The idea to organize the Maywood-Wheaton Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was conceived by Brother John C. Vaughns.  In September of 1974, he discussed the idea with Brother Donald Randolph.  Following several additional discussions, and contacts with other Kappas in the West Suburban Chicago Area, a meeting was scheduled.

In January of 1975, Brothers Vaughns and Randolph were joined in a meeting by Brothers Leroy Sturgis, Jessie Bell, Charlie Thurston, and Robert Fowlkes at the Lemon Tree Restaurant in Maywood.  The Brothers compared notes and decided to contact additional Brothers in the area to obtain their feelings on the idea.  Though no minutes were taken at this meeting, in reality it was the first meeting of the chapter.

On Tuesday, February 25, 1975, Brothers Vaughns, Randolph, Sturgis, Bell, Thurston, and Fowlkes met at Washington School  and decided to initiate action to establish a new chapter.  This meeting was landmark not only because of the action taken, but the first minutes of the chapter were recorded in Brother Vaughns' notebook as were all other minutes of the pre-charter meetings.  Brother Eldridge Freeman was contacted and invited to meet with the group to provide advice on the proper procedure in applying for a charter.

On Thursday, April 3, 1975, three Brothers met with Brother Freeman in what became to be known as "THE GREAT SNOW STORM MEETING" This meeting was held the night following the big April storm of that year.  Only Brothers Vaughns, Randolph, and Sturgis were able to "mush" to the meeting with Brother Freeman.   How Brother Freeman made it to the meeting, only he knows.  In any event he was present and provided all of the information needed to apply for a charter.  Not only that,  he provided encouragement to the three Brothers that were able to make, and he encouraged the Brothers not to give on on the idea of Brother Vaughns.  Encouraged  by the visitor's remarks and experience in such matters, the Brothers made plans for the May meeting and left the meeting with renewed resolve.  Twelve Brothers attended the May meeting and attendance increased at each meeting through the remaining months of 1975.

In June 1975 the following Brothers officially  petitioned the Grand Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for a charter to be granted to the "West Suburban Alumni Chapter"

Jesse Bell, Robert Caffey, Reynold Corbin, Robert Fowlkes, Theaodis Gary, Edward Hillary, Eric King, Terry Mallory, Donald Randolph, Phillip Ragan, Leroy Sturgis, Charles Thurston, John C. Vaughns, Lee Wade

In September of 1975, chapter officers were chosen and committee appointments made.  A Constitution Committee was established which was chaired by Brother Donald Bland.  Other members of the committee who developed the constitution adopted in November of 1975 were Craig Wiley, Lee Wade, Leroy Sturgis and Donald Randolph.

In October of 1975, the Brothers held a party for their wives. This party served to get the wives acquainted with each other and resulted in a boost in publicity for the budding chapter.  Word spread rapidly that the Kappas were organized. This served as a catalyst to kindle the interest of other Greek-Lettered organizations in the Western Suburbs to organize.  Soon the AKA's (several of whom, not coincidentally were spouses of Kappas) were organized.  They were followed shortly by Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, and Omega Psi Phi.

Kappa Alpha Psi officially became the first predominantly African-American Greek-Lettered Organization to be chartered  the Chicago Western Suburbs when Brother Floyd Campbell, North Central Province Polemarch presented a charter to the Maywood-Wheaton Alumni Chapter on January 11, 1976.  The name Maywood-Wheaton was selected by the petitioners when Grand Chapter insisted on a city or combination city name.

The chartering ceremony proved to be something really special.   In addition to the visiting Brothers Raynet Lewis, Chicago Heights Alumni Chapter, Floyd Campbell, North Central Province Polemarch, and  Eldridge Freeman, Past North Central Province Polemarch, our REVERED FOUNDER BROTHER EDWARD G. IRVIN was present at the chartering ceremony.

BROTHER IRVIN installed the first officers of the new chapter and charged the chapter to continue and strive for achievement, ever working for the good of all mankind.  The officers installed were: 

Polemarch	John C. Vaughns
Vice-Polemarch	Donald Randolph
Keeper of Records	Charlie Thurston
Keeper of Exchequer	Leroy Sturgis
Dean of Pledges	Thomas Brock
Strategus	Theaodis Gary
Lt. Strategus	Robert Caffey

In addition to the Brothers who signed the petition for charter, the following Brothers were active charter members of the Chapter: Donald Bland, Homer Branch, Thomas Brock, John Daniels, Wayne Lewis, Craig Wiley.

January 14, 1976 -  Kappa Kard Party - first fund raising event and first public affair held by an African American Greek-Lettered organization in the DuPage county area.

January 1976 - first Scroller's Club organized in the chapter

April 1976 - first initiates of the chapter were Frank Dantzler, Harry Duncan, William Johnson, David Mitchell.

April 1976 - first Spring Dance/Large Fund-raiser

May 1976 - awarded it's first scholarship to Keith L. Spears of Proviso East High School in Maywood. Keith was later initiated at Kappa Alpha Chapter, Illinois State University and returned to become a member of Maywood-Wheaton Alumni Chapter.

July 1976 - held first annual Kappa picnic, inviting members of the community who supported the our fund raising efforts. This event became the highlight of the summer for the Tri-County area for several years

October 1976 - held first annual Scholarship Dance.

October 1976 - held first raffle in which 21-inch color TV was the prize.

October 1976 - began work with a group of undergraduate students at Lewis University, Lockport, Illinois in an effort to establish a chapter there on campus. Through the efforts of Brothers Andrew Pumphrey and Harry Duncan five young men were initiated into Kappa Alpha Psi and later became the Charter members of Iota Lambda Chapter at Lewis University.  They were Leonard Crisp, Richard Massey, Cleotis Taylor, John Watkins, and Cedric Willis.

October 1976 - the monthly newsletter "Kappa Kapsule" was formed and distributed.

The chapter's first full year of operation was extremely successful, and served as the foundation for steady growth and outstanding achievements that have followed.