NOTABLE MEMBERS
Listed on this page are some of the notable members of Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Some names may be familiar, others may not be. Brothers listed on this page were either initiated into or active with Theta.
More importantly, all Brothers on this page have had an impact. Not only on our dear fraternity, or our illustrious chapter, but also on the social climate in Chicago for African-Americans, and in some cases, our country and society at large.
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Jewel Dr. Henry Arthur Callis
Physician/Educator
Founder, Alpha Phi Alpha
Past President of Theta Chapter
Charter Member, Xi Lambda Chapter
6th General President, Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Chapter - December 4, 1906
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Bro. Dr. Roscoe C. Giles
Physician
2nd General President, Alpha Phi Alpha
Past President, Theta Chapter
Charter Member, Xi Lambda Chapter
Alpha Chapter Initiate - October 26, 1907
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Bro. Dr. Charles S. Johnson
Sociologist/Educator/Author
First black president of Fisk University
Author, The Negro in Chicago
Gamma Chapter Initiate - 1910
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Hon. Bro. William Dawson
Former U.S. Congressman from Illinois
First African American to chair a Congressional committee
Charter Member, Xi Lambda Chapter
Theta Initiate – March 15, 1913
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Bro. Dr. Julian H. Lewis
Physician/Educator
First black professor (pathology) at the University of Chicago
Charter Member, Xi Lambda Chapter
Theta Initiate - March 15, 1913
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Bro. Dr. Lloyd A. Hall
Chemist
Created additives to preserve food products
Founder, Xi Lambda Chapter
Theta Initiate – March 15, 1913
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Bro. David Crosthwait
Engineer/Inventor
Created/designed heating systems for Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center
Theta Initiate – March 15, 1913
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Bro. Lucius McGee
Past President, Theta Chapter
10th General President, Alpha Phi Alpha
Gamma Chapter Initiate – 1914/1915
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Bro. Sydney P. Brown
Attorney
Author, “House of Alpha”
Beta Chapter Initiate - 1916
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Bro. William J. Powell
Aviator/Entrepreneur/Philanthropist
"Father of Black Aviation"
Charter Member, Tau Chapter
Past Vice-President, Theta Chapter
Tau Chapter Initiate – March 23, 1917
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Bro. Nathan K. McGill
Attorney
First African American Illinois Assistant Attorney General
Theta Initiate - 1917
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Bro. Dr. Edward W. Beasley
Physician/Educator
Edward Beasley Academy named for him
Theta Initiate – March 15, 1919
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Bro. Claude A. Barnett
Journalist/Activist
Founder of Associated Negro Press
Theta Initiate - 1919
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Bro. Noble Sissle
Singer/Songwriter/Composer/Actor
Lyricist - "I'm Just Wild About Harry" (w/ Eubie Blake)
First hit musical on Broadway by an African-American
Theta Initiate circa 1920
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Bro. Frederick Robb/F.H. Hammurabi
Attorney/Historian
Author of "Negro in America: A Message to the Africans" 1928
Co-Founder, DuSable Museum
Past Vice-President, Theta Chapter
Beta Chapter Initiate - 1922
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Bro. Charles Lane
Attorney/Activist
Past President, Theta Chapter
Founder, Theta/Xi-Lambda Foundation
Past General Counsel, Alpha Phi Alpha
Tau Chapter Initiate -- 1924
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Bro. Dr. Earl W. Renfro
Dentist/Aviator
First black licensed aviator in Illinois
Theta Initiate circa 1926
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Rev. Bro. Archibald Carey, Jr.
Judge/Clergy
Chicago Municipal Court Judge
Theta Initiate - 1927
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Bro. Neal F. Simeon
Educator/Municipal Administrator
Simeon Career Academy named for him
Theta Initiate -- April 10, 1937
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Bro. John H. Johnson
Founder/Publisher, Johnson Publications
Past President, Theta Chapter
Theta Initiate - March 1, 1938
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Bro. Frank Yerby
Historian/Author
First million selling African American author
Theta Initiate – April 8, 1939
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Bro. Dr. Bernard Levin
Physician/Dentist
Former Professor of Dentistry, University of Southern California
First non-African American to be initiated into a Black Greek Letter Organization
Theta Initiate - June 21, 1946
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Bro. Clark Burrus
Former City Comptroller
City of Chicago
Theta Initiate - December 22, 1953
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Bro. Dr. William A. Lester, Jr.
Professor, Department of Chemistry
University of California, Berkeley
and participant in Hubble Telescope project
Theta Initiate - October 2, 1954
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Bro. Paul King
Owner/Founder UBM Construction
Past President, Theta Chapter
Theta Initiate - November 25, 1957
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Bro. Thomas J. Burrell
Founder, Burrell Advertising
Past President, Theta Chapter
Theta Initiate - December 12, 1958
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Bro. Prince Asiel Ben Israel
Activist/Restaurateur
International Ambassador Extraordinaire, African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem
Owner, Soul Vegetarian, East - Chicago
Theta Initiate - July 30, 1960
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Bro. Richard “Dickie” Lawson
Historian
Historian Emeritus, Theta Chapter
Historian, Xi Lambda Chapter
Theta Initiate – June 24, 1961
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Bro. Dr. Robert Harris, Jr.
Educator/Historian
Professor of Africana Studies and Research Center, Cornel University
National Historian (Current)
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Theta Initiate - April 27, 1963
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Bro. George Reaves
Financial Executive
General Treasurer Emeritus, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Theta Initiate - February 27, 1965.
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Bro. Morris Robinson, Sr.
Economic Development Planner
City of Evanston, IL
Theta Initiate - October 1965
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Bro. Jordan “Jody Mac” McMillan
Financial Analyst
Author, “The Legacy of Theta”
Theta Initiate – May 26, 1984
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Rev. Bro. Samuel Mendenhall
Attorney/Clergy
Senior Partner, Winton & Strawn
Senior Pastor, Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church
Theta Initiate - May 14, 1988
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Bro. Morris “Dino” Robinson, Jr.
Historian/Researcher
Historian of African American Life in Evanston, IL
Theta Initiate – May 14, 1988
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Bro. Charles Jean-Pierre
Nationally Awarded Artist/Educator
Theta Initiate – April 13, 2003
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Bro. Boyede Sobitan
Entrepreneur
CEO/Co-Founder of Oja Express
Theta Initiate – April 13, 2003
