which is the newest memorial on the National Mall in
Washington, D.C., the first to honor a non-president, and the first to honor a man of color;
and
WHEREAS, other notable members of Alpha Phi Alpha include W.E.B. Dubois,
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, William
Gray, and Andrew Young; and
WHEREAS, this year, Alpha Phi Alpha members from across Louisiana will travel
to Baton Rouge in order to celebrate the contributions and sacrifices in the legislature of
fourteen past Alpha brothers and those currently serving, Representatives Roy A. Burrell,
Wesley T. Bishop, Herbert B. Dixon, Patrick O. Jefferson, and Vincent J. Pierre and
Senators Terry R. Brown and Mickey J. Guillory; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the dedication and commitment exhibited by the
members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, May 15, 2012, is Alpha Phi Alpha
Day at the Louisiana State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to set aside a special day to commend Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Incorporated, for its programs and activities that exemplify the importance of
service to all mankind and to recognize the positive impact the fraternity has on the state of
Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, upon the celebration of the one hundred
sixth anniversary of the organization and does hereby express gratitude to the Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, for the service of its members toward promoting safety,
health, culture, and education to the people of the state of Louisiana, the nation, and the
world. ENROLLEDHCR NO. 116
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Louisiana District Director, Southwestern Regional Vice President, Executive Director, and
General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE