Eta Pi Lambda was chartered on April 16, 1960, an expansion from Beta Psi Lambda and the mother chapter, Alpha Delta (USC). Of course we must give “props” to Gamma Xi (UCLA) as well as it served as the “home chapter” for several of our founders as well as some of our most active members.
Thirteen brothers are listed on the Eta Pi Lambda Chapter charter and while only two of our founders, Brothers Ples A. Griffin and Richard McGriff are still physically with us; the spirit of each of our thirteen founders are with us always.
A roll call of our Founders: Bro. Ples A. Griffin who resides in Sacramento and has continued to work in the field of civil rights and served on the forefront of school desegregation issues. Bro. Dr. Richard B. McGriff currently resides in Webster, N.Y., and has retired from a distinguished career in the field of chemistry with the Xerox Corporation in upstate New York. Bro. Arthur E. Prince, who served as a key leader in the early formation of Alpha Phi Alpha, Brother Arthur Prince served as a Charter Member of Alpha Delta Chapter, the first Alpha Chapter on the West Coast, having been established in 1921. Not long after (two years) he was joined by other charter brothers Bro. Clifford M. Prince and Bro. James W. Price.
A stalwart leader of Eta Pi Lambda was founding Bro. Ray Bartlett, a charter member of Gamma Xi, and initiate of Alpha Delta, and who was a trailblazer at both the chapter and the community level, completing four different careers. Brother Bartlett was the chapter’s “spiritual” leader and the chapter has suitably named its scholarship in his honor. We can be sure that early on in the Chapter’s History he served admirably as a guiding light for Brothers C. Edward Singer and Byron S. Caldwell.
But Leadership was not restricted to Brother Bartlett as the chapter also boasted of Founding members Richard B. McGriff, Bro. Dr. Jesse D. Moses, and Bro. Dr. Isaac Benjamin English, M.D. whom the records show were highly involved in education and scholarly pursuits and ensured that the chapter began almost immediately awarding scholarships to young men and women in their pursuit of higher education.
Bro. James L. Stocks, Bro. Harry Connell Ward, and Bro. Edward C. Strong, the record shows were involved in both community and fraternity politics with Brother Strong servings at the first President of the Chapter. Both Bro. Strong and Bro.Bartlett were also heavily involved in sports and the YMCA. Bro. Bartlett was the roommate of Jackie Robinson, who once wrote in Bro. Bartlett’s Pasadena City College yearbook that (Ray), “was the finest athlete he had ever known”.
In the last few years Eta Pi Lambda has garnered many accolades; winning Regional Chapter of the Year several times as well as winning the Charles H. Wesley Award along with Iota Psi. Additionally, the chapter blazed new paths by winning the National Step Competition under the able direction of our chapter past Vice-President Treymane Noles, National and Regional Brothers of the year. Moreover, individual chapter members have served in many capacities as Regional Committee Chairs, as well as a National Committee/Commission Chairs, and our own Dr. Norman Towels served as Western Region Vice-President, and numerous members have been elected Regional Assistant Vice-President.
Eta Pi Lambda has always carried the moniker of being a “working” chapter and to that end served the Region, the District, and the Area in numerous fashions, from co-hosting Regional and National Conventions as well as co-hosting Founders’ Days and continually having a great rapport with local college chapters Iota Psi, but also with Alpha Delta, Pi Epsilon, Gamma Xi, and Pi Kappa.
The Chapter continues its tradition of having “affordable” dues and encouraging maximum involvement by its members.
But as we look back on our rich history and look forward to a great new dawn, we can encapsulate what Eta Pi Lambda is in our by-word phrase:
“Where the commitment to Alpha is the Highest . . . and the dues the lowest . . .”
Alpha Phi Alpha develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities. That is an “Alpha Man” and that is “Eta Pi Lambda”.