Brother Matthews was initiated at the University of Missouri Chapter, the Iota Omega of Kappa Alpha Psi, on December 9, 1981. He is currently the Denver Alumni Chapter Polemarch and has served the fraternity in a number of capacities including Chapter Vice Polemarch, Beta Theta Chapter Advisor, and a member of the Province Membership Intake Team. He is a Life Member of the fraternity and one of the brightest rising stars of the Middle Western Province.

The following commentaries about our brothers were printed in the celebration's program:

Mr. Coker graduated from Kansas Vocational School in Topeka, Kansas, where he was Valedictorian of the Class of 1934. After high school, he attended the University of Kansas where he was the first African-American to enter the University's Freshman/Sophomore Oratorical Contest.

In May of 1936, Mr. Coker was hired by the Union Pacific Railroad as a Club Car Attendant on the Pacific Limited. He moved to Denver and was joined by his wife in August. The Cokers joined and became active members of Shorter A.M.E. Church in July of 1937. Mr. Coker served on the Steward Board, worked with the Sunday school and with the Boy Scout Troop.

Mr. Coker developed a belief in high school that everyone could make a contribution to the community in which they live. He proceeded to make exemplary contributions to Denver Public Schools, civic affairs and community organizations. While serving on Morey Jr. High's Advisory Committee, he became the first African-American man elected president of a Parent/Teacher Association in Denver's history.

Active in scouting for nearly twenty-five years, he was the first AfricanAmerican District Commissioner in the state of Colorado. He received numerous scouting awards including the coveted "Silver Beaver" Award signed by the President of the United States and presented by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Mr. Coker is listed in Who's Who in Colorado and was appointed to the Neighborhood Health Board by Mayor Wellington E. Webb. During the terms of four of Denver's mayors, Mr. Coker served on the Mayor's Capital Improvement Committee. He was instrumental in helping to obtain funding for Kappa Tower, a forty-five unit senior citizen housing project located at 2160 Downing Street. Because of his significant contribution and that of co-founder Leonard G. Chadwick, Sr. (deceased) the Tower's newly completed center was named the Chadwick/Coker Conference Center.

His volunteer efforts include a number of church, professional, fraternal and civic organizations. In the early 1980s and early 1990s he led the effort to establish Denver's student and professional chapters of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). He worked in 1989 to establish Operation Easy Access, a program that sends construction crews into the Denver metropolitan area to build wheelchair ramps at the residences of citizens who cannot afford to have them built. While president of the Denver Alumni Chapter of NSBE in 1991, "KC" started working with - and currently coordinates - NSBE's Rocket Club Program exposing students in grades 4-6 to math, science and engineering through building model rockets. From 1995-1996, "K.C." served as NSBE's National Alumni Chairperson. During his term, NSBE launched its first national pre-college program, the three-part national high school math competition, "The Try-Math-A-Lon."

"KC" has served as a volunteer with the Colorado Department of Transportation's Transportation Research Activities Center, the Denver Educational Excellence Program (DEEP), the University of Colorado's Success Institute, the Math, Engineering and Science Achievement program (MESA) and many other community efforts designed to expose inner-city youth to career opportunities in engineering and the sciences.

Many talk of making a difference in the lives of others; Keith "KC" Matthews makes the difference. When what is taught at home is not enough, he mentors. When what is taught at schools is inadequate, he tutors; and, when what is taught in the streets is detrimental, he serves as a role model. "KC" is that rare individual who is committed to making life better for young people making an enormous contribution to their success as capable and contributing members of our society.

He is responsible for authorizing and managing a $150M annual capital expenditure budget for operations in Denver, CO, Sunnyvale, CA, Michoud, LA, Harlingen, TX, and San Diego, CA.

In addition, Brother Lewis has been selected by Space Systems' Senior Executive Management to participate in the Lockheed Martin Corporation Leadership & Executive Assessment and Development Program.

"Brother Dash" is in his 3rd term as Denver Alumni Chapter Vice Polemarch. He is a 1978 initiate of Delta Zeta Chapter.

Brothers return with me just a moment to yesterday, to the beginning of our great organization. The year is 1910 and a young man named Byron Kenneth Armstrong met another young man named Elder Watson Diggs on the campus of Howard University. It was about this time that Irven Armstrong, Byron's cousin, persuaded his relative to come to Indiana University. Brother Diggs soon followed.

