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.
Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter History
The Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter (FKAC) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was chartered on April 12, 1981, under the leadership of the 16th South Central Province Polemarch and 54th Elder Watson Diggs Awardee, Louis N. Willis.
The Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter has historically functioned as a military- and veteran-centric Alumni Chapter, reflective of the Fort Knox installation and surrounding community. As a result, Brothers frequently traversed the Chapter due to military assignments, often serving in the area in approximately three-year increments. This transient nature significantly influenced Chapter continuity and membership stability.
According to verbal accounts, one of the earliest documented membership experiences for the Chapter occurred in Spring 1984, and included Brothers Willie Neal, Anthony King, and William Forney. Due to fluctuating membership and operational challenges, the Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter entered a period of dormancy during the late 1980s to early 1990s.
The Chapter’s dormant status officially ended during the 72nd South Central Province Council Meeting, held April 20–23, 2017, in Tunica, Mississippi. At that time, the Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter was formally re-established through the commitment and leadership of the following Kappa Men: James Hurt, Sr. (Polemarch), Vince Blackmon (Vice Polemarch), Aaron Gunning (Keeper of Records), Leo Scott (Keeper of Exchequer), Bueford Smith, Willie Neal (Spring 1984 initiate), Errol Deveaux, Martez Nix, and Frank McClendon.
Later in 2017, the Chapter expanded its membership with the addition of Christopher Williams, Mark Peterson, Christopher Nichols, Kevin Vereen (Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, Retired), Jeffery Witherspoon, and Marion Edwards, further strengthening the Chapter’s leadership and operational capacity.
In 2019, the Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter established the Hardin County Kappa League (Junior), reaffirming its commitment to youth mentorship and leadership development. The League’s Founders’ Commitment Award was named in honor of Juan A. Renaud (FKAC Executive Director), James Hurt, Sr. (FKAC Polemarch and Louisville Alumni), and Keith Love (Louisville Alumni)—all founders of the Louisville Kappa League (2012).
At this time, other historical artifacts, and lineage records of the Fort Knox (KY) Alumni Chapter have not been preserved at the Province or International Headquarters, making continued documentation and historical preservation a priority for the Chapter