Henry Tourner Asher was a founder of
Kappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
Fraternity, Incorporated. In
The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi, the primary book of history for the fraternity, Asher is said to have been "an untiring civic, community and religious worker," and was actively involved in many community service organizations.
Early life
Asher was born in
Woodburn, KentuckyWoodburn is a city in Warren County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 323 at the 2000 census and 355 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in 1892. He moved to
Bloomington, IndianaBloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, and attended
Bloomington High SchoolBloomington High School South is a high school in Bloomington, Indiana. The school currently uses a schedule consisting of three 12-week trimesters. Each class period is 65 minutes, with a 45-minute SRT period on Mondays, 45-minute Panther Plus Periods on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday...
, graduating in 1910.
Founding of Kappa Alpha Psi
Asher enrolled in Indiana University, where he met
Elder Watson DiggsElder Watson Diggs was a principal founder of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He was the fraternity's first Polemarch , and received the Laurel Wreath, the highest recognition of achievement bestowed by Kappa Alpha Psi.-Early life:Diggs was born in Madisonville, Kentucky, on December 23,...
. Asher and the other founders of Kappa Alpha Psi officially formed the fraternity on January 5, 1911. Asher stayed active with the fraternity, becoming an early member of the Detroit Alumni chapter (
circa 1920) and attending Grand Chapter Meetings.
Later life
In June 1914, Asher graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor's degree. He served as a teacher for one year at the Lincoln Institute (now Lincoln University of Missouri) in
Jefferson City, MissouriJefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
. Asher, in 1915, enrolled in graduate school at the University of Illinois. He later enrolled at the University of Minnesota, and graduated from there in 1917 with a Master of Arts degree. In 1928, he received a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the Detroit College of Law.
During his life, Asher was a member of several community service organizations, such as the local
YMCAThe Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, NAACP, the
Benevolent and Protective Order of ElksThe Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
, and the
Veterans of Foreign WarsThe Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
. He served as a teacher, as well as an official of his church.
Asher died on March 5, 1963 at the Veterans Hospital. Among those who attended his funeral was Founder
Ezra Dee AlexanderEzra Dee Alexander was a founder of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He served on the Grand Board of Directors as a non-voting member until his death.-Early life:...
.
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