Chapter Polemarch Christopher Nolan with 75 year Kappa men, Dr. James Bolton and Chapter Founding Member Anderson Pollard. (Courtesy photo)
On Saturday, March 18, the noble men of the Kappa Alpha Psi – Pasadena Alumni Chapter came together at the Brookside Country Club in Pasadena to celebrate the chapter’s founding, which occurred on March 17, 1961.
Pasadena Alumni Chapter had its chartering ceremony and banquet at the Marino House in San Marino, California. The fact that these Black men were able to come together to host any ceremony or event in San Marino in 1961 was a feat within itself.
The Western Province Polemarch Charles J. Sudduth of Berkeley, California acted as the Grand Chapter Representative and issued the Charter on its behalf. The Grand Vice Polemarch and future Los Angeles Mayor Thomas Bradley, Esq., installed the chapter officers.
Kappa brother Judge Bernard Jefferson of Los Angeles was the speaker for the evening. The theme of his speech was “Individual and Chapter Achievement” with a major focus on chapter participation in community improvement programs.
Related Links:
https://lasentinel.net/kappa-alpha-psi-fraternity-celebrates-111-years-of-achievement.html
https://lasentinel.net/local-kappa-alpha-psi-chapter-donates-ppe-to-pasadena-seniors.html
“The idea of an alumni chapter in Pasadena had been discussed by Kappa men in the Pasadena area for years. This is a great achievement with this year being the golden anniversary of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity,” stated Judge Jefferson.
The evening was dedicated to the memory of the 20 charter members of the Pasadena Alumni Chapter, which included Edwin Anderson, Chester Baccus, Tom Brown, William Bryant, Fred Carter, Paul Daniels, Herbert Duckett, Charles Jones, George Jones, Don L. Mimms, Ronald Nelson, Anderson Pollard, Rodney Richard, Claude Richardson, Jr., Russell Rostad, Melvyn Stevens, Thoms Sudduth, A.R. Traylor, Charles Washington and Robert Williams.
The highlight of the evening was the keynote speech by Dr. James Bolton, who has been a member of the fraternity for more than 75 years. He spoke on the importance of the fraternity and its continued work within the community.
Brother Anderson Pollard, one of the founding members of the fraternity, also spoke and shared the history of the chapter’s formation. In addition, the fraternity presented the family of Pasadena Councilman John J. Kennedy with the inaugural John J. Kennedy Community Service Award, which will be presented annually to a non-Kappa member of the community for performing outstanding work for the betterment of the Pasadena community.
Chapter Polemarch Christopher Nolan was honored with an award as well in acknowledgement for his years of exemplary efforts and service to both the chapter and to the community. Polemarch Nolan announced that he was passing the torch of leadership forward and will be ending his tenure as Polemarch of the chapter at the end of the fraternal year.