Chartered April 1, 1977

Chapter Lineage & Recorded History

Five decades of Theta Psi, told era by era — the men, the ships, and the moments that made the chapter what it is.

April 1, 1977

History of Theta Psi & Charter Members

The Theta Psi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was chartered on Friday, April 1, 1977. Five strong and ambitious Brothers, under the advisement of Big Brother Andrew Carrington, took it upon themselves to begin the legacy of Kappa and to perpetuate Phi Nu Pi to the cause of Achievement and to the interest of mankind.

Andrew Carrington was pivotal in establishing a chapter while he was a graduate student at Virginia Tech; he pledged at the Beta Chi Chapter at Hampton University. Dr. James Abrams served as the Beta Chi sponsor, James Norman, Leon Copeland and John Russell assisted. At that time the only Black Greek-letter organization on campus was Alpha Phi Alpha.

They were followed by three additional lines that form the foundation at Virginia Tech. Roscoe R. Cole was the first to be initiated through the Theta Psi Chapter. Seven years later the chapter was extended to include college men of culture, patriotism and honor from Radford University.

In 2014 Radford University was separated from Virginia Tech, and in 2016 the Rho Theta Chapter was chartered on that campus — with the charter members (Spring 2014) and the Fall 2015 line being the last lines to come through Theta Psi from Radford University. The chapters continue to have a close relationship. The rest is legendary.

Stepping with Kappa Kanes began as soon as Kappa arrived on campus and was further solidified as a staple of our presence after the formation and productions of the annual Overton Johnson Step Show and fall Homecoming block shows.

Spring 1976 (Beta Chi)

Ricky Scales · Brian Witcher · Gary Smith · Larry Blunt · Anthony Pope

Fall 1976 (Beta Chi)

Mike Price · Jerry Livingston

Winter 1977 (Beta Chi)

Marcus Evans · Archie Watson · Louis Williamson

Spring 1977

Roscoe Coles — the first Brother to cross Theta Psi

The Spring 1976, Fall 1976 and Winter 1977 lines make up the Charter Members of the chapter and are highlighted throughout the Chapter Lineage.

Recorded History

A Narrative Timeline

1976–1977

The Interest Years & the Chartering

Before there was a Theta Psi, there were Brothers. HaMaTaSaWa (Spring 1976) — Ricky Scales, Brian Witcher “Witch Doctor,” Gary Smith, Larry Blunt “Brutus” and Anthony Pope — carried Kappa into Blacksburg, followed by Squirt (Fall 1976) with Mike Price and Jerry Livingston. Winter 1977 brought Bad Company: Marcus W. Evans “Snap,” Archie Watson “Crackle” and Louis Williamson “Pop.” On April 1, 1977 the Theta Psi Chapter was chartered at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and Roscoe R. Coles Jr. “Dr. Drop” crossed with Marathon Man as the first of Theta Psi.

1978–1989

Building the Chapter

The late seventies and the eighties put Theta Psi at the center of Black student life in the New River Valley, and the ships came nearly every year: Uniquities (1978), The Hero (1979), NEXUS (1980), Eumenides (1981), Eminence and Decerto (1982), Gnosis (1983), Yennisis and Exodus (1984), Enai Mazi (1985), Aionios Syndesmos (1986), Denames (1987), Epimoní and Arti Arxino (1988) and Epimoe (1989). These are the Greek-named ships that carried the chapter into campus leadership, service programming and a growing presence at Radford University — the era that set the chapter's tone: achievement in every field of human endeavor, practiced locally.

1990–1999

The Step Show Years

Through the nineties Theta Psi's ships became part of NPHC lore on the Upper Quad and in the Commonwealth Ballroom at Squires Student Center — Bebe's Kids (1991), STETOS (1992), Black Reign (1994), Patience (1996), Criminal Minded (1997), Knights of Khaos (1998) and The Terror Squad (1999). Step culture, homecoming and community programming defined the decade, and the traditions of these years became what is now honored as the Overton Johnson Step Show.

2000–2019

Multi-Generational Growth

Sons of the chapter began returning as alumni mentors while new ships crossed each cycle: Resurrektion (2001), Odyssey of Konsequence (2002), Survivors of Anarchy (2003), Demons of Adversity (2004), Kriterion For Insanity (2005), Demonstration of Determination (2007), 9 Reliks of Resurrektion (2008), Khildren of the Diamond and Kode of Silence (2010), Solitary Konfinement (2012), Krash Kourse (2013), Komeback Season (2015), The Return Of The Kings (2016), Diplomatik Immunity (2017), Legends of the Krypt (2018) and Ideal Kut Diamond (2019). The chapter's reach widened across the Commonwealth and beyond — business, medicine, law, government, education, the military — and the alumni network that makes this 50th possible took shape.

2020–2027

The Golden Era

A rebuilt undergraduate presence and a mobilized alumni body carry the chapter to fifty. Operation Kuiet Storm, kka The R.O.K. (Rebirth of Konsequence) (2025) marks the renewal and 8 Paths of P.A.I.N. (2026) is the most recent ship on the yard, leading into the Golden Legacy Celebration of April 8–11, 2027 — an anniversary turned into permanent legacy: a scholarship fund and a chapter plot, memorial bench and tree on the Dietrick Lawn.

The Full Chapter Lineage

222 Brothers across 51 recorded lines, from Spring 1976 to today — every ship, every line name, in line order, searchable by name or year.

Browse the Chapter Lineage

Oral Histories

Recorded Histories of the Chapter

Initiated 1976–1977

Charter Era Recollections

An oral history of the chartering of Theta Psi on April 1, 1977 — HaMaTaSaWa, Squirt, Bad Company and Marathon Man, the Janie Hoge House, and the first years on the Upper Quad.

Audio / video recording coming soon

Initiated 1980s

Expansion to Radford

Brothers recall campus leadership, the growth of the chapter across the New River Valley, and the community programming of the NEXUS, Eumenides and Enai Mazi years.

Audio / video recording coming soon

Initiated 1990s–2000s

The Step Show Years

Memories of NPHC step culture in the Commonwealth Ballroom at Squires Student Center — from Bebe's Kids and STETOS to Knights of Khaos and Resurrektion — and the traditions that became the Overton Johnson Step Show.

Audio / video recording coming soon