South Central Province History

The South Central Province was originally encompassed within the Southern Province.

Between 1926 and 1950, Provinces were not fixed entities. At the 40th Grand Chapter meeting [1950], the Provinces underwent a major transformation that included the merging of Provinces, establishing unique boundaries, and renaming of Provinces. The delegates, at subsequent Grand Chapter meetings, continued to fine-tune the management responsibilities of the Province Polemarchs.  One of the most significant changes was the adoption of legislation requiring a Province Polemarch to affiliate with an alumni chapter within the geographic area that he supervises.  The first documented mention of the South Central Province is in the March 1935 Kappa Alpha Psi Journal. H. C. Russell of the Louisville Alumni Chapter is listed as Province Polemarch.

Based on this information, it can be intimated, the South Central Province was established December 30th, 1934 at the 24th Grand Chapter Meeting. The 24th Grand Chapter was held in New York from December 26 through the 30th.  Dr. Jesse Jerome Peters, the eighth Grand Polemarch, would have made the appointment of Brother Harvey C. Russell, Sr as Province Polemarch.

In 1951 Kentucky, Tennessee and Northern Mississippi were realigned and titled the South Central Province while most of Arkansas, and Mississippi along with all of Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas became the Southwestern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi.  The first Province Polemarch for the original Southern Province was Nelson Williswho was a member of Louisville (KY) Alumni during his time as a Province Polemarch.

The South Central Province (SCP) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has administrative responsibility for chapters in Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, birthplace of our late Revered Founder Elder Watson Diggs. The Fraternity’s national philanthropic partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, located in Memphis, TN, was conceived and initiated in the SCP. The Fraternity’s Junior Grand Vice Polemarch, Jeremy Williams, is a member of the Nu Rho Chapter in the SCP. The South Central Province honors its legacy of excellence, applauds its able leadership, and advances ever upward and onward toward the ideal of ACHIEVEMENT.

24. Province Polemarch – Leonard E. Clemons 2016-present