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Alpha Rho Chapter

Alumni Association

100 YEARS AND COUNTING
About
Alpha Rho Chapter History

Please contact the APCAA Editor at: alpharhochapteralumni@gmail.com  

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Alpha Rho Chapter History

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Temerarious 25 Fall 1979 at Homecoming
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Auspicious 13 -- Fall 1980 copy
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Alpha Rho Spring 1953
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Alpha Rho Chapter Google logo
Alpha Rho Chapter FOUNDERS 1924
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Hamilton Holmes
Hugh Morris Gloster -- Fall 1930
3 Brown Brothers Fall 1962
Alpha Rho Chapter DC Smoker in 2014
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Darrell Crapps -- Sentel Corporation
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Darian Nwankwo '18 -- Spring 2017
Flamboyant Southern 5 -- Vegas 2015
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Alpha Rho in 1982-83
Maceo Kennedy Sloan -- Fall 1968
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Walter Falconer speaking
Darren Wethers -- Infallible 14
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ARho & Mu Pi 1981
AP Court 1982
Wendell Whalum -- Fall 1949
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Leonard Murray -- Fall 1989
AP at Spirit Night in 1981
1987
Cassander Woodliff Sellers
Alpha Rho in School Daze -- 1988
APIC Launch with DC Brothers
Alpha Rho Tiny Bubbles in 1988
Morehouse APCAA Site 1945
Jake Danny Gunn III
Inimatable -- Spring 2017
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Richard Makerson -- Spring 2001
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The rich history of the Alpha Rho chapter is one steeped in a long-standing tradition of excellence in leadership, scholarship and service. The deep roots of Alpha Rho lie intertwined with that of the distinguished and visionary men of the Eta Lambda chapter.  There have been 124 initiation periods since Alpha Rho Chapter was chartered on Saturday, January 5, 1924 on the historic campus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Established on May 20, 1920, Eta Lambda was organized to serve the fraternal needs of both undergraduate and graduate brothers at Atlanta University and Morehouse College. Brother Roderick Harris and three of his fellow Morehouse juniors - Charles W. Greene, William E. Anderson, and W.G. Dixon - became four of the twenty-one charter members of Eta Lambda chapter. These four men in turn would introduce Greek life to Morehouse College. Yet, it was not until four years later that Morehouse would have its own chapter.

During the early late 20s and early 30s, Alpha men such as Burrell Brown, Hugh M. Gloster, T.M. Alexander, Andrew Generalissimo Lewis, George Key, Asa Yancey, William M. Nix, and James E. Nix would embody the spirit of Fraternity through their deeds as Alpha Rho men.

 

In the 1940s, brothers such as Charles V. Willie, Albert Wardlaw, Otis Smith, Wendell Whalum, Calvin Brown, Artis White, Noah Wills, Jr, E. Bruce Phillips, Samuel McKinney were initiated at Alpha Rho Chapter. There were more than 50 brothers in the chapter during that time.

 

During the 50s and 60s, Alpha Men such as Charlie Moreland, Otis Moss, Maynard Jackson, Jr, Louis J. Sullivan, Willie “Flash” Davis, James R. Hall, Willis Sheftall, J.K. Haynes, Earl Hilliard, Abraham Davis, Hamilton Holmes and others joined the fraternity during the times when the pro-black, anti-Greek sentiments resurfaced. There were three brothers - Cecil, James and Archibald Brown - who were initiated on the same line.

 

The Honorable Bro. Jerome Farris, who is a retired U.S. Circuit Court Judge served the fraternity as a regional leader in both 1950 and 1951. Bro. Dr. Louis Sullivan, who went on to become the Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bush and later became the President of the Morehouse School of Medicine, served in 1953. Bro. Hamilton E. Holmes transferred from Morehouse to integrate the University of Georgia in 1961 but maintained his membership in Alpha Rho due to UGA’s not having a chapter at that time. Bro. Holmes served in both 1962 and 1963.

During the late 70s and early 80s, membership in Alpha Rho grew to more than 60 brothers annually, and the chapter commanded a well-respected leadership of the student body. During this era, Alpha Rho was seen as the powerhouse of student leadership.

 

Throughout its history, the Alpha Rho chapter has served as the standard for all others to follow. Since 1998, the chapter has produced six valedictorians, five salutatorians, six SGA presidents, two SGA vice presidents, a Rhodes scholar finalist, and countless student-leaders in every facet of campus life.

The complete lineage of Alpha Rho Chapter can be viewed on associated pages within this website.  You can access the initiation-specific pages from the navigation bar at the top of every page.

 

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