Twenty-nine years ago, the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi at Troy University celebrated Homecoming as college kids. On Saturday, Oct. 24, they will once again be together, this time as contributing citizens of their communities.

“But still brothers at heart,” said David McNabb, a 1977 graduate of Charles Henderson High School and a 1993 graduate of Troy University. “This will be the first time that most of us have seen each other in 29 years and we are all excited about this reunion of our pledge line.

“It’s been a long time and we’ve all gone our separate ways but, when we get together this weekend, it will be just like old times and it will be a good time.”

Members of the pledge line include, McNabb, Leviticus Palmer, Bonnie Hill, Edward Bush, Breck Upshaw, Lonnie Turner, Allen Sidney Bryant, Ernest Powe, Elvis Allen, Percy Johnson and Walter Myres.

Kappa Alpha Psi became a chapter at Troy University in 1975 and was the first black social fraternity at the university.

“There were 11 of us on our pledge line and we were all good friends,” McNabb said. “We did what we could to be a part of the community and to make a good name for ourselves. My mother, Annie Lois McNabb, believed in going to church. When I was growing up, we were at the church every time the doors opened. My mother didn’t send me to church, she took me.”

Having grown up in the church and very strong in his faith, McNabb strongly encouraged the brothers in his pledge line to attend church with him.

“They would say, ‘You mean we’ve got to go to church on Sunday and during the week, too,?’” McNabb said, laughing. “But we sang with the chorus and we did work – outside work — for people that couldn’t do for themselves. And, we didn’t just do for our church members; we did for people all over town. People really seemed to appreciate what we did.”

McNabb had a vested interest in his community and his love of community was so strong that his brothers became just as committed.

“I owe a lot the people of Troy,” McNabb said. “Especially The Mooneyhams, Virginia and Spergeon, and Evelyn Morgan. I worked at Mooneyham’s and Oliver’s and those people raised me. They taught me how to meet the public and how to treat people and, of course, how to sell. I’ll always be grateful to them, to all of Troy. It’s a great place to live.”

Troy University also has a special place in McNabb’s heart and, in the heart, of the brothers of his pledge line.

“Everybody is anxious to get back to Troy and to the university and some of them are really going to be surprised to see the changes that have been made,” he said. “We’re going to tailgate on Saturday and attend the Homecoming game and on Sunday, we’re going to do what we did when we were in college. We’re going to get together at church, at First Missionary Baptist Church.

The Rev. Percy Johnson, one of our pledge line brothers, will deliver the 11 a.m. message and special music will be presented by the Troy University Gospel Choir. All Troy University alumni and students are invited to be a part of this wonderful service.”