Among the many awards and honors Rev. Cummings has received are: Indiana "Mason of the Year," 1965, the Lane College "Certificate of Merit," 1967, and his election to the Crispus Attucks "Hall of Fame," 1962. Rev. Cummings is a member of the Board of Directors of Eden Seminary, the Human Development Corporation, North Side YMCA, and the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council. Cummings, L-679 (Epsilon Lambda Chapter) was the recipient of the Alpha "Man of the Year" Award in 1960.
m Brother J. MASON DAVIS was recently appointed Judge in the Recorders Court of Birmingham, Alabama and the Jefferson County Criminal Court. Attorney Davis, a native of Birmingham, is active in the city's civic and political circles. He is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of "Operation New Birmingham," a catalyst organization dealing with the city's controversial problems; a member of the Board of Community Service Council; a member of the Family Court Advisory Committee; 1972 Crusade Co-Chairman for the American Cancer Society; Chairman of the Volunteer Helpers Probation Program; State Bar Representative on the Public Welfare Advisory Committee; member of the NAACP and many other organizations. Brother Davis is a past member of the City of Birmingham Park and Recreation Board and the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee, as well as the State Democratic Executive Committee. A Trustee of the Jefferson Health Foundation, he serves as Chairman of the Birmingham Recreation Coordinating Council. Recently, Davis was appointed by Chief Justice Howell T. Heflin of the Alabama Supreme Court as a member of the Advisory Commission To Implement the Judicial Articles. In addition, he was elected as a member of the board of the American Red Cross and the Executive Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association. Judge Davis attended the Birmingham Public Schools and received his B.A. degree from Talladega College. Brother Davis received his J.D. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. He is a member of the Masons, the Elks, 22
and the Phythians. He is general counsel for Protective Industrial Insurance Company, general counsel for the National Insurance Association, and general counsel for the Knights of Phythias of Alabama. He is a lecturer at the University of Alabama Law School.
ML Brother ANDREW DEGRAFFENREIDT of Zeta Alpha Lambda Chapter of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is enjoying his second term as Fort Lauderdale's first Black city commissioner. Commissioner DeGraffenreidt received his B.S. degree from Tougaloo College of Mississippi and Masters degrees in psychology and
zoology from Pennsylvania State University. Brother DeGraffenreidt was elected to the city commission on his first try in 1973. After successfully serving the city of Fort Lauderdale for two years, the incumbent retained his seat in the 1975 election. Brother DeGraffenreidt is a member of the First Baptist Church here in the city. He is also chairman of the Gold Coast League of Cities. This comprises three counties - Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach. Commissioner DeGraffenreidt is surrounded by a most beautiful family Mrs. DeGraffenreidt, Basileus of the Zeta Rho Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, is also a member of the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the Links, Inc., and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). One daughter, Fredi Grace DeGraffenreidt, formerly a Miss Florida, is a senior at Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia. She is majoring in drama. She is presently Miss Clark College. Another daughter, Carol, is a tenth grader at Nova High School here in the city. She is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Youth Club. One son, Andrew II, is majoring in political science at Swarthlore College in Pennsylvania, and Andrew, III is a senior at the University of Miami Law School. The brothers of Zeta Alpha Lambda are proud of the accomplishments of Commissioner DeGraffenreidt. We join all Alpha brothers in wishing the commissioner the best of success.
THE SPHINX is the magazine of every Alpha . . . and it can only be a source of pride to every Alpha i f . . . from the grass roots up, from individuals, chapters, regions, national officers and committees,... the editor gets the news of Alpha. Maybe we can't publish all of it, but without your help we can't publish any of it. Let's keep the stories coming . . . for Newsline, Focus, Alpha's on the Move, Golden Legacy, Alpha Athletes, Chapter News ... and everything else that's truly Alpha newsworthy. — M.J.P.
The Sphinx / December 1975