Founded by seven pioneering African American men on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithica, New York, Alpha Phi Alpha is the first remaining fraternity established for African American college men. Alpha has produced a wealth of great leaders and has been and continues to be at the forefront of the social justice movement in black America and worldwide in the twentieth century and beyond.
The Alpha Founders, Our “Seven Jewels”:
- Henry A. Callis
- Charles H. Chapman
- Eugene K. Jones
- George B. Kelly
- Nathaniel A. Murray
- Robert H. Ogle
- Vertner W. Tandy
The “Mighty” Gamma Epsilon chapter was established with the assistance of Thomas M. Clarke and Charles Lane. Brother Clarke was the Secretary of Xi Lambda graduate chapter in Chicago, Illinois; Brother Lane was the General Consular. They were commissioned by Vice-President William N. Lovelace to activate an undergraduate chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Assisting Brother Lane and Brother Clarke (Charter Members)::
- Byrd, Ronald S.
- Dawson, Ira T.
- Hamilton, Harry L.
- Miller, Isaac
- Phillips, Dale
- Rhinhart, John E.
- Wright, Arnold W.
The eight initiates, our Gamma Epsilon Founders:
- Edward Bobo
- Fredrick B. Brown
- Stanley P. Hebert
- Horace Hobson
- Sylvester May
- John Reneau
- Wilbur Thomas
- Henry Wilson
Gamma Epsilon was chartered on the UW campus on December 7, 1946 and has the distinction of being the first established remaining Black Greek Lettered Organization both on our campus and in the state of Wisconsin. GE seeks to serve the communities of color on campus and in the greater Madison area through academic, community, and social programming.
Well known Alphas:
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
- Thurgood Marshall
- Kwame Kilpatrick
- Duke Ellington
- Lenny Wilkins
- Donny Hathaway
- Cornell West
- Garrett Morgan
- Marc Morial
- Benny Boom
- Keenan Ivory Wayans
- Adam Clayton Powell
- Dick Gregory
- David Dinkins
- Paul Roberson
and many more…
Alpha Phi Alpha National Programs:
- Go to High School, Go to College
- Project Alpha
- A Voteless People is a Hopeless People
- March of Dimes
(for more information, please visit http://www.alphaphialpha.net )
Gamma Epsilon Programs:
- Alpha Week
- Women of Color Appreciation Day
- HIV/AIDS Awareness and testing
- Voter Registration
- Miss Black and Gold Paegant
- Boys and Girls Club volunteering and Programming
- Annual O’Sickness Party
- Homecoming festivities
- Reclamation (chapter reunion)
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Alpha Pen Pals
- Teen Sexual Awareness education
Current GE Members:
- Sharell Hoard-President
- Remi Aregbesola-Vice President/Historian
- Brandon Walker-Recording Secretary
- Leonard Taylor-Corresponding Secretary/Director of Educational Activities
- Marcus Hammonds-Treasurer
- Reggie Cribbs-Parliamentarian
- Ray Nixon-Promotions
- Dwayne Smith-Member
GE REUNION: To view photos from our chapter’s 59th anniversary and reunion, please visit http://gereunion.dreadlogic.com
NATIONAL WEBSITE: http://www.alphaphialpha.net
For more information, please contact: Sharell Hoard-chapter president - tshoard@wisc.edu
