PRAIRIE VIEW ALPHAS SWEEP TCAC AWARDS

February 14-17 was a great period for the members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Eta Gamma Chapter at Prairie View A&M University and Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter in Prairie View at the Texas Council of Alpha Chapters annual convention. The event was held in Arlington, Texas at the Arlington Hilton.

The members participated in the proceedings, attended the various workshops and concluded the conference in a virtual sweep at the closing banquet and awards program. The Eta Gamma Chapter won the coveted College Chapter of the Year Award. Since 1970, the chapter has won this award some twenty times. Other winners include the Debate team with Titus Bryant and Reagan Johnson receiving the Hobart Jarrett Debate Award, Titus Bryant won the Belford Lawson Oratorical Award. The Charles H. Wesley Award for alumni and college relations went to Eta Gamma and Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapters for its cooperative programs and advisory. Additionally, both chapters were represented in the Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant Competition, namely Taylor Barnes (Eta Gamma) and Cato Jackson (Epsilon Tau Lambda) and were both named to the seven semi finalists. The Alumni Brother of the Year Award went to Frederick V. Roberts for his service to the fraternity and community at large.

The chapters and the brothers will represent the TCAC District at the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Southwest Regional Convention in Houston, Texas in April.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is the first fraternity for Black college men was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The chapters’ win was based on their participation in the organization’s national programs and special Initiatives, to include support for Project Alpha (male mentoring), A Voteless People is a Hopeless People (voter education), Go to High School, Go to College, Brother’s Keeper (service for widows/senior Alphas), Boy Scouts of America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Miss Black and Gold Competition and the March of Dimes at the university and the in the community at large.

Jamaal Rutherford is president of Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter and Keanu Florence is president of Eta Gamma Chapter. For information on the Prairie View Chapters, visit epsilontaulambda.com.

Olympian Fred Newhouse is speaker for Men's Prayer Breakfast at St. Francis of Assisi

The men of St. Francis of Assisi will host its Men's Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall the church on 204 Dooley Street. The speaker is Frederick ‘Fred’ Newhouse, retired Director of Public Affairs for Valero Energy’s regional refining operations and current as the Assistant Treasurer of the Prairie View A&M University Foundation.

Fred is a native of Hallsville and is a graduate of Galilee High School in Hallsville. After high school, he attended Prairie View A&M University and the University of Washington, earning the Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters of International Business, respectively. Between undergraduate and graduate school, he served two years in the United States Army. Following his services in the army, he joined Exxon Mobil where he served in a variety of engineering, human resources, and public affairs positions at operations in Texas, California, and Louisiana. He later joined Valero Energy.

While at Prairie View A&M, Fred was a three time All-American and National Champion in Track and Field. In 1971 he earned a gold medal at the Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia and in 1976, he won Gold and Silver Medals in the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada. In 2000, he was appointed Team Leader for the United States Men’s Track and Field squad to the Olympic Games in Sydney, Austria. He continues to serve as the Referee for the Texas Relays and the Texas State UIL Track and Field Championships. He was also one of the organizers of the Northwest Flyers Track Club in Houston. Newhouse was inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame, Class of 2014 and the Prairie View Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.

In his civic life, Fred has volunteered in many capacities including the Boards of Directors for United States Olympic Committee and USA Track and Field. He is past Chairman of the Board of the Texas City/ LaMarque Chamber of Commerce, Chair-elect for the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Houston’s Community Family Center, and Vice-chair of the Black Heritage Committee – Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Fred also serves on the Capital Campaign Committee for Prairie View A&M University and is an avid supporter of the United Way and Boy Scouts of America.

Fred is a member of the Fallbrook Church. He and his wife Rhonda, have 2 daughters - Vonda and Benecia; a son-in-law, Pele’ Nunley (Vonda’s husband); and two wonderful grandsons, Andre’ and Bryce. His hobbies are gardening, ranching, and volunteering in youth oriented programs.

St. Francis of Assisi will also host the Houston Foodbank/Kraft Mobile Food distribution at the church on 204 Dooley Street on Thursday, February 21, 2019 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The free fruits and vegetables distribution is available to anyone in need in Waller County Area. No qualifications required. Patrons are asked to bring bags, boxes or carts to carry the food items. Persons will be also able to sign up for other social services, i.e. SNAPS.

Members of the community are also invited to attend the weekly Bible Study on Sundays at 9:30 a.m., followed by worship service at 11:00 a.m.

St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church 204 Dooley Street Prairie View, TX 77445 936-857-3272 stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net