OMEGA CHAPTER
BY MICHAEL W. BELL
Past RVP Ronnie Jenkins Was True Servant of All
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lpha Phi Alpha lost another regional icon this summer when Brother Ronnie S. “Ron” Jenkins [Eta Lambda, ’89] entered Omega Chapter on July 25. Jenkins was not only a past regional vice president of the Southern Region, he was former district director of Georgia and a past president of Eta Lambda Chapter in Atlanta. Jenkins influenced many people through education, information, mentorship and just being a good steward of the aims of the fraternity. Born May 19, 1944, in DeLand, Fla., he attended Euclid High School. After In 1962, he moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry. After Morehouse, he earned a master’s in health administration at nearby Georgia State University. He also did post graduate work at John Hopkins University. He also worked at Atlanta’s world famous Grady Memorial Hospital as a health educator and community organizer. New York City came calling, and he went to work for the American Cancer Society there before returning to Atlanta to take a post with the Georgia state government, in its Division of Public Health. He retired in 2000. Even after retirement, Jenkins had more work left in him. He became a consultant and eventually a
an analyst for Danya International in Silver Spring, Md. Brother Jenkins wrote grants, worked with nonprofit groups and educated the community on subjects such as chronic diseases, AIDS, and environmental health and safety. It is an understatement to say Jenkins was a very active member of Alpha. From the time he was initiated, until his death, he was the resolute Alpha man. Brothers did not always agree with him, but they always respected him. He was a strong advocate for education, helping others find funding for programs, and helping young people.” “Ron would send out two dozen e-mails a day about grant opportunities and kept the chapter well informed about ways it could be helpful in the community” said Brother Leandras “Bob” Jones, a past president of Eta Lambda. Among his largest contributions in the community, Jenkins will be remembered for his instrumental role in helping establish a Head Start program, housed at Eta Lambda’s Alpha Center building.
Napoleon Johnson III [Kappa Theta Lambda, ’90]
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rother Napoleon B. Johnson III [Kappa Theta Lambda, ’90] was a thirdgeneration Alpha. Initiated in Teaneck, N.J., he was a life member. He served in various roles, including chapter vice president, historian, associate editor to The Sphinx, and a board member of the Kappa Theta Lambda Scholarship Fund. In 2006, he was unanimously voted Man of the Year. He also was a founding member of the Alpha Achievers male enrichment program at Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin Middle Schools in Teaneck. Born in Atlanta, he graduated from Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. Brother Johnson entered Omega Chapter September 2.
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THE SPHINX