Lucius E. Young (first person on the left), 1949-1950
Lucius E. Young, LTC, Ret., was a co-founder of Zeta Phi Chapter at Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1948. He remains the first and only African American National President of Alpha Phi Omega.
He had been involved in Alpha Phi Omega alumni activities, serving as Executive Vice President of the National Alumni Association. In 1966 he was elected to the National Board of Directors and served as the National Alumni Chairman from 1966-1970. The 1970 National Convention elected him to the Vice Presidency of the Fraternity. On March 11, 1972, Colonel Young was named National President upon the death of President Aubrey B. Hamilton. He was elected National President by the 1972 Convention, and served in that capacity until the 1974 Convention. During his term of office, Colonel Young traveled far and wide for Alpha Phi Omega and met with Brothers in all parts of the nation. He installed a new chapter in Puerto Rico, and was untiring in his devotion to the growth and expansion of the Fraternity. For out standing service to Alpha Phi Omega he was award ed the National Distinguished Service Key at the 1974 National Convention.In addition, the Fall 1976 Pledge Class was dedicated to Young, whom the fraternity described as "one of the outstanding leaders of Alpha Phi Omega a man who has given freely of his time, energy and personal finances to build and strengthen Alpha Phi Omega across the nation."
Colonel Young was a native of Florida. He received his B.A. Degree from Howard in 1933. Upon graduating from Howard he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieu tenant in the Infantry Reserve. He entered the Scouting profession in 1937 as a Field Scout Executive for the National Capital Area Council. He was among the first three Negroes to graduate from the National Training School for Scout Executives at Mendham, New Jersey. In 1941, he entered active military duty and served in North Africa and Italy during World War II. After the war he returned to Howard as Assistant Professor of Military Science. In 1948, he was initiated as Advisory Chairman of Zeta Phi Chapter. He retired from active military service in 1961 and was employed with the U.S. Army Materiel Command in Washington, D.C. until 1975. He received numerous decorations as an Army officer, and remains active in the Retired Officers Association. Colonel Young also received a M.A. Degree in Sociology from Howard and a Law Degree from American University. He was an Instructor of Sociology and Business Law for the University of Maryland Far East Division in Korea.
The National Capital Area Council recognized his service to Scouting with the Silver Beaver Award. In addition to his Alpha Phi Omega activities, Colonel Young is a Life Member of Phi Beta Sigma Social Fraternity, District Governor of Toastmasters Inter national, Past President of the Union of Holy Name Societies, Archdiocese of Washington, D.C, and a member of the Cardinal's Committee of the Laity, Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
Colonel Young passed away on February 24, 2009.