SC 541

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th)
Senate Concurrent Resolution 541
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING THE 75TH
ANNIVERSARY OF DELTA DELTA CHAPTER OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC., AND
DESIGNATING MARCH 17, 2026, AS "KAPPA DAY AT THE STATE KAPITOL,"
HONORING THE LEGACY OF NOTABLE MEMBERS.
���� WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., was founded on
January 5, 1911, on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana,
by 10 undergraduate college students revered as the Founders.� This was the
first and only fraternity to this date that was founded on that campus and the
third African American college-based fraternity founded in the country; and
���� WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., has grown to include
over 700 chapters and has initiated over 30,000 men and still maintains and
lives by the motto from inception, "Achievement in Every Field of Human
Endeavor."� The national programs which define the fraternity to date are
the Guide Right Program, commonly known as the Kappa Leadership Development
League, the Sunday of Hope Project, which directly benefits St. Jude Children's
Research Hospital and has raised over a million dollars, such that the
fraternity will now have a wing at the hospital named in its honor, and the
well-known Kappa Kamp held each year at Piney Woods Boarding School in
Mississippi; and
���� WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., chartered its first
chapter in Mississippi on February 27, 1941, with the naming of the Jackson,
Mississippi, Alumni Chapter, which is celebrating its 85th
Anniversary.� Mississippi now has 22 chapters with 12 designated as Alumni
Chapters.� They are Canton-Madison, Cleveland, Columbus, Greenville, Gulfport,
Hattiesburg, Holly Springs, Jackson, Meridian, Natchez, Oxford and Vicksburg.�
The remaining 10 chapters designated as Undergraduate Chapters are located at
Alcorn State University, Tougaloo College, Jackson State University,
Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College, Mississippi State
University, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Mississippi,
Delta State University and Millsaps College; and
���� WHEREAS,
on May 6, 1951, Delta Delta Chapter at Jackson State University was founded by
Tellis B. Ellis.� Delta Delta membership includes many prestigious professions
in the state, including architects, attorneys, businessmen, dentists, doctors,
educators, engineers and pharmacists.� Noted Mississippians who are members of
Delta Delta Chapter include the Honorable Carlton Reeves, U.S. Federal District
Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi and key legal figure in the
state; Henry W. Flowers, a fifty-year member; Representative Greg Elliot;
Representative Senator Derrick T. Simmons, Mississippi State Legislature, who
represents District 12 and has served as the Senate Minority Leader since 2017,
and was recognized as "Legislator of the Year" by the National Black
Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) in 2022; Errick D. Simmons, Derrick's
identical twin brother, who are both highly distinguished alumni, and who have
achieved national recognition in law and public service, Mayor of Greenville, Mississippi,
first elected in 2015 as the city's second African American mayor and first
African American male mayor; Michael McQuerry; Christopher Darryl Neely; Warren
A. Reed Sr., who was honored with the Southwestern Province Lifetime Achievement
Award for his contributions to the fraternity; Lemuel "Lem" Barney,
legendary NFL Hall of Fame cornerback for the Detroit Lions, 7-time Pro Bowler,
and 1967 Defensive Rookie of the Year; and
���� WHEREAS,
notable national figures and Mississippians who are members of Kappa Alpha Psi
include the Honorable Bennie G. Thompson, U.S. Congressman; former Senator,
Kenneth Wayne Jones, Mississippi State Legislature; former Representative,
Charles Young, Mississippi State Legislature; former Representative, Credell Calhoun,
Mississippi State Legislature; Jerome Brown, Executive Vice President of The
First Bank (current Southwestern Providence Polemarch and First Province
Polemarch from Mississippi); and three past Presidents of the Metro Jackson
Chamber of Commerce:� Howard Catchings, Socrates Garrett and LeRoy G. Walker,
Jr.; all of the Presidents of Piney Woods Country Life School from its Founder,
Dr. Lawrence Jones, to the current President, Dr. Reginald T.W. Nichols; Dr.
Charles Beady, Jr., first African American Chief Executive Officer of
Mississippi Food Network; DeMarco Morgan as a notable national figure in Kappa
Alpha Psi and an American broadcast journalist previously anchored at ABC
News.� He previously co-anchored GMA3:� What You Need to Know
with Eva Pilgrim; and the late Tellis B. Ellis, Jr., Head Football Coach of
Jackson State University, a respected member who was instrumental in forming
many of the fraternity's chapters in Mississippi; and
���� WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi
announced that the 2026 "Kappa Day at the State Kapitol" will honor
the legacy of Brother David "Wavee Dave" Chambers, a 1988 graduate of
Delta Delta Chapter at Jackson State University who embodied Tiger Pride for
over two decades as the University's celebrated mascot, whose spirited performances
energized generations of fans.� Mr. Chambers' creative and dynamic presence on
the field helped build a culture of spirit and excellence at Jackson State
University, inspiring the formation of the Baby Tigers and motivating young
performers to pursue both academic success and passionate representation of
Thee Tiger legacy, which is a significant contribution to the heritage and
spirit of Jackson State University and the State of Mississippi; and
���� WHEREAS, it is with great
pride that we acknowledge the history of a nationally and internationally
respected service organization in the State of Mississippi:
���� NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and salute the
75th Anniversary of Delta Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.,
and the legislative and notable members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.�
Further, we designate March 17, 2026, as "Kappa Day at the State
Kapitol," honoring the legacy of Delta Delta Chapter and notable national
members, and extending our best wishes on this auspicious occasion.
���� BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That
this resolution be presented to Delta Delta Chapter and the other Mississippi
Chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.