04/19/2023
Happy Birthday Founder Guy Levis Grant! Founder Grant small in stature, but a giant in charitable endeavors and preserver of history, was born in New Albany, Indiana on April 9, 1891, and was the third of thirteen children, five of which became members of the Fraternity. When his father died, he became head of the household and assumed responsibility for educating himself and his siblings.
Founder Grant attended public schools in his hometown, and graduated from Scribner High School in 1909, and later entered Indiana University. While there, he majored in chemistry, graduating with an A.B. degree in 1915. In 1920, he received a D.D.S. degree from Indiana Dental School, then a part of Indiana University; he practiced dentistry in Indianapolis for over 50 years.
In 1929, he married Laura Hammons. He was a veteran of World War I, was the Founder and President of Recorder Charities, and was active in several civic, professional, and business organizations. He was also a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and a former member of the historic Second Baptist Church in Indianapolis.
Founder Grant helped to establish the Beta and Indianapolis Alumni Chapters and was the first Chapter Indianapolis Alumni Polemarch. He served several terms as a non-voting member of the Grand Board of Directors and as Grand Historian. For years, Founder Grant gathered bits and pieces of Kappa history to accumulate a recorded history for posterity. This archive collection became the factual supportive base for the written account of the Fraternity’s history. The 2nd Edition of the Story of Kappa Alpha Psi was dedicated to him.
Following 16 years of dedicated service as the Grand Historian, the Fraternity conferred the title of Grand Historian Emeritus upon him at the 54th Grand Chapter Meeting in 1967. The Guy Levis Grant Award is named in his honor to undergraduate members of the fraternity who exhibit extra meritorious contributions to the Fraternity’s advancement. Founder Grant died on November 11, 1973.
Kevin Scott
Grand Historian
