Tribute to Bro. Cecil G. Christian, Jr. (Part 1)

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. • ΚΦΛ NEWS • SEPTEMBER 2020 4 A TRIBUTE: BRO. CECIL G. CHRISTIAN, JR.

By Bro. Calvin R. Austin

I was asked to author an article detailing my relationship with our late Bro. Cecil G. Christian, Jr. I thought this task would be a “piece-of-cake” to write. However, once I started, I realized it was more difficult than I thought because I knew a lot about him and wanted to paint the best picture of him with the dignity he deserved.

Well, I tried ... and this is what you get. Please understand, Bro. Christian and I joyfully laughed at just about everything, and we were both from Birmingham, Alabama, so forgive me, if I digress. Nevertheless, I will try to provide some history, nostalgia and my heartfelt conclusions. Bro. Christian was born on October 23, 1932 in Birmingham. He was the only child of Cecil G. Christian, Sr. and Richard Evelyn Carr. (Note: Rest assured I hazed him about his mother being named Richard which happens to be my middle name.) He attended Birmingham public schools and graduated from Parker High School in 1941.

He enrolled at Howard University in 1950. While Bro. Christian was at Howard he met Marian Seay. They became sweethearts as he pledged Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and she for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1951. Bro. Christian graduated in 1953 with a degree in psychology, a commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The two were married on June 7, 1953. The couple was married for 48 years before Marian’s death in 2001. Bro. Christian had an outstanding military career. Inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen he became an aviator. He flew fixed-wing airplanes as well as helicopters. He was incredibly proud of his military service and received several awards and decorations. He retired from the Army as a Lt. Col. after 20 years of service.

Bro. Christian and Marian had three children, Gregory, Gary and Cecily. All of them had military service. I met Bro. Christian in 1987 when my wife Betty and I move to Maryland from Long Island, NY. I joined Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter at the insistence of the late Bro. Cliff Heron who sort of didn’t give me an option of going elsewhere. I was able to observe that Bro. Christian was one of the many hardworking Brothers in the chapter. No matter which committee meeting you attended, he was usually there. When Marian found out I worked for a computer company, Digital Equipment Corp., she let it be known that she wanted to purchase a computer and I was drafted for that job, with no pay, of helping her with this endeavor. I was in-and-out of the house quite often assisting her. Well, Bro. Christian saw me spending all this time with his wife and decided he couldn’t let Marian get ahead of him. Eventually, Marian’s computer became “their” computer. Soon afterward, he would not hesitate to call me for his many “technology” questions.

Needless to say, this interaction developed into a close-knit relationship. I enjoyed the time I spent with them. Also when Marian passed away, I remember leaving the monthly fraternity meeting after a thank you card was read and comforted Bro. Christian in the hallway. We embraced and cried. Thinking of her still brings tears to my eyes. Highlights of Bro. Christian’s fraternity life and professional career: • Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter President • MLK Breakfast Chairman (5 times) • Founding Chairman of the Alpha Foundation of Howard County and served as the Foundation’s Chair for at least 10 years, and was a member of the Foundation until his death, • Chapter’s Alpha Brother of the year (twice) • Eastern Region’s Alpha Man of Merit • Mentor, a part-time bailiff for the Howard County District Court for more than 15 years, • 10 years on the Howard County Personnel Board (three as Chair) • and many more positions of service

I was extremely fortunate to be able to work (fraternity) and travel with Bro. Christian. We have traveled to Cornell University, New Orleans, Detroit, Cleveland, Mobile (AL), Atlanta, and our hometown of Birmingham. Most of these visits were to attend Alpha activities, but some of were side trips to visit my family while traveling to or from fraternity events.

I happily I knew Bro. Christian for 33 years. In those years, Bro. Christian truly demonstrated “The True Spirit of Fraternity” 24-hour; 7 daysa-week. He was a “Brother’s Brother” He made you want to do “good”. If you did “good” he would tell you and heaven forbid you did something that you shouldn’t, You certainly would hear back from him.

He quietly helped so many people. He was very generous with his time and gifts. He put up with my sense of humor and opinions as I put up with his colorful commentary.

Respectful, integrity, honest, faithful, firm, fair, competent, intelligent, loyalty, problem-solving ability, consistent, punctual, disciplined and very high standards are words/phrases you can use to describe Bro. Christian.