HLS 15RS-136 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 127
BY REPRESENTATIVE BURRELL
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Commends Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., upon the
celebration of its 109
th
anniversary
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To commend Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, upon the celebration of its one
3 hundred ninth anniversary as an organization and designate Tuesday, May 19, 2015,
4 as Alpha Phi Alpha Day at the state capitol.
5 WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, was founded on December
64, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, as the first intercollegiate Greek-letter
7organization established for African Americans; and
8 WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha has provided voice, insight, inspiration, and direction
9to African Americans and people of color around the world; and
10 WHEREAS, the visionary founders of Alpha Phi Alpha, known as the "Seven
11Jewels" of the fraternity, were Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene
12Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and
13Vertner Woodson Tandy; and
14 WHEREAS, the fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority
15students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell; and
16 WHEREAS, the founders and early leaders of the fraternity succeeded in laying a
17firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha's principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character,
18and the uplifting of humanity; and
19 WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were developed at other colleges and
20universities soon after the founding at Cornell; and
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HCR NO. 127
1 WHEREAS, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, has numerous chapters
2in the state of Louisiana, and its hundreds of chapters worldwide continue the legacy of their
3predecessors by helping their fellow man, serving their communities, acting as mentors to
4youth, and carrying on the tradition of one of their members, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by
5actively discussing civil rights; and
6 WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha spearheaded and oversaw the designing and building
7of a monument in Dr. King's honor, which is the newest memorial on the National Mall in
8Washington, D.C., the first to honor a nonpresident, and the first to honor a man of color;
9and
10 WHEREAS, other notable members of Alpha Phi Alpha include W.E.B. Dubois,
11Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, William
12Gray, and Andrew Young; and
13 WHEREAS, this year, Alpha Phi Alpha members from across Louisiana will travel
14to Baton Rouge to celebrate the contributions and sacrifices in the legislature of fifteen past
15Alpha brothers and those currently serving: Representatives Roy A. Burrell, Wesley T.
16Bishop, Patrick O. Jefferson, and Vincent J. Pierre and Senators Troy R. Brown and Elbert
17Guillory; and
18 WHEREAS, the members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, desire to
19place on record their love and esteem for their fallen brothers who faithfully served the
20citizens of the state of Louisiana in the Legislature and have now entered into the Omega
21(deceased) Chapter; these brothers include Ernest "Dutch" Morial, Nick Connor, Charles
22"Doc" Hudson, Henry "Hank" Braden, and most recently, Alphonse Jackson, Jr.; and
23 WHEREAS, Tuesday, May 19, 2015, is designated as Alpha Phi Alpha Day at the
24state capitol in honor of the dedication and commitment exhibited by the members of this
25outstanding fraternity; and
26 WHEREAS, it is appropriate to set aside a day to commend Alpha Phi Alpha
27Fraternity, Incorporated, for its programs and activities that exemplify the importance of
28service to all mankind and to recognize the positive impact the fraternity has on the state of
29Louisiana.
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HCR NO. 127
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
2commend Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, upon the celebration of the one hundred
3ninth anniversary of the organization; does hereby express gratitude to Alpha Phi Alpha
4Fraternity, Incorporated, for the service of its members in promoting safety, health, culture,
5and education for the people of the state of Louisiana, the nation, and the world; and does
6hereby designate Tuesday, May 19, 2015, as Alpha Phi Alpha Day at the state capitol.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
8to the Louisiana district director, southwestern regional vice president, executive director,
9and general president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 127 Original 2015 Regular Session Burrell
Commends Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., upon the celebration of its 109th anniversary
and designates May 19, 2015, as Alpha Phi Alpha Day at the capitol.
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