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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 75
BY REPRESENTATIVE BURRELL
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To commend Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, upon the celebration of its one hundred
eighth anniversary as an organization and recognizes May 5, 2014, as Alpha Phi Alpha
Day at the Louisiana State Capitol.
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 their fellow man, serving their communities, acting as mentors to youth,
and carrying on the tradition of one of their members, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by actively
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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 Elbert Guillory; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the dedication and commitment exhibited by the members
of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, May 5, 2014, 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
eighth anniversary of the organization; 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; and does hereby
recognize May 5, 2014, as Alpha Phi Alpha Day at the Louisiana State Capitol.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable 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