Prior to 1938, it is very likely that numerous Kappa men visited or passed trough Seattle. However, it was not until September of 1938, that the first Kappa Brother,--Brother Sterling Dover-- permanently settled in the Seattle community. Two years later, two newcomers , Brothers Charles Stokes and Tom Woods, joined Brother Dover in Seattle. World War II brought several more Kappa men to Seattle. They were Brothers Robert Addison (a defense worker's housing manager), and William J.F. Meredith (a Fort Lawton P/X manager). These five men met on Sunday at the Phillis Wheatley House to "explore" the possibility of establishing a Chapter in Seattle. Lacking the necessary quorum for establishing a new fraternity chapter, their ideas were placed on "hold". The end of the War changed the situation, when many young veterans began entering the area's institutions of higher learning by way of the G.I. "bills". The ground was fertile for Kappa Alpha Psi's seed. Brother Meredith's maturity during this period was invaluable. As a former faculty member of Southern University , he had earned the affectionate, and respectful nickname "Czar". Brother Meredith was blessed with the ability to achieve a firm, but sympathetic rapport with his students and young people in general. Brother Addison, likewise, was a strong factor at this stage. He counseled and encouraged two young ex-service men -- Leslie Stallworth and Jacques Chappel -- to seek out interested men among the University of Washington student body. The energy and persuasiveness of these two young men resulted in a phenomenal success. As a result of theirefforts, approximately twenty other young men expressed an interest in Kappa Alpha Psi. At last,Brother Addison's role as liaison between the Seattle area and the Grand Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi would bear fruit. On May 22, 1948, with the five previously named alumni Brothers serving as the initiation members, the GAMMA ETA Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. become a reality! Brother Jacques Chappel was ejected to be the first Polemarch of the Chapter. Brother Dover was entrusted with the task of formulating the first set of by-lows to guide the new Chapter. Other noble "milestones"
in Seattle area of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
Inc.:
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