The Samuel Zenas Ammen Province Court of Honor held their annual dinner & induction ceremony at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday, January 13, 2024. More than thirty-five brothers and guests gathered to celebrate our beloved Kappa Alpha Order and those distinguished alumni who have given their time, energy and service to KA. Photos from the evening are available on KA’s Facebook page.
The following men were recognized and invested with the provincial cross of honor in recognition of their outstanding service to the Order and accomplishments which have brought honor to Kappa Alpha Order.
2024 Inductees
John C. Ballou (Delta Gamma–Old Dominion '74)
John Has served Delta Gamma Chapter as an undergraduate in several elected offices and chair positions. John continued to serve the Order as an alumnus on the Delta Gamma Housing Corporation, Officer in the Tidewater Alumni Association. He served as the Delta Gamma Chapter Alumni Advisor for 4 years.
Horace L. Blackman (Epsilon Phi–George Mason '89)
Horace is a founding father of the Epsilon Phi chapter at George Mason University and also served the chapter as VIII. As an alumnus, he has supported the chapter, going to alumni chapter functions and reunions, also contributing to the Jeremy Lee Starns Foundation scholarship program to honor a fallen brother.
After graduating from George Mason University with his undergraduate double major in English and American Studies, he earned his MBA from University of Virginia. He was one of the early employees of AOL, before it became a household name.
Horace Blackman leads the Defense, Intelligence and Space Business Unit at CGI Federal. In this role, he is responsible for strategy development and delivering business and information technology solutions to his clients. For over twenty years, Mr. Blackman has worked with government and public sector organizations to support their missions and deliver impactful change through business and information technology solutions. This includes supporting mission-critical programs within the DOD and Intelligence sectors. Prior to joining CGI, Mr. Blackman held leadership roles focused on business development, program execution and strategic planning at major defense contractors. Additionally, he spent six years in various IT leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
He currently serves as the Rector of the Board of Visitors for his alma mater, George Mason University.
Tanner L. Gellinger (Zeta Omicron–Southern Indiana '12)
Tanner attended the University of Southern Indiana where he earned his degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. He was initiated by the Zeta Omicron chapter of Kappa Alpha in November 2012 and subsequently served as Number I, Number II, and Province Undergraduate Chairman.
After graduating in May 2016, Tanner joined the National Administrative Office as an Associate Director for Chapter Development, serving in this role from 2016 to 2018.
After a brief period, Tanner returned to the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation as a Director of Development in January 2019, where he has been instrumental in growing the Crimson & Gold Society to over 1,000 members.
Tanner is a member of the Loyal Order, the KAOEF’s 1865 Trust, a seven-year member of