Kappa Alpha Order
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The Kappa Alpha Order (KA) is a collegiate fraternity. It is not to be confused with the Kappa Alpha Society.
Kappa Alpha Order was originally founded as Phi Kappa Chi on December 21, 1865 at Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. The four founding fathers included James Ward Wood, William Archibald Walsh, and brothers William Nelson Scott and Stanhope McClelland Scott. Soon after the founding, the local chapter of Phi Kappa Psi protested the name "Phi Kappa Chi," due to the similarity of the names, leading Wood to change the name of the fraternity to K.A. by April of 1866. The popular old Kuklos Adelphon society had gone defunct during the Civil War, and it is suspected that Wood selected the letters K.A. to attract those who were familiar with the old society. Within one year the fraternity's ritual would be expanded upon and given a new vision by "practical founder," Samuel Zenas Ammen. In the years that followed, the Order spread throughout the Southern United States, a distinguishing factor that separates it from the smaller, northern-based Kappa Alpha Society. KA is also one-third of the Lexington Triad, along with Alpha Tau Omega and Sigma Nu.
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[edit] Definition of a Gentleman
The Definition of a Gentleman By Robert E. Lee:
The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others is a test of a true gentleman.
The power which the strong have over the weak, the employer over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly; the forbearing or inoffensive use of all of this power or authority, or a total abstinence from it when the case admits it, will show the gentleman in a plain light.
The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive, he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character which impart sufficient strength to let the past be but the past. A true man of honor feels humbled when he cannot help humbling others.
[edit] "Sir You Are a KA"
Sir, you are a Kappa Alpha. You are not just another fraternity man. You are a knight of the most unique organization among the Greek letter societies. You have been made familiar with a ritual and customs which emanated - not by accident, but by device - from the most noble qualities of the Knights of Old.
Into the heritage you have been presented are incorporated the highest ideas of fidelity to God and the esteem of woman. You are a KA. You can never be anything else and cannot do less than aspire to Excellence. You cannot be petty, cowardly, unfair, unfaithful; you are a KA.
You have a serious challenge, indeed a direct obligation, incumbent upon you as a KA. As you are the recipient of so rich a heritage, you are conscience-bound to be ever-anxious to preserve, strengthen, and pass on that heritage to those brothers your Order chooses to entrust with it in the future.
You will never grow taller than when you stoop to help a brother. And you cannot desert him when others do. You can never become wiser by disregarding the sterling ideals of your Order. You can never worship your God more intimately than when you utilize the tools Kappa Alpha has given you.
And if you will do these things, you cannot but realize for yourself the respect for your fellow man, the wealth of mortal happiness, and the salvation by a generous God.
-Roy Parson's, Class of '46
[edit] The Ten Obligations
The Ten Obligations of a Knight of the Kappa Alpha Order:
A Kappa Alpha Brother agrees:
- That he has the time to give to the interests of Kappa Alpha.
- That he regards Kappa Alpha with a spirit of sincerity and respect, and that he desires to give its teachings his earnest consideration.
- That he intends to cheerfully perform whatever tasks may be assigned him for the good of Kappa Alpha.
- That he will at all times conduct himself as a gentlemen.
- That he will labor with diligence to maintain his scholarship.
- That he will take part in worthy college activities.
- That he will receive every member of his chapter as a brother without reservation or evasion.
- That he will at all times keep current with his financial responsibilities to the chapter and to others.
- That he will exert every effort through study and diligent application to become eligible for initiation.
- That he will ever exert himself to live up to the ideals of Kappa Alpha in obtaining the right to wear the badge of full membership.
[edit] The Ideals of Kappa Alpha Order
The members of Kappa Alpha Order pride themselves on a tradition of chivalry and a beckoning to the traditions of the southern gentleman and reminiscent of the Knights of the Crusades. A member of Kappa Alpha Order strives to offer reverence to both God and woman, and offers his brother a fraternal love, and an unwavering relationship of trust, obedience, and loyalty.
The symbolism of Kappa Alpha order often centers around the ideals of the order, and also represents the notions which a member of the order holds dear to his heart. Such things are as follows.
The colors of the order are traditionally Crimson and Old Gold. These colors represent the bloodshed of the knights of the crusade and the money spent by the old kings in defense of the countries and empires of the old, respectively.
The flowers of the order are the crimson rose and the magnolia blossom. The crimson rose represents the blood of the knights as well, and the white magnolia blossom represents the purity of woman, the essence of chivalry, and the magnolia itself is seen as a traditionally southern flower.
