James Ward Wood
Founder of Kappa Alpha Order
While a student at Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, Wood formed a society that he named Phi Kappa Chi. He authorized its ritual; created a seal; enlisted family friend, William Nelson Scott, and organized the group in the South Dorm room of William A. Walsh. In the Spring of 1866, several weeks after the group added Scott's youngest brother, Stanhope, Wood changed the society's name to Kappa Alpha. He established the great theme that is the spiritual cornerstone of the Order even today, designed its first badge, with Walsh's help; and refined the first ritual with recent initiate, Samuel Z. Ammen of Fincastle, Virginia. On November 30, 1866, Wood first spoke of the attributes of Christian knighthood to Alpha chapter and urged the group to use the Knights Templar as inspiration and “pull together and pull hard”. At that same meeting, he described the design and intent of the badge that is still worn today. The fraternity that Wood founded has grown into a great national Order that has provided inspiration and a rich philosophy of living to move than a hundred thousand men, young and old. “We shall proceed.” 1866 Dedicated May 20, 2006
Marker can be reached from Lower Cove Run Road (West Virginia Route 59) 0.1 miles east of West Virginia Route 259.
Courtesy hmdb.org
