Happy Birthday Founder Byron Kenneth Armstrong!

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Byron K. Armstrong, affectionately known as “Boomski,” was a scholar and outspoken. He was born in Westfield, IN, on April 8, 1892, and was the cousin of 2nd Grand Polemarch, Irven Armstrong.

Founder Armstrong enrolled at Howard University in 1909, met Elder W. Diggs, and together, they transferred to Indiana University in the fall of 1910. He graduated from Indiana University with an A.B. degree in the fall of 1913. Founder Armstrong earned an M.A. degree from Columbia University in 1914 and received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Michigan in 1940.

Founder Armstrong held teaching positions as a professor at universities in Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, and Michigan and served as Dean at institutions in Maryland and Oklahoma.

Founder Armstrong was one of the primary forces behind the founding of Kappa Alpha Nu. He created the motto, assisted Diggs in preparing the Coat of Arms, and produced the final version of the fraternity badge. He suggested the fraternity reward members’ outstanding achievements with a Laurel Wreath. He served the fraternity as the 1st Grand Strategus, 5th Grand Historian, and as a Grand Board Member. He also established the Beta, Theta, Xi, Alpha Pi, and Gamma Xi Chapters as well as the Chicago (IL), Langston (OK), and Tulsa (OK) Alumni Chapters. Founder Armstrong assisted in the writing of the “1928 Handbook of Kappa Alpha Psi." He also authored “Crossing the Jordan and Beyond” and served as Editor of the Kappa Alpha Psi Journal.

Founder Armstrong was awarded the 6th Laurel Wreath, the highest award available to a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., for his extra meritorious contributions to the Fraternity. The Byron K. Armstrong Scholars Award, the only Grand Chapter award available to fraternity undergraduate members for outstanding achievement, is named in his honor. Founder Armstrong died on June 28, 1980.

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Kevin Scott
Grand Historian