The crest itself is representative of several things. The hand holding the axe is representative of the continuing power of the Knight Commander and of the order. The Helmet was, at one time, a symbol used by the Knight Commander of the order. The badge of the order is featured at the center of the crest, and the lions on either side represent different things each. The lion on the left, looking away, symbolizes "repugnant." Which encourages humbleness and an abstinence from several things in life. The one on the right, facing inward, symbolizes "rampant" which encourages a boisterous life and one of want and need. The design of the crest, featuring both lions, suggests that a balance is needed in life.
The flowers of the order, and a ribbon featuring the order's motto adorn the bottom of the crest. The Kappa Alpha Order motto "Dieu Et Les Dames" is written on the ceiling of the Mississippi Capitol.[1]
[edit] Old South
For many chapters, Kappa Alpha Order's largest social event is the Old South formal. It is designed to celebrate the fraternity's southern history and to honor the southern ideals of hospitality, courtesy, and chivalry. The event has its roots at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. The brothers of Kappa chapter at Mercer were inspired by the release of Gone with the Wind (film) in 1939 to hold the "Dixie Ball", a celebration of Southern pride[citation needed]. The event quickly spread to other chapters across the country and evolved into the modern Old South formal. Though traditions vary by chapter, many have chosen to make the event a "trip back in time" to the Antebellum South, prior to and during the American Civil War. A common feature is for brothers to dress in Civil War uniforms, and for their dates to wear antebellum dresses. Occasionally, invitations to the event will be delivered by brothers on horseback, or in a manner similar to what was customary in the 19th century. At many chapters, Old South has been expanded to comprise a full week of social events, culminating with the traditional Old South ball.
[edit] Notable Members
Sports
- David Versus Pass (Chi) founder of modern competition
- Andrew Barge (Chi) powerlifting champion
- Tommy Aaron (Beta Zeta) professional golfer
- Marty Brennaman announcer for the Cincinnati Reds
- Rex Cawley (Beta Sigma) Olympic gold medalist (1964) and former world record holder, 400m hurdles
- Ben Crenshaw (Omicron) professional golfer
- James C. France (Gamma Pi) CEO, International Speedway Corp.
- Al Geiberger (Beta Sigma) professional golfer
- Don January (Gamma Lambda) professional golfer
- Christian "Sonny" Jurgensen III (Alpha Phi) former professional football player, Professional Football Hall of Fame inductee
- Joe Kapp (Alpha Xi) former professional football player, College Football Hall of Fame inductee
- Tim McCarver (Gamma Gamma) former professional baseball player, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee
- Ernest Nevers (Alpha Pi) former professional baseball and football player, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee
- Charles Paddock (Beta Sigma) 3-time Olympic gold medalist, track & field
- Bucky Richardson (Epsilon Delta) former NFL and Texas A&M star quarterback
- Jay Sigel (Tau) professional golfer
- Melvin Stewart (Pi) Olympic gold medalist (swimming)
- Dave Stockton (Beta Sigma) professional golfer
- James Dorrance Thomson (Chi) professional dart player
- Danny Sullivan (Theta) NASCAR driver
- Sam Wyche (Iota) former NFL head coach, NFL analyst
- Frank Wykoff (Beta Sigma) Olympic gold medalist, 1928, 1932, 1936 - track & field
- Ernie Zampese (Beta Sigma), NFL offensive coordinator who helped pioneer the west coast offense.
Entertainment
- Michael Beck actor
- Pat Boone (Gamma Lambda) movie star and recording artist
- Bill Engvall (Xi) actor and comedian
- George Grizzard (Upsilon) actor, Tony award winner
- George Hamilton IV (Upsilon) country music singer
- Rich Hull (Chi) movie producer, "She's All That"
- Bill Lawrence (Alpha Zeta) television writer
- Page McConnell (Beta Lambda) member of music group "Phish"
- Delbert Mann (Chi) film director
- Richard Moll (Alpha Xi) actor, best known as "Bull Shannon" on television's Night Court
- Anthony Perkins (Alpha Psi) actor
- Charlie Rose (Alpha Phi) talk show host
- Randolph Scott (Alpha Sigma) actor
- Ned Vaughn (Psi) actor
- Taylor Hackford film director
Business
- Clyde B. Anderson (Alpha Beta) president and CEO of Books-A-Million
- Clayton D. Baird (Omicron) chairman of Mrs. Baird's Bakeries
- John H. Bryan, Jr. (Alpha Epsilon) former chairman and CEO of Sara Lee Corporation
- Ely R. Callaway, Jr. (Epsilon) former chairman and CEO of Callaway Golf
- David M. Chamberlin (Tau) CEO of Shaklee Corporation
- Harry Cullen (Gamma Mu) director of Cullen Bank Center
- Robert Crandall (Alpha Zeta) former president, chairman and CEO of American Airlines
- Earnest W. Deavenport (Beta Tau) former president and CEO of Eastman Chemical Co.
