After taking a week off for Thanksgiving we return for a Founder's Day special!
DID YOU KNOW: Kappa Kappa Psi’s Alpha chapter was founded on November 27, 1919 at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Following World War I, members of college and university bands felt the need for a strong, motivating force to create more interest in band music. One member from the Oklahoma A&M College Band reached out to band president A. Frank Martin and band director Bohumil Makovsky about creating a national organization for college band members. This member, William Scroggs, would become the first president of the Alpha chapter. The next few years would prove to be busy for the Alpha chapter as they sent out letters to colleges and universities around the country to inform them of the new fraternity. By the first national convention on January 2, 1922, there were already four active chapters, which included Montana State University, University of Washington, and University of Oklahoma. The first national convention was held at Oklahoma A&M, where the future of Kappa Kappa Psi was discussed and realized. Soon after the first convention, Bohumil Makovsky and John Phillip Sousa became the first honorary members of the fraternity. Sousa stated, “Brothers, I have received medals and honors from every civilized country, but I feel this honor above all, due to the fact that this was given to me by a group of University bandsmen who are furthering the great work that I have dedicated my whole life to.” Now, almost a century later, there are over 300 chapters and thousands of current active brothers across the nation. In July of 2019, the national convention will be held once again in Stillwater, Oklahoma to celebrate the centennial of the fraternity. Happy 99th birthday Kappa Kappa Psi!
Below is a photo of the Alpha Chapter in 1920. William Scroggs is on the top row, second from the left.
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