ABOUT BETA PI LAMBDA || CAPITAL DISTRICT ALPHAS

Mini Jewels

Jewel Brother George Biddle Kelley

Born in Troy, New York, Jewel Kelley graduated from the Troy Academy. He then attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Cornell University. While at Cornell, he was an instrumental member and founder of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, becoming the first president of Alpha Chapter. Jewel Brother Kelley graduated from Cornell with a degree in Civil Engineering. He would go on to work for the State of New York as a Civil Engineer on the barge canal. Years later, Jewel Kelley joined the New York State Tax Department where he remained until retirement.

Brother Clarence M. Maloney

Born in the West Indies, Brother Maloney was educated at Syracuse and Howard University. Brother Maloney studied law and in addition to his private practice served as an Assistant Attorney General for New York State and an Assistant District Attorney in Buffalo, New York.

Brother James L. Spencer, MD

Born in Carrollton, Alabama, Brother Spencer attended Talladega College in Alabama and received a Liberal Arts degree from Howard University. He graduated from Howard University School of Medicine in 1930 and began his medical practice in Albany, New York. He would later become a world renowned dermatologist, taking special studies in Vienna and Budapest between 1933 and 1934.

Brother William F. Brown, Jr., DDS

Brother Brown attended high school in Mobile, Alabama. Brother Brown entered Howard University as a freshman in 1919. He received his B.S. degree in 1924. In 1925 he entered the College of Dentistry at Howard University, became an Alpha man at Beta Chapter in 1927, and graduated in 1929. In 1932 he began his dental practice in Albany, New York. He is remembered as an aggressive brother, who never missed a meeting even at 85 years old.

Brother Granville W. Lee

Little is known of Brother Lee, he left the chapter shortly after its formation.

Brother Frederick W. Pierce, MD

From Covington, Virginia, Brother Pierce received a Liberal Arts degree from Union University in Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from Mehary Medical School and interned at Provident Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Brother Pierce was practicing medicine in the Hudson, New York area at the time of the formation of Beta Pi Lambda, and later relocated to New Rochelle, New York.

Brother Taylor H. Thomas

Brother Thomas graduated from Lansingburgh High School in Troy, New York and enrolled in Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Upon graduation, he went to work for the New York State Tax Department. Brother Thomas also served in the United States Army during World War II. He is remembered as jovial and easy tempered.

Brother W. Harold Bethel

Brother Bethel was born in Buffalo, New York and was educated at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). While at MIT, he went to work for the State of New York as a civil engineer in the Department of Public Works.