Iota Beta Lambda (IBL) Chapter Key#503 was Charted on Friday, November 11, 1966. The Chapter’s Installation of Officers was held April 17, 1967.
The Iota Beta Lambda Chapter was founded by nine alumni brothers who recognized the need for a strong bond of brotherhood in Brevard County Florida. In keeping with one of Alpha Phi Alpha’s national programs, “Go to High School, Go to College”, brothers of various professional backgrounds found it timely to establish an alumni chapter in Cocoa, Florida to further promote the ideals of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.
Brothers met initially at the home of Brother Lonnie Blocker. The nine founding brothers of Iota Beta Lambda are: Charles Walker, Technical Manager, RCA Corporation; Rudolph Slaughter, Teacher; Frank Williams, Principal; Lewis Moton, Teacher; Leo Lewis, Teacher; Horace C. Boyer, Music Professor; Lonnie Blocker, Mathematician, NASA; James Gollman; Stephen Mickle, Judge. The first member to join the chapter after charting was Brother Raymond Byrd, Teacher. We honor them with our respect and admiration.
The Charter members paved way for a remarkable institution. This torch has been carried on since 1966, by so many more that were stalwart members of Iota Beta Lambda but are no longer here to share the blessings of life. Men such as Bro. Rev. Dr. Harvey L. Riley, Bro. Frank E. Williams, Bro. Horace Boyer, Bro. Theron Sawyer, Bro. Ralph Williams, Bro. Leo Lewis, Bro. Willie Turner, Bro. Roosevelt Williams, Bro. Cleveland Daren, Bro. Willie Wright, Bro. Peter Frink, Bro. Willie Smith. These men gave much to and for the name of Alpha.
Current Active 50+ year Brothers: Bro. Lonnie Blocker, Bro. Rev. Hartford Lee, Bro. Robert Williams, Bro. James Owens and Bro. J. Albert Diggs, Jr., and Bro. Herbert Peete
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc Iota Beta Lambda Chapter is also a Florida Not for Profit Corporation. Company Number assigned to this company is N09000010444. US Federal EIN/TIN number of this company is 37-1591525. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc Iota Beta Lambda Chapter was incorporated by the state of Florida on Monday, 26th October 2009. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc Iota Beta Lambda Chapter’s mailing address is P. O. Box 352 Cocoa, FL 32923.
Today, the brothers of Iota Beta Lambda continue to pursue the ideals of Alpha Phi Alpha, manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind. The Men of 06, Alpha Phi Alpha Scholarship Fund 501 c (3), was formally established in 2015.
In 1936, Jewel Robert Harold Ogle said: “I wish to urge upon all of the brothers the necessity for Alpha stands a broader bond of brotherhood in the communities where you reside. After allegiance to your God, family, and country, let nothing shake your love for the fraternity and its ideas. Let every Brother be truly a Brother, promote his interest as if it were yours and show to the world that Alpha Phi Alpha for more than mere words.”
The Mission of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities.
We’ve seen Brothers work tirelessly on behalf of Alpha; Brothers such as Bro. James Owens, Broderick Harris, Brian Waritay, Andrew Friar, Elliot Pittman, and Corsavius Jackson who work to stimulate the ambition of our members; Brothers such as Bro. Lonnie Blocker, J Albert Diggs, William “Bill” Gary, Albert Owens , Rufus Williams and Robert Williams who work to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom and dignity of the individual; Brothers such as Bro. Herbert Peete, David Jackson and Bro. Charles Jenkins Jr., Willie Lanier Jr, and Clifton Shirah who work to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and Brothers such as Bro. Rev Hartford Lee, Bro. Rev, Bruce Wade, Bro. Rev Anthony Blunt, and the Late brothers Bro. Hiram Mann, Rev Dr. Harvey L. Riley, Frank E. Williams, Ralph Williams, Peter Frink and Willie Smith who worked to aid down trodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status – for these elements make up the objectives of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Over the past 1,356 months hundreds of thousands of men have gathered in “The House of Alpha” all for the “…better making of men.” Alpha men are among the last hope for our boys and girls. Every boy yearns for an honorable man, a principled man, one who is not impetuous, to serve as an example for his life. The look in every girl’s eye is all the evidence needed to prove she is enamored at the site of her knight in shining armor – a covering emblazoned with old gold and black.
We are blessed with over 2,592,000 seconds (that’s 43,200 minutes) in a month for the men of Alpha Phi Alpha continue to “…onward and upwards towards the light…” Let us stand tall and again claim that which only an Alpha man can…the cloak of leadership to deliver our community to the mountain tops of greatness.
The Iota Beta Lambda chapter programs range from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s National programs to The Annual Martin Luther King Event: I AM Scholarship Gala.