Also envision in 1911, nine young men gathered at the home of Miss Mollie Spaulding, which at the time was the home of Byron Armstrong and Marcus Blakemore, to begin an organization to give a greater voice to blacks on campus. Diggs presided, and Edward Irvin was the temporary secretary. The other members in attendance were Paul W. Caine, Marcus Blakemore, Byron K. Armstrong, Henry T. Asher, Ezra D. Alexander, Guy L. Grant, and John M. Lee. The temporary name of the organization was Alpha Omega until all details of the greek letter society could be developed. Under this organization, friendships flourished and the members recognized each other as a tremendous resource for camaraderie, academic achievement, and social interaction. In other words, even then, the young men saw the unlimited potential of the greek letter organization.

The group met again on January 5, 1911. This time they met to form a permanent organization. Diggs was made the permanent chairman; John Milton Lee, the secretary; and Byron Armstrong, the seargent at arms. These officers would later be called the Polemarch, Keeper of Records, and the Strategus. The members saw this organization as different from the other greek letter organizations that existed at that time. Other organizations chose their members from among the sons of wealthy families, or families whose social positions would vicariously give the group a certain degree of prestige. No my brothers, those brave men in 1911, chose to base their organization, our organization, on Christian principles and ideals, and on the purpose of achievement. The Fraternity would seek to raise the sights of black youth and stimulate them to accomplishments higher than might otherwise be realized or imagined.

Diggs, better known as The Dreamer, wanted everything to be exactly right. He wanted the rituals and other instruments to be unique and authentic. He himself assumed the responsibility for preparing the ceremonial forms. Byron Armstrong was given the job of developing the insignia and emblems. These young brothers were so concerned about their assigned tasks, that they took a course in greek heraldry and greek mythology. By the end of the school year, they had completed sufficient material to embody the major considerations of the fraternity. The new fraternity was called Kappa Alpha Nu. Some think the name was a tribute to a predecessor campus organization, called Alpha Kappa Nu, which was formed in 1903 to foster a better life for blacks at Indiana University. Kappa Alpha Nu was incorporated in the state of Indiana on April 11, 1911.

The application for incorporation was filed over the signatures of EZRA D. ALEXANDER, BYRON K. ARMSTRONG, HENRY T. ASHER, MARCUS P. BLAKEMORE, PAUL CAINE, ELDER WATSON DIGGS, GEORGE EDMUNDS, GUY L. GRANT, EDWARD G. IRVIN, JOHN M. LEE, AND FREDERICK MITCHELL (who is this guy?). Mitchell later withdrew from school and therefore never became a member. An issue of the Kappa Journal reported that Irven Armstrong, would have been one of founding fathers if he had not had to work the night of January 5, 1911, the night the fathers signed their names to the great petition or scroll. He later became the second Grand Polemarch.

Blakemore pawned his watch to help raise the twenty five dollar incorporation fee. The transaction was completed on May 15, 1911. Records indicate that Kappa Alpha Nu became the first undergraduate college fraternity to be incorporated by blacks as a national body. The organization was based on the ideals that neither by statute nor by implication was anyone barred from membership by reason of race, religion, national origin, or economic standing. Kappa Alpha Nu became Kappa Alpha Psi at the fourth Grand Chapter meeting in December 1914, at the University of Illinois. The name was changed to have a greek letter in the designation.

The rest my brothers is part of the glorious history of this noble clan. In these days where we argue about whether to pledge young men or whether a brother is a Nupe or just a Kappa, it serves us well to revisit our history, ideals, and the purpose on which this wonderfully great was built and realize that much of what we debate today is largely irrelevant to who we truly are.

Happy Founders' Day. As always, I am

January is the month we honor, revere, and celebrate the ten Founders of our great fraternity. We celebrate our Founders not only out of respect, but primarily to acknowledge them for their boldness, courage, fortitude, and insight in establishing Kappa Alpha Psi in 1911.

Let us remember, that our fraternity which is based on achievement was created during an era in which African Americans living in these United States suffered under the thick umbrella of segregation, lynching, and Jim Crow. None of our founders or for that matter any other African-American's were expected to achieve at anything except menial labor.

As we celebrate Founders' Day - let us not forget the 10 men whose vision made this fraternity possible: Founder Elder Watson Diggs - Founder Ezra D. Alexander - Founder Byron Kenneth Armstrong - Founder Henry T. Asher - Founder Marcus Peter Blakemore - Founder Paul W. Caine - Founder George W. Edmonds - Founder Guy Levis Grant - Founder Edward G. Irvin - and Founder John Milton Lee. Not only did these ten men of achievement establish our fraternity under what could best be described as trying circumstances - they left us a road map so that our fraternity could operate into perpetuity.

Happy New Year to all! May your year be fulfilled spiritually as well as financially, and I hope that you and your family be blessed with continued and future success.