- John D. DeButts (Beta Comm.) former chairman of AT&T
- William E. Dreyer (Alpha Delta) former senior executive vice president, Southwestern Bell
- U. Edwin Garrison (Beta Tau) chairman of the Thiokol Corporation
- Thomas Edward Ryals (Kappa) attorney, member of Georgia's legislature
- David A. Stonecipher (Chi) CEO and president of Jefferson - Pilot Corporation
- Theodore Weise (Beta Alpha) former president and CEO of FedEx
Government
- Carl Albert (Beta Eta) former U.S. congressman (Oklahoma)
- Roy Blunt (Alpha Eta) U.S. congressman (Missouri)
- J. Caleb Boggs (Beta Epsilon) former governor and U.S. senator (Delaware)
- Rick Boucher (Beta Rho) U.S. congressman (Virginia)
- Hugh Clegg (Alpha Nu) former assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- William Clements (Beta Lambda) former governor (Texas)
- Clark M. Clifford (Alpha Theta) former chief council to U.S. presidents Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy; former secretary of defense
- Larry Combest (Gamma Chi) U.S. congressman (Texas)
- Bart Gordon (Delta Lambda) U.S. congressman (Tennessee)
- J. Edgar Hoover (Alpha Nu) former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Buddy MacKay (Beta Zeta) former governor and lieutenant governor (Florida); former U.S. congressman (Florida)
- G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery (Beta Tau) former U.S. congressman, author of the GI Bill of Rights
- Bill Owens (Delta Kappa) governor (Colorado)
- Austin Peay(Omega) former governor (Tennessee)
- Claude Pepper (Alpha Omega) former U.S. congressman (Florida); former U.S. senator (Florida)
- Dean Rusk (Sigma) former U.S. secretary of state
- Floyd Spence (Rho) U.S. congressman (South Carolina)
Military
- Admiral Richard E. Byrd (Lambda) U.S. Navy, Antarctic explorer; Medal of Honor recipient
- Captain David McCampbell (Alpha Sigma) U.S. Navy fighter pilot and all-time top U.S. ace; Medal of Honor recipient
- General George C. Marshall (Beta) former U.S. secretary of state, former U.S. secretary of defense, former general of the U.S. Army, author of the "Marshall Plan", Nobel Peace Prize recipient
- General Jack N. Merritt (Beta Eta) former leader of NATO
- General George S. Patton (Beta) former commander, 3rd U.S. Army
- General J.H. Binford Peay II (Beta) vice chief of staff, U.S. Army; superintendent, Virginia Military Institute
- General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. (Beta) former commandant, U.S. Marine Corps
- Richard Truly (Alpha Sigma) vice admiral, U.S. Navy; astronaut; former director of NASA
Education
- Dr. William R. Baldt (Beta Epsilon) former president, Goldey Beacom College
- Dr. Robert Bottoms (Phi) president, DePauw University
- Dr. E. Douglas Hodo (Alpha Upsilon) president, Houston Baptist University
- Dr. John E. Johns (Iota) president, Furman University
- John Knapp (Beta) former superintendent, Virginia Military Institute
- Dr. Frank A. Rose (Alpha Theta) former president, Transylvania University; former president, University of Alabama
- Dr. Bruce A. Samson (Alpha Alpha) president, University of Tampa
- Dr. Billy O. Wireman (Beta Delta) president, Queens College
- Dr. Forest Kent Wyatt (Delta Beta) president, Delta State University
- Dr. Lawrence Burke (Gamma Pi), Florida Southern College
Religion
- Rt. Reverend James L. Duncan (Kappa) former knight commander of Kappa Alpha Order (1955-57); former bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Florida
- Dr. Richard T. Feller (Alpha Rho) former knight commander of Kappa Alpha Order (1970-73); retired canon clerk of the works, Washington Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
- W. McLeod Frampton, Jr. (Beta Pi) former knight commander of Kappa Alpha Order (1957-61); retired Presbyterian minister
- Henry J. Mikell (Alpha Alpha) former knight commander of Kappa Alpha Order (1926-34); former Episcopal bishop, diocese of Atlanta; former chancellor of University of the South
