KAPPA ALPHA PSI

Brother Willard Brooks was born in Cushing, Oklahoma. He moved to Oklahoma City in the 1930's and enrolled at Page Elementary School where his talent for art was overshadowed by predudice. His third grade teacher regularly selected the artwork of a lesser artist based upon the color of his skin. During those days, the preferred students were from the families of doctors, dentist, lawyers or teachers. If a child did not come from one of those backgrounds, preference was given to the children who had 'light skin and good hair'. Brother Brooks was subjected to this kind of discrimination until he entered Douglass High School, where his art teacher was only concerened with the quality of his work. With only a few credits short of his diploma, he entered the United States Army in 1943, where he achieved the rank of Technician Fifth Grade. After his military service he returned home to complete his high school then college education while working as a bellman. In college he majored in Secondary Education, but it was his artwork that was acknowledge above that of the other art majors by the faculty, students and other orgaizations at Wilberforce University as well as neighboring Central State University. Brother Brooks was initiated in Delta Chapter in 1951 and served as Keeper of Records for two terms. After college, he worked as a bellman at the Skirvin Hotel before starting his career at Tinker Air Force Base in 1963. After a stroke in 1985, Brother Brooks retired as a GS-11 and began to focus on his lifelong passion for art. He has donated his talent to our Chapter by drawing portraits of our past Polmarchs as well as other Chapter members. His dedication and devotion has been recognized by our Chapter, which has selected our conference room to be referred to as the Brooks Gallery, where he art will continue to grace our Kastle walls.