Brother Earnest Rouse, Des Moines Alumni, Fall ’86
Interim City Manager, City of Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City Alumni’s own Brother Earnest Rouse has been named new acting city manager after former Kansas City Manager Troy Schulte left the job earlier than expected. He is the third African-American ever to be named to the post in Kansas City’s history.
Earnest was initiated into Kappa Alpha Psi at the Des Moines (IA) Alumni Chapter during the Fall, 1986.
Mayor Quinton Lucas named Assistant City Manager Earnest Rouse as acting city manager, effective immediately on 12-02-2019.
“I’m humbled to be able to serve Kansas City in this new capacity,” Rouse said. “I look forward to working closely with Mayor Lucas, the City Council, and my City colleagues to continue improving the City’s basic services.”
Earnest has served as an assistant city manager and general services director since 2011 but his tenure with the City of Kansas City spans nearly 20-years.
Earnest contributions to Kansas City Alumni Chapter are immeasurable and continue as he begins this new chapter of his career as City Manager of KCMO.
Brother Shannon Armstrong, Delta Upsilon Chapter, Sp.’02
Police Detective, City of Overland Park, Kansas
Congratulations goes to fellow Kansas City Alumni chapter member and Past Polemarch Shannon Armstrong on his appointment to Senior Vice-Polemarch of the Middlewestern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Brother Armstrong joins newly appointed Province Polemarch, Brother Gerald Hawthorne, (Mu/Sp. 97) and other provincial officers in
leading the Middle Western Province into its’ next decade of Achievement and service to both the fraternity and the various communities that make up our Middle Western Province.
Brother Armstrong is currently a member of the Kansas City Alumni Chapter. He was initiated into Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. in the Spring of 2002 at the Delta Upsilon Chapter which is located on the campus of Wichita State University.
While attending Wichita State University, Brother Armstrong was a 4-year letter winner and a member of the Track and Field team. Shannon currently holds 2 school record
s in the sprint events and is a Division 1 NCAA All American awardee. In the Spring of 2015 Shannon was inducted in the Wichita State Sports Hall of Fame (see immediately below). Shannon graduated from Wichita State University in 2004 with a B.A. in Communications and again in 2005 with another B.A. in Criminal Justice.
* An All-American in the 2004 Indoor 60m-hurdles, he was selected to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team in 2000 … A six-time MVC Champion (2004, 60m indoor hurdles; 2005, 60m outdoor hurdles; 2004, 100m dash; 2004, 200m dash; 2003, 110m hurdles; 2004, 110m hurdles) … He set the 60m-hurdles and 200m indoor records at WSU and earned numerous all-Valley honors … In 2004 he was named MVP of the meet (an award that goes to the highest point winner) as well as voted Most Outstanding Male Track Athlete by the league coaches. *
While an undergraduate Brother Armstrong contributed to his chapter having been elected to the offices of Keeper of Records and Keeper of Exchequer.
He then joined the Wichita Alumni Chapter in 2004 and then the Kansas City Alumni chapter in 2005. As a member of the Kansas City Alumni Chapter, Brother Armstrong served as a member of the chapter’s board of directors, Keeper of Records and Vice-Polemarch. In May, 2012, he was elected the 49th Polemarch of Kansas City Alumni, leading the chapter through a successful administration.
As well, he has served the Middle Western Province as Chairman of the C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference, member of the Province Council Planning committee and served two terms as a Board Member. On October 3rd, 2019 the Middle Western Province Board of Directors appointed Shannon the Senior Province Vice-Polemarch of the Middle Western Province.
Brother Armstrong was born and raised on Chicago’s south side and is the son of Sadie McCoy and Sherman Armstrong Sr. Shannon and his fiancée, Ariane Coleman, have a 4- year son, Shannon Armstrong Jr. Shannon also has an older Brother Sherman Armstrong Jr. and two older sisters Shalanda McKinney and Shaquita Ray. Shannon is employed with the City of Overland Park, Kansas and serves his community as a Police Detective.
Brother Ullyses Wright, Alpha Pi Chapter, FA ‘72
Subject: Candidate for Board Member Position #6 at Water District No. 1 of Johnson County, Kansas.
Hello citizens of Johnson County Kansas…my name is Ullyses Wright, and I’m a candidate for Board Member Position #6 at
Water District No. 1 of Johnson County, Kansas, and I would like to have your vote for Board Member.
Clean drinking water is important to everyone, and that is why I am a candidate for Board Member Position #6 at Water District No. 1 of Johnson County, Kansas.
I am a graduate of Langston University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agriculture Economics, while working on a Master’s degree at Southwest Oklahoma State University, and employed as an Oklahoma State University County Extension Agent, I served on a committee studying the water table of the Ogallala Aquifer located beneath the Great Plains in the United States. Also as a Senior Sales Representative for BASF Corporation in the state of Kansas, I promoted conservation practices that reduced chemical runoff into the streams and waterways.
Having clean safe drinking water, and being a good Steward is all our responsibility.
On November 5th. 2019 I’m asking you to vote for me, ULLYSES WRIGHT, Board Member Position #6 at Water District No. 1 of Johnson County, Kansas. Thank you for your support and your Vote.
Brother J. Erik Dickinson, Mu Chapter, Sp. ‘88
President, Urban Ranger Corps of Kansas City
Brother J. 
Erik Dickinson, a spring ’88 initiate of Mu Chapter, joined the Urban Ranger Corps as President in July 2012. The Urban Ranger Corps is an urban youth development agency founded in 2003. The mission of the Urban Ranger Corps is to provide the opportunity for inner city youth – living in the high risk-factor neighborhoods of Kansas City, Missouri – to prepare for wholesome, responsible and productive futures through a program of disciplined work experience and service in their community; leadership development; and individualized planning for post-High School careers.
Mr. Dickinson has more than 25 years of experience in management and development of youth with the Boy Scouts of American and the YMCA, including executing fundraising campaigns and special events; training and motivating staff; recruiting and motivating top level volunteers; preparing budgets; planning and providing programs; marketing and public relations; and building relationships with institutions, organizations, neighborhoods and the general public.
Prior to joining the Urban Ranger Corps, Mr. Dickinson was employed at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City as Executive Director – Cleaver Family/Linwood Centers, beginning in 2008, where he partnered with district center executives in design, development and delivery of the YMCA strategic plans; provided leadership to over 60 employees including program directors, membership sales representatives, fitness instructors and life guards; and provided executive leadership to the Young Achievers Program.
For 15 years prior to that Erik was with the Boy Scouts of America, Heart of America Council. Beginning in 1993 as District Executive, he advanced to District Director in 1996 and to Assistant Director of Field Service in July 1999 until his departure in 2008.
Erik is a native of and attended schools in Kansas City, Kansas. He holds the BA in Personnel Administration (University of Kansas, 1991).
Here’s to Brother Dickinson! ACHIEVEMENT!
https://www.urckc.org/
Brother Kevin Holmes, a Sp. 2001 Theta Chapter
Lead Anchor, KSHB-41 News, Kansas City, Missouri
Brother Kevin Holmes, a Sp. 2001 Theta Chapter initiate and graduate of Lake Forest College (Lake Forest, IL), is no stranger to the news. He relocated to the Kansas City area in October 2016 after broadcast news stints in Flint, MI (WJRT –TV), Memphis, TN (WPTY-TV), Raleigh, NC (WRAL – TV), and Savannah, GA (WJCL – TV)-where he was awarded a Georgia Association of Broadcasters Award for Reporting and was nominated for an Emmy for Spot News.
In April, Holmes was promoted to main evening anchor chair at KSHB TV (41 Action News)
in Kansas City, Missouri. He is now anchoring the 5, 6, 6:30 and 10p.m. newscasts and believed to be the first black man to hold the 10pm anchor chair in the Kansas City news market.
Here’s to Brother Kevin Holmes! ACHIEVEMENT!
