Southwest Region Past Leadership

The first Southwestern Regional Vice President was Bro. A. Maceo Smith. Who also served as our 17th General President.

The Alpha Sigma Chapter seated at Wiley College is the oldest chapter in the Southwestern Region, chartered on April 6, 1925.

During the 1947 General Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma the "Far Western" Region was born. Making way for the Southwest Region. The Southwest Region was once the Western Region, which was the region of Oklahoma & Texas, later adding Arkansas and Louisiana who was apart of the Southern Region.

A. Maceo Smith

First Southwestern Region Vice President

In 1953 the fraternity was seeking to purchase a building to house the national headquarters. Under the presidency of Bro. A. Maceo Smith, at the 39th General Convention it was voted to purchases the property belonging to Xi Lambda Chapter in Chicago, Ill. "I think of a home away from home..." said A Maceo Smith when asked about purchasing the property.

Southwest Region Assistant Vice President

The first Southwestern Regional Assistant Vice President was Bro. H. Rudolph Sims.

Bro. Sims was an initiate of the Beta Sigma Chapter seated at Southern University. He was an outstanding scholar majoring in political science and minoring in music. He was a representative in the advanced course of the ROTC at Southern University and vice president of Beta Sigma in 1954.

Under 18th General President Frank L. Stanley, at the 40th General Convention in Miami, Florida, the brothers approved an amendment to the constitution, changing the name "Lay Member," which was designated for a college brother serving with each region's Vice President, to "Assistant Vice President." This change was initiated by the Commission on Reorganization just a year prior, chaired by 7th General President Bro. Howard H. Long, after college brothers at the Undergraduate Workshop during the 39th General Convention in Detroit, Michigan, proposed the change asking for a more significant and more important place in the fraternity. During this time, equality amongst African Americans was at an all-time high in the country, and that equality rippled through college brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha. They were eloquently seeking equality amongst the alumni brothers. Thus the first Assistant Vice President title was created.

H. Rudolph Sims

First Southwest Region Assistant Vice President

Five brothers, one from each region, were chosen as Assistant Vice Presidents at the 40th Annual General Convention in Miami, Florida. The first Southwest Region Assistant Vice President was Harold Rudolph Sims. A Beta Sigma initiated seated on the campus of Southern University.

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