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Mu Zeta Lambda Chapter (Polk County Alphas)

Soon after its founding in 1906 at Cornell, other chapters were established at colleges and universities throughout the country. The first alumni chapter was established in 1911. The Mu Zeta Lambda Chapter was officially chartered on October 7, 1975 in Polk County, FL. The two major catalysts of this movement were Brother Lynwood L. Bell, Sr. and Brother Phillip Walker.

Brother Lynwood L. Bell, Sr. of Lakeland, Florida, became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha in 1972 through Delta Beta Chapter at Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL. He is a 1974 graduate of Bethune-Cookman University where he earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in History/Political Science.As a member of Mu Zeta Lambda Chapter, Bell has served as Chapter President, Treasurer, Intake Coordinator, Historian, Director of Educational Activities, and Director of Men of Tomorrow Institute. Lynwood and his wife Linda are the parents of Lyndia and Lynwood, II. Brother Bell is the Assistant Manager of Leadership Development for State Farm Insurance where he has been employed for a number of years. The Bells are members of Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church in Lakeland.

Brother Phillip Walker of Lakeland, Florida, became a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha in the Fall 1972 through the Iota Chapter at Morris Brown College Atlanta, Ga. He holds a B.A. from Morris Brown College, and a Masters from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL. Brother Walker currently serves as director of membership in-take within the Mu Zeta Lambda Chapter. Walker is an Agency Principal/Owner of an Allstate Insurance Agency for a number of years. He currently serves as an elder at Christ Community Christian Center Church in Lakeland. Brother Walker’s first wife tragically passed away very early on of cancer and he was left alone to raise their two daughters, Janelle and Jaela as a single father for years. Prior to his first wife’s demise, they raised two other boys, Tony Williams and John Hall, who they met at church and made a part of the Walker Family. Phillip remarried to his present wife, Cappie, a local school teacher, and they have a son, Christian.

Along with Brothers Bell and Walker, we would like to recognize the following trailblazing

Charter Members of Mu Zeta Lambda:

William Balloon, William O. Bunch, D.D.S., Frank Conoly (deceased by chartering date) Green P. Hankerson, Rudolph Holloman, Walter A. Lamar, Jr., Reginald Ligon, D.D.S. Charles McGriff, Hugh R. Mills, William Starks, David Stephens, James Thomas, III Joshua Williams, D.D.S., J. A. Wiltshire, M.D. (deceased).

The History of Alpha

On December 4, 1906 until this present day in time, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of African-Americans and people of color around the world. With the Great Sphinx of Giza as its symbol, and the motto “First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All,” Alpha Phi Alpha dedicated itself to defend the rights and to promote the responsibilities of African Americans.

The Fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell. The Jewel founders and early leaders of the Fraternity succeeded in laying a firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha’s principles of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity.

Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need for a strong bond of Brotherhood. Our seven visionary founders are known as the “Jewels” of the Fraternity. They are: Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.

Jewel Henry Arthur Callis
Jewel Henry Arthur Callis became a practicing physician, Howard University Professor of Medicine and prolific contributor to medical journals. Often regarded as the “Philosopher of the founders,” and a moving force in the Fraternity’s development, he was the only one of the “Cornell Seven” to become General President. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., he was a medical consultant to the Veterans Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama. Upon his death in 1974, at age 87, the Fraternity entered a time without any living Jewels. His papers were donated to Howard’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center.
Jewel Charles Henry Chapman
Jewel Charles Henry Chapman entered higher education and eventually became Professor of Agriculture at what is now Florida A&M University. A university funeral was held with considerable Fraternity participation when he became the first Jewel to enter Omega Chapter in 1934. Described as “A Brother beloved in the bonds,” Chapman was the founder of FAMU’s Alpha College Chapter, Beta Nu.
Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones
Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones became the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League. His 20-year tenure with the Urban League thus far has exceeded those of all his successors in office. A versatile leader, he organized the first three Fraternity college chapters that branched out from Cornell—Beta Chapter at Howard, Gamma Chapter at Virginia Union and the Gamma at the University of Toronto in Canada. His status as a founder was not finally established until 1952. He died in 1954.
Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones
Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones became the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League. His 20-year tenure with the Urban League thus far has exceeded those of all his successors in office. A versatile leader, he organized the first three Fraternity college chapters that branched out from Cornell—Beta Chapter at Howard, Gamma Chapter at Virginia Union and the Gamma at the University of Toronto in Canada. His status as a founder was not finally established until 1952. He died in 1954.
Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray
Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray pursued graduate work after completing his undergraduate studies at Howard. He later returned home to Washington, D.C., where he taught in public schools. Much of his career was spent at Armstrong Vocational High School in the District of Columbia. He was a charter member of Washington’s Mu Lambda Chapter and a frequent attendee of General Conventions. He died in 1959.

Jewel Robert Harold Ogle entered the career secretarial field and had the unique privilege of serving as a professional staff member to the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. He was an African American pioneer in his Capitol Hill position. He proposed the Fraternity’s colors and was Alpha Chapter’s first secretary. Ogle joined Kelley as a charter member of Washington’s Mu Lambda Chapter. He died in 1936.

Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy became the state of New York’s first registered architect, with offices on Broadway in New York City. He holds the distinction of being the first African American to pass the military commissioning examination and was commissioned First Lieutenant in the 15th Infantry of the New York State National Guard.  Among the buildings designed by the highly talented architect is Saint Phillips Episcopal Church in New York City and the home of Madam C.J. Walker. He died in 1949, at age 64.

Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were developed at other colleges and universities, many of them at historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. members continued to stress academic excellence, and recognized the need to help correct the educational, economical, political, and social injustices faced by African-Americans.Alpha Phi Alpha has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through leaders such as: W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, Paul Robeson, and many others.

Jewel Robert Harold Ogle
Jewel Robert Harold Ogle entered the career secretarial field and had the unique privilege of serving as a professional staff member to the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. He was an African American pioneer in his Capitol Hill position. He proposed the Fraternity’s colors and was Alpha Chapter’s first secretary. Ogle joined Kelley as a charter member of Washington’s Mu Lambda Chapter. He died in 1936.

Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy became the state of New York’s first registered architect, with offices on Broadway in New York City. He holds the distinction of being the first African American to pass the military commissioning examination and was commissioned First Lieutenant in the 15th Infantry of the New York State National Guard.  Among the buildings designed by the highly talented architect is Saint Phillips Episcopal Church in New York City and the home of Madam C.J. Walker. He died in 1949, at age 64.

Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were developed at other colleges and universities, many of them at historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. members continued to stress academic excellence, and recognized the need to help correct the educational, economical, political, and social injustices faced by African-Americans.Alpha Phi Alpha has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through leaders such as: W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, Paul Robeson, and many others.

Jewel Vertner Woodson
Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy became the state of New York’s first registered architect, with offices on Broadway in New York City. He holds the distinction of being the first African American to pass the military commissioning examination and was commissioned First Lieutenant in the 15th Infantry of the New York State National Guard.  Among the buildings designed by the highly talented architect is Saint Phillips Episcopal Church in New York City and the home of Madam C.J. Walker. He died in 1949, at age 64.

Mission

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities.

Vision

The objectives of this Fraternity shall be: to stimulate the ambition of its members; to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual;  to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and to aid  down-trodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status.

Aims

Manly deed, scholarship, and love for all mandkind.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. members continued to stress academic excellence, and recognized the need to help correct the educational, economical, political, and social injustices faced by African-Americans.Alpha Phi Alpha has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through leaders such as: W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, Paul Robeson, and many others.