ANNIVERSARY

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. recently honored and recognized 27th General President Dr. Charles C. Teamer, Sr.’s 70th Anniversary in the Fraternity at a luncheon in New Orleans in December.

The Fraternity’s board of directors, political officials, and other community leaders as well as family and friends paid tribute to PGP Teamer’s notable Fraternal and professional legacy and career. Over the weekend, the Fraternity also hosted a fireside chat at Xavier University with the fraternity’s General President Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III, PGP Teamer and other living Past General Presidents, except for Past General President Dr. Henry Ponder, who was unable to attend.

“Over the past 70 years, since my initiation on December 1, 1951, through the Alpha Phi Chapter (Clark College), Alpha has taught me many things and afforded me several opportunities,” he writes in the commemorative program booklet. “While reflecting on this period, I have concluded that there has been no better investment than the investment in the goals and objectives of the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men. As a member of this august brotherhood, I have done my best to serve, care, and believe; and I did not do it alone. Because of Brothers and friends like each of you who have been significant influences, I have been able to achieve the levels of success that I have. I am grateful to have you as a part of my village.”

PGP Dr. Teamer, a distinguished business and civic leader, served as the 27th General President of the Fraternity from 1985 to 1988. A Shelby, N.C. native, he was born to parents, B.T. Teamer, and Mary Teamer on May 20, 1933. He later attended Clark College, now Clark Atlanta University, where he was initiated into the Fraternity and received his bachelor’s degree in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1958, and later received his master’s degree from the University of Nebraska and his Ph.D. degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Over the years, he has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of First NBC Bank, but he is well known for his more than 40 years of work in higher education. In addition, he has held the position of Vice President of Fiscal Affairs at Dillard University and Clark Atlanta University. He has also served as chair on the boards of United Way, Metropolitan Area Committee, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, Urban League of Greater New

Orleans, Greater New Orleans Foundation, Board of Commissioners Port of New Orleans, and The World Trade Center. He has also served on other boards, including Children’s Hospital, New Orleans Council Boy Scouts of America, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, GNO, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, and Ochsner Medical Foundation. In 1983, Governor David Teen appointed Dr. Teamer as the first African American to serve on the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans.

In 1993, he co-founded the Dryades Savings Bank and served as chairman. He later retired from Dillard University in 1997 and continued to work as a consultant to Clark Atlanta University. Five years later, he led a partnership of investors in opening The Cotton Exchange and Holiday Inn Express Hotel in downtown New Orleans and became president of the World Trade Center of New Orleans in 2003.

Published reports contributed to this story.

BY BROTHER CURTIS BUNN [EPSILON PI ’82]