Frank D. Jackson, Mayor, City of Prairie View

Alphas to Celebrate Anniversary Founders Day

The members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in Prairie View will join Alphas around the world in commemorating its 102nd Anniversary with a special Founders’ Day Observance Program on December 7, 2008 in the Opal Johnson Smith Auditorium at Prairie View A&M University at 3:00 pm. The speaker for the occasion is the honorable Frank D. Jackson, Mayor, City of Prairie View and Director for Government Relations at Prairie View A&M University.

Jackson, first elected as Mayor in 2004, is serving a third term and has been a driving force in the development of the city of the past three years. In addition to his role as mayor, Mr. Jackson is the Director for Government Relations at Prairie View A&M University, a position that takes him to the Capital in Austin, Washington DC and even international, making the case for Prairie View A&M in government circles. Jackson is a former Waller County Commissioner and was first elected to the PV City Council in 1982.

The fraternity was the first fraternity founded for Black college men on December 4, 1906, on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., by Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.

The program is being hosted by the Eta Gamma (PVAMU) and Epsilon Tau Lambda (Prairie View), and assisted by Pi Omicron (TAMU) and Pi Alpha Lambda (College Station) Chapters, all members of Area IX of the Fraternity, under the direction of Bob Abraham.

Since its founding, the fraternity has provided leadership and service during the Great Depression, World War II, Civil Rights Movements, and addressed social issues such as apartheid and urban housing, and other economic, cultural, and political issues affecting people of color. Under its charge manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind it has established programs for mentoring, academic achievement, voter education and has made community service priority number one. Some of its major programs include the Million Dollar Contribution to the National Urban League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the United Negro Scholarship Fund. The fraternity is leading the management and construction of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the Washington Mall. Dr. King was one of the most revered brothers of the fraternity. Attorney Harry E. Johnson, Sr., the fraternity’s 31st General President serves as the President of the MLK Foundation.

The fraternity boasts membership of more than two hundred college trained men dispersed in more than 1,500 college and 900 alumni chapters throughout the United States, Korea, Europe and the Caribbean. Some of its prominent members include Justice Thurgood Marshall, Congressmen William Gray, Charles Rangel, Ralph Metcalf, Emmanuel Cleaver, Al Green; Ebony Publisher John H. Johnson, former PVAMU presidents Alvin I. Thomas, E. B. Evans and Charles Hines, Mayors Lee P. Brown, David Dinkins, Maynard Jackson, Frank Jackson, Raymond E. Carreathers and Jiles P. Daniels, Sr., Texas State Representatives Al Edwards and Sylvester Turner, musicians Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie; Rhodes Scholar, Activist and Leader Paul Robeson, Olympian Jesse Owens, and legendary coaches Eddie Robinson and Lenny Wilkins and to name a few.

The founders’ day observance is open to the public. Several community awards will be presented to outstanding citizens who have made significant contributions throughout the year. The group will also honor several members of the athletic programs at Prairie View A&M University.

The fraternity is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and Mr. Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. is 32nd General President, a position he's held since 2005.

Prairie View Today

Coach Henry Frazier

Prairie View Today for 11.20.08
Frederick V. Roberts Esquire

The PVAMU family has much to cheer about this year as the fans watched the Panther Football team handily defeat the Braves of Alcorn State University 37-3 on November 15 in Blackshear’s stadium to best its record of 9-1 (6-1 conference). This win puts the Panthers in a good spot for a shot in the SWAC’s Football Championship game on Dec. 13 in Birmingham’s Legion Field. Senior Day dominated the halftime festivities with leading quarter back Spivey. Final voting for Coach Frazier as the 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year concludes this weekend. Log on and vote for Coach Frazier at www.coachoftheyear.com. For sports information contact Reggie Rouzan Sports Information Director at (936) 261-9106. incidentally, this Panthers have returned to the glory days this season with its 9-1 record, the best since 1968.

Several members of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church will be attend the ordination of the Rev. Canon C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop Coadjutor-elect, as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas on November 22, 2008, at St. Martin's, 717 Sage Road, Houston, at 10:30 am. The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church USA, is chief consecrator. A reception will follow in the parish hall. Doyle was elected in a special meeting this past spring and will take leadership of the diocese following the retirement of Bishop Don Wimberly in summer 2009. A special Hurricane Ike Fundraiser will be on November 21 from 5:30-9:00 pm at the Cathedral honoring Bishop Coadjutor-elect C. Andrew Doyle and his wife JoAnne.

The City of Prairie View Volunteer Fire Fighters & Prairie View Police are preparing for the Annual Food & Toy Drive, their dearest and biggest event of the year. Food items, cash donations, gift cards and toys for kids 0 to 17 years of age, may be dropped off at the Prairie View Police Station, City Hall Annex, the Municipal Court, and the fire station on Wednesday at 7PM. Donations will be accepted through December 19, 2008. If you know a family in need please let us know by contacting city hall @ 936-857-3711, the police station 936-3521 or Elaine Jackson @ 936-857-5550. Let’s remember those in need during this time of year.

From all account, the citizens of Prairie View and Waller County are in good shape and healthy – so says the folks of Life Line Screening. More than 40 persons got their screening for strokes and stressed at the event sponsored by the Prairie View Retired Teachers Association and Life Line. For information on future screenings call Kim Hadaway, Health Service Coordinator at 832-584-7191 or kim.hadaway@llsa.com mailto:kim.hadaway@llsa.com.

A View from the Hill: The Career Services department at PVAMU continues down the busy track for the month of November with more than 10 companies visiting the campus to interview candidates for internships and full-time employment. For information on Career Services and its programs, call (936) 261-3570 or visit the website: pvamu.edu/careers.

The PVAMU Women’s Basketball team kicked off the 2008 season on Nov. 14 against the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin State. In a close game the Lumberjacks dropped the Lady Panthers in a repeat match. However, they rebounded and defeated the ladies of California.-State Northridge on Nov. 16. The ladies will travel to Penn State University for a showdown on November 21, 2008. Kudos to Head Coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, the team and the Panther Basketball staff.

In the Men’s Basketball game, the team dropped its openers to Bruins of UCLA on Nov. 12 and to Miami of Ohio-Weber State team on Nov. 13. The team regrouped and beat the Champions Baptist University team on Nov. 18. At press time the Panthers were set to take on the University of Wyoming on Nov. 19. Fans can see the Panthers in action again on Nov. 23 as the team takes on Ecclesia University at 7:30 PM in the Billy Nicks Arena and follows up with another game on Nov. 25 when it goes head on with Southwestern Assemblies at 7:30 pm, also in Billy Nicks Arena. Kudos also to Coach Byron Rimm, II, the team and staff.

The First United Methodist Church will celebrate its 37th Anniversary at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 23 with Dr. W. Earl Bledsoe, Bishop of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church as the guest speaker. Special music will be performed by the Prairie View A&M University Concert Chorale directed by Mrs. A. Jan Taylor. Rev. Wilmer R. Bonner is the pastor.

The election is over, but Barack Obama is still a TV hit as evidence with his appearance on CBS'"60 Minutes" which had its highest overnight ratings in nearly a decade on Nov. 16. Steve Kroft lands the first interview the president-elect and future first lady. Nielsen’s preliminary estimated that some 24.5 million persons tuned in for the friendly and candid interview. That's more than any other episode of a prime-time
show seen this season, and the biggest audience since Jan. 1999. Meanwhile, the world is watching as he takes time to assemble his team when he takes office on Jan. 20, 2009.

The PVAMU Students In Free Enterprise continues to affect change in the lives of the students at the university. The team hosted its “Changing the World Talent Showcase VI” on Nov. 4, featuring campus talent. Winners of the show won cash awards as follows: PVAMU Mime Troupe 1st Place ($100), Rachel Martin 2nd ($75) and Deaven Williams 3rd ($50). The team closes out the semester events with its famous Club Pees & Vees on Nov. 22 at 9:00 pm in the MSC Ballroom. Performers include Reggie Jamz of Houston, former PV student and winner of Majic 102 Hatters Idol. For information, call the Sam Walton Fellow at (936) 261-3574. Breona King, a junior computer engineering major from Port Arthur, is the president. For SIFE information, call (936) 261-3579.

Please remember the following in your prayers: Mrs. Mary Kemp, Dr. Lee Henderson, Mrs. Douglas Woolfolk, Mrs. Irene Reid, Mrs. Benny Boyden, Ms. Chandra Johnson, Mrs. Earline Thomas and Mrs. Theola Woods, who stand in the need of prayer. May God’s blessings bring them health and strength!

November Birthdays Congratulations to: Lasana Sirleaf (7),Travis Webster (8), Darryl Johnson (8), Famata Freeman (9), Lillian Kirby (11), Harold Simmons (11), Barbara Dunham Gooden (13), Carol Cummings Kellum (15), Larry Hickman (20), William ‘Trey’ Reid (20), Gwendolyn Carter (21), Eichele Shafer (21), Kevin Tompkins (21), Cleola Walker (21), Purvis Carter (22), Samuel Montgomery (23), Earline Thomas (23), Priscilla Yell (23),James Jacob Boyer (26), Irma Kendrick (26) and Charles McClelland (26).

ON A CULTURAL NOTE, I am sure you knew that on November 17, 1911- the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Howard University; 11/18/28 – Walt Disney created and debuted Mickey Mouse in Hollywood, California; 11/19/1797 - Isabella Baumfree, was born in New York. As a freed slave, she had a divine revelation in 1843 and changed her name to Sojourner Truth and began speaking on emancipation and women's rights; 11/20/1789, New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights; 11/22/63 - President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas; 11/22/66 - Dr. Alvin I. Thomas is named the third president of Prairie View A&M University; 11/25/22- Marcus Garvey electrifies the crowd at Liberty Hall, New York with the principles of the Universal Negro Improvement Association to fight for the emancipation of the race and the redemption of the mother country Africa; 11/27/80 - KPVU FM 91.3 began broadcasting to the surrounding community; 11/28/61 Ernie Davis of Syracuse University becomes the first Black to win the Heisman Trophy; 11/29/89 - Colonel Frederick D. Gregory becomes the first Black Commander of a space shuttle mission on the Discovery.

Until next week, be thankful for what we have, because nothing can be brighter than one moment with family and friends. Keep the news, happenings and achievements coming to prairieviewtoday@iwon.com, fax 936-857-5352 or call 936-857-3272.

Until next week, remember that whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Believe in the power and make a difference in the lives of others. Keep the news, achievements and recognitions coming to prairieviewtoday@iwon.com, fax 936-857-5352, Phone: 936-857-3272 or P. O. Box 2906, Prairie View, Texas 77446.