Byron Kenneth Armstrong

Byron Kenneth Armstrong and the Armstrong family were an important part of the Westfield community. We are always trying to collect more information and history about all members of the community, but especially due to the limited representations over the decades, I believe we should make extra efforts to collect information about our African-American community members. Because we should, but also because most likely Westfield was founded to be part of the Underground Railroad and to help fight the enslavement of people. - Michael Kobrowski

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH (From Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity https://www.kappaalphapsi1911.com/byron-kenneth-armstrong/ )

Byron Kenneth Armstrong

Founder

Founder Byron Kenneth Armstrong was a scholar, imaginative and outspoken. He was affectionately known as “Boomski,” born in Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana, on April 8, 1892, was one of five children and was the cousin of 2nd Grand Polemarch, Irven Armstrong.

Armstrong enrolled at Howard University in 1909, met Elder W. Diggs, and together, they transferred to Indiana University in the fall of 1910, where he studied philosophy, mathematics, and sociology. He graduated from Indiana University with an A.B. degree in the fall of 1913. Armstrong subsequently earned an M.A. degree from Columbia University in 1914 and was decreed a Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Michigan in 1940. He held teaching positions as a professor at universities in Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, and Michigan and served as Dean in Maryland and Oklahoma.

During World War I, he was an investigator for the Department of Labor. He subsequently worked as Personnel Director for Chrysler Motors for 22 years.

He married Elizabeth Hester Moore, and they had a daughter, Hardena Marzella Armstrong. 

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

Armstrong was awarded the 6th Laurel Wreath. The Byron K. Armstrong Scholars Award, the only Grand Chapter award available to fraternity undergraduate members for outstanding achievement, is named in his honor. Armstrong died June 28, 1980 and is buried at Inglewood Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

Below: Bryon Kenneth Armstrong pictures from https://www.kappaalphapsi1911.com/byron-kenneth-armstrong/