Bro. Walter Turner Sr.
Alumni Brother of the Year
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. the first intercollegiate for African
American men recently held its 92nd General Convention in Austin, Texas.
A local business owner and active
community volunteer, Bro. Walter E. Turner, was honored as Alumni member
of the year after being honored by Alabama district and Southern region.
This was no quick and easy accomplishment for Bro. Turner who has been a
financially active member of the fraternity for thirty nine (39) years.
Brother Tuner’s journey in Alpha began in 1973 when he and several other
men (now all Brothers of Alpha) formed a Men Interested in Alpha group
at the University of Montevallo (Montevallo, AL), facing very similar
circumstances as the founders of the organization at Cornell University
in 1906. In 1974, he would join Alpha Phi Alpha as a charter member of
the Iota Nu chapter located at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
(Birmingham, AL). He was one of the five students from the University of
Montevallo who were extended entry into the fraternity through the Iota
Nu chapter.
After graduating from the University of Montevallo, Bro. Turner along
with 29 other Brothers founded and chartered the Mu Psi Lambda graduate
chapter on March 17, 1978 in Homewood, AL. They wanted to establish an
open door for young men returning from college who wanted to continue
their dedication to the aims of their fraternity:" "manly deeds,
scholarship and love for all mankind.â€
While establishing the Mu Psi Lambda graduate chapter, Bro. Walter
Turner also aided in the foundation of the Nu Tau Chapter at the
University of Montevallo. The Nu Tau chapter gained its charter on April
29, 1978 and was the first organization for black men on that campus.
Nearly 40 years later, Bro. Turner’s legacy is still impacting young
college brothers whom Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. supports in
maintaining some of the highest GPA’s and graduation rates of all
college fraternities throughout Central Alabama. Under Bro. Turner’s
leadership, along with other key members, the Mu Psi Lambda graduate
chapter reaches back into the community with the L.E.A.D. (Leadership â–ª
Education â–ª Achievement â–ª Development) Academy. This academy is a widely
known and successful 18 year old high school male mentoring program
supporting the fraternities 91 year old “Go-To-High School,
Go-To-College†initiative. In the light of recent incidents showing the
need for encouraging and supporting young men, Alpha Phi Alpha is
steadfastly focused on “The Better Making of Men†inside and outside of
the organization.