Phirst In Service: Outstanding Alpha Phi Alpha Men In Government

“First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.” That is the motto of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the oldest intercollegiate historically Black fraternity. Founded on this day (Dec. 4) in 1906, these men have lived their motto in various avenues, including government and social justice. From the Great Depression through the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, the men of A-Phi-A have been at the forefront of addressing issues that have impacted Americans, especially Black Americans. Following the path laid out by the visionaries before them, these men are prime examples of being outstanding in service. Here is a look at some outstanding Alpha men who helped shape the American government. RELATED: 10 Celebs You Didn’t Know Were Alpha Phi Alpha Members Nah, We Good! 2025 Alpha Phi Alpha Convention Won’t Be In Florida Due To Racist Policies By DeSantis

1. Thurgood Marshall

First Black Supreme Court Justice

Initiating Chapter: Nu (Lincoln University)

2. Hubert Humphrey

Former Vice President under Lyndon B. Johnson

Initiating Chapter: Honorary

3. William Thaddeus Coleman Jr.

First Black Supreme Court law clerk and former Secretary of Transportation, co-author of the brief in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

Initiating Chapter: Psi (University of Pennsylvania)

4. Don Cravins Jr.

Former Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, former member of the Louisiana State Legislature

Initiating Chapter: Nu Psi (Louisiana State University)

5. Samuel Pierce

Former Secretary of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, first African American to serve on the Board of Directors of a Fortune 500 company

Initiating Chapter: Alpha (Cornell University)

6. Rep. Al Green

U.S. Representative for Texas’ 9th Congressional District, former Justice of the Peace of Harris County, TX 

Initiating Chapter: Beta Nu (Florida A&M University)

7. William H. Gray III

Former U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District, House Majority Whip & House Democratic Whip

Initiating Chapter: Rho (Temple University)

8. Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott

U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District, dean of Virginia’s congressional delegation, and first Filipino American voting member of Congress. 

Initiating Chapter: Sigma (Boston University & Harvard University)

9. Rev. Raphael Warnock

First African American Senator elected from Georgia, Senior Pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church

Initiating Chapter: Alpha Gamma Lambda (Harlem, NY Grad Chapter)

10. Gov. Wes Moore

63rd Governor of Maryland, 2001 Rhodes Scholar

Initiating Chapter: Sigma Sigma (Johns Hopkins University)

11. Andrew Young

Former Mayor of Atlanta, former Ambassador to the United Nations

Initiating Chapter: Beta (Howard University)

12. Dennis Archer

Former Mayor of Detroit, Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, first Black president of the American Bar Association

Initiating Chapter: Alpha Upsilon (Wayne State University)

13. Byron Brown II

Former Senator of New York, first Black Mayor of Buffalo, NY

Initiating Chapter: Delta Epsilon (State University of New York at Buffalo)