About Alpha
The Founding Jewels
Callis would be the only one of the Jewels to become General President. He was a medical consultant at the Veterans Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama and would become a Professor of Medicine at Howard University. Callis was a member of the American College of Cardiology and one of the first African Americans to be certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He was also a charter member of Theta Chapter and Xi Lambda Chapter in Chicago. Upon his death in 1974, at age 87, the Fraternity entered a time without any living Jewels. |
Chapman’s focus was education. He would become a Professor of Agriculture at what is now Florida A&M University (FAMU). During the organization stages of the Fraternity, he was the first chairman of the Committees on Initiation and Organization. He would later be a founder of FAMU’s BN chapter. Chapman would become the first Jewel to enter Omega chapter in 1934. |
Jones has the distinction of being a Jewel as well as one of the first initiates. During the organization stages of the Fraternity, Jones along with Callis created the Fraternity name. He also was a member of the first Committees on Constitution and Organization and helped write the Fraternity ritual. Jones helped organize the first three chapters during its initial period of expansion – Beta at Howard, Gamma at Virginia Union, and Delta at the University of Toronto in Canada. Jones entered Omega Chapter in 1954. |
One of the strongest proponents of the Fraternity during the early stages of its creation, Kelley would become Alpha Chapter’s first President. He also served on the committees that developed the handshake and ritual. Kelley would later be a founder of Beta Pi Lambda Chapter in Albany, NY. Kelley would also become the first African American engineer registered in the State of New York. His focus was civil engineering. Kelley entered Omega Chapter in 1963. |
Murray was part of Alpha Chapter’s Committee on the Grip as well as a charter member of Mu Lambda in Washington, D.C. Murray’s focus was education. After completing his undergraduate studies at Howard, Murray would continue his education at the graduate level. He would then teach at Armstrong Vocational High School in Washington D.C. Murray entered Omega Chapter in 1959. |
Ogle’s focus was in the secretarial field. He would become Alpha Chapter’s first secretary, as well as become known as the one who proposed the Fraternity’s colors. Ogle would join Kelley in developing the first ritual and later became a charter member of Mu Lambda along with Murray. Ogle later served on the staff of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. Ogle would enter Omega Chapter in 1936. |
Tandy was Alpha Chapter’s first Treasurer as well as the designer of the Fraternity pin. He was instrumental in the incorporation of the Fraternity. Tandy would become the first African American to pass the military commissioning examination and received the commission of First Lieutenant in the 15th Infantry of the New York State National Guard. Tandy would also become the State of New York’s first registered architect. He is known for designing the Saint Episcopal Church in New York City. Tandy entered Omega Chapter in 1949. |
