ZETA PSI LAMBDA CHAPTER

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED

Chapter History

 

From 1955 to 1957 several Alpha men moved to or returned to Lake Charles, and through contact with each other began to hold a series of informal meetings. Finally, on October 4, 1957, Brother Edgar Taplin, Southwest Regional Vice President, came to Lake Charles and officially chartered the Zeta Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. The charter members of Zeta Psi Lambda are: Brothers Warren Combre, Dr. Leonard Breda, Dr. Frank Y. Pryce, Dr. Murray Martin, Dr. Elliot Robertson, L. Joseph Sanford, and Melvin Guice.”First of All, Servants of All” were more than fine fords for the charter members. They were consumed with the idea that Greek letter organizations should excel in public service. Their attitude that Alpha should be first was not born out of arrogance, but of “what could be done for others.”

 

More brothers moved into the Lake Charles Area and joined the chapter, while other men were initiated into the chapter over the next several years. The chapter’s concern for the community and its citizen began to be an integral part of the chapter through such programs as: The Senior Citizens Program, Junior Achievement, Tutorial Program, Voter Registration Drive, Pre-Freshman Engineering Program, Summer Feeding Program, Leadership Training Seminars, Minority Business Workshops, Project Alpha, MLK Jr./Black History Celebration, and the Dr. Ulric W. Pryce Scholarship Award.

 

In 1982, Zeta Psi Lambda celebrated its’ Silver Anniversary at the Lake Charles Civic Center with Brother Andrew Young, a civil rights leader, clergyman, Congressman, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and Mayor of Atlanta, GA as Guest Speaker.

 

Throughout the years, the chapter has had dynamic leadership from many of the brothers that served as officers of the chapter. Many individual brothers have given untiring service, and even sometimes their assets to the chapter to assure that chapter programs or projects would be successful. Brother Adrian Wallace, ascended from chapter president in the 1980’s to later becoming the 30th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

 

In the past years, the chapter has hosted several state, district, and regional conventions and was honored as National Alumni Chapter of the Year in 1984 and 1985. The chapter has produced five “Alumni Brother of the Year: recipients for the Louisiana District; three "Regional Outstanding Alumni Brothers of the Year" and two were named "National Outstanding Alumni Brother of the Year". The 30th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is a member of Zeta Psi Lambda. Zeta Psi Lambda has a life membership in the NAACP and is a sponsor/ supporter of teen pregnancy prevention programs, scouting programs, Big Brothers/Big Sister, and the March of Dimes. The Ulric W. Pryce Memorial Scholarship Foundation provides $2,000 awards to outstanding high school graduates annual. Zeta Psi Lambda members are active in religious, professional, and community service organizations.

 

During the Annual Founders' Day Banquet held on December 11, 2014, Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach proclaimed the date as ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. DAY "REIGNITING THE ALPHA COMMITMENT" in the City of Lake Charles. Past General President Adrian L. Wallace serve as the events keynote speaker, while Chapter President Brian K. Roberson, II was name the chapter's Alpha Man of the Year for the third consecutive year. Brother Roberson paid tribute to charter member, Brother Frank Y. Pryce as the first chapter president in 1957. Brother Roberson named Brother Pryce Chapter President Emeritus in honor of his 66 years of service to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and 57 years of Alpha Commitment to Zeta Psi Lambda Chapter.