South Central Province History
The South Central Province was originally encompassed within the Southern Province.
Between 1926 and 1950, Provinces were not fixed entities. At the 40th Grand Chapter meeting [1950], the Provinces underwent a major transformation that included the merging of Provinces, establishing unique boundaries, and renaming of Provinces. The delegates, at subsequent Grand Chapter meetings, continued to fine-tune the management responsibilities of the Province Polemarchs. One of the most significant changes was the adoption of legislation requiring a Province Polemarch to affiliate with an alumni chapter within the geographic area that he supervises. The first documented mention of the South Central Province is in the March 1935 Kappa Alpha Psi Journal. H. C. Russell of the Louisville Alumni Chapter is listed as Province Polemarch.
Based on this information, it can be intimated, the South Central Province was established December 30th, 1934 at the 24th Grand Chapter Meeting. The 24th Grand Chapter was held in New York from December 26 through the 30th. Dr. Jesse Jerome Peters, the eighth Grand Polemarch, would have made the appointment of Brother Harvey C. Russell, Sr as Province Polemarch.
In 1951 Kentucky, Tennessee and Northern Mississippi were realigned and titled the South Central Province while most of Arkansas, and Mississippi along with all of Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas became the Southwestern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi. The first Province Polemarch for the original Southern Province was Nelson Williswho was a member of Louisville (KY) Alumni during his time as a Province Polemarch.
The South Central Province (SCP) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has administrative responsibility for chapters in Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, birthplace of our late Revered Founder Elder Watson Diggs. The Fraternity’s national philanthropic partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, located in Memphis, TN, was conceived and initiated in the SCP. The Fraternity’s Junior Grand Vice Polemarch, Jeremy Williams, is a member of the Nu Rho Chapter in the SCP. The South Central Province honors its legacy of excellence, applauds its able leadership, and advances ever upward and onward toward the ideal of ACHIEVEMENT.
24. Province Polemarch – Leonard E. Clemons 2016-present
Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter History
Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter (FKAC) was Chartered on April 12, 1981. The Province Polemarch at the time was the 16th South Central Polemarch and 54th Elder Watson Diggs Awardee Louis N. Willis. Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter is a military and veteran-centric chapter, and often, brothers have traversed the chapter in three-year increments. Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter entered a dormant status sometime during the late 1980s to early 1990s. According to verbal accounts, one of the first experiences of Ft. Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter membership was in the Spring of 1984, and included Willie Neal, Anthony King, and William Forney.
Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapters’ dormant status ended during the 72nd South Central Province Council meeting, April 20-23, 2017, in Tunica, Mississippi. Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter was re-established by these Kappa Men, James Hurt Sr. (Polemarch), Vince Blackmon (Vice Polemarch), Aaron Gunning (Keeper of Records), Leo Scott (Keeper of Exchequer), Bueford Smith, Willie Neal (FKAC Spring 84 initiate), Errol Deveaux, Martez Nix, and Frank McClendon.
Later in 2017, the Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter added the following members: Christopher Williams, Mark Peterson, Christopher Nichols, Kevin Vereen (Lieutenant General, Retired, U.S. Army), Jeffery Witherspoon, and Marion Edwards.
In 2019, the Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter established the Hardin County Kappa League (Junior) headed by two (2) founders of the Louisville Kappa League (2012), the Founders’ Commitment Award is named after Executive Directors, Juan A. Renaud (FKAC), and James Hurt Sr. (FKAC Polemarch, Louisville Alumni), and Keith Love (Louisville Alumni).
Chapter Mission and Vision Mission Statement
Mission
To provide positive leadership and social support through community involvement.
Vision
To be the premier chapter in the South Central Province, by providing community service, social welfare and academic scholarship.