Alpha Firsts
 

Borrowed this from the Deltas.

Brothers, we all know that Alpha Phi Alpha is a Fraternity well known for its firsts.....but what about the professional and personal achievements of our members?

What are some famous firsts for the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc?

Here's a rather obscure one...the FIRST African-American reporter on network TV -- Mal Goode -- is an Alpha Man.

Alpha Firsts...
 

...Most bruhs should remember a lot of these from "sessions" but I'll kick it off.


Bro. Garrett A. Morgan, inventor of the Gas Mask, traffic light

Bro. Jesse Owens, first to win 4 Gold medals --1936 Olympic Games

Bro. Ralph Metcalfe, also a member of the 1936 Gold medal winning 4 x 100 relay team.

Bro. Lenny Wilkens, winningest coach in NBA history

Bro. Wayne Embry, first black GM in the NBA

Bro. Thurgood Marshall, first black associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court -- 1967

Bro. Fritz Pollard, first black NFL head coach (Canton Bulldogs)

Bro. Charles Haley, only NFL player to win 5 Super Bowls

Bro. Kwame Kilpatrick, youngest Mayor in the history of Detroit.

Regionally ....

Bro. Ed Irvine, first black police chief -- Akron, Ohio

Bro. Sylvester Small, first black superintendent of schools -- Akron, Ohio

Bro. Dan? Oliver, first black police chief -- Cleveland, Ohio


There, as befitting an "ace" I hope I've opened a door, so my brothers can follow.

Oldest Black Magazine the Sphinx
First Historically Black Fraternity Established at a Ivy Leauge School
First Fraternity Chapter established at a Historically Black University
First Nationally organized Voter Registration program for Black people by a Fraternity.

Bro. Sen. Edward Brooke, (1966) first Black U.S. Senator elected since Reconstruction.

Bro. Daniel T. Blue - First Black Speaker of the NC General Assembly.

...Willie Brown, (I believe) the first Black mayor in the history of San Francisco.



your turn, bro. Professor

Bro. Everett Ward - First Black Executive Director - NC Democratic Party

Bro David Dinkins - First Black Mayor of New York City

Bro. Norm Rice, (1989) first black mayor, Seattle, Wa.

Bro. Richard Arrington (1979-85), I believe is the first black mayor in the city of Birmingham, Ala.

Brother Kelley Miller.....first African American admitted to Johns Hopkins University. He was also a noted Black educator and a Dean at Howard University.

Brother Rosco Brewer, D.D.S. held the distinction of being the first Black dentist to open offices in San Francisco, California.

Brother Samuel B. Taylor was the only Black member of Northwestern UniversityÕs football team in 1922.