Edward Chambers Smith

Known as Ed Chambers Smith, the fifteenth Knight Commander was born in 1857 in Murfreesboro, North Carolina.  He was initiated by Sigma Chapter in 1880 and transferred to Upsilon two years later.  First elected as Knight Commander in 1901, he presided over one of Kappa Alpha’s most robust and prolific periods, during which he chartered thirteen chapters.  He was reelected at five consecutive conventions-the longest period served by any one man-and then refused to stand for election in 1911.  In 1915 he returned to the post, fulfilling S.C. Fullilove’s unexpired term.  He served as Grand Historian from 1883 to 1885 and as Electoral Commission member from 1912 to 1922 and again from 1924 to 1934. Smith was chairman of the latter body in 1912-1916 and 1920-1922 and won the Essay Medal in 1881.  A lawyer and judge, he was active in Democratic politics and helped precipitate construction of the Raleigh’s fire-alarm system.  Smith died on April 4, 1940 and is buried in Raleigh, N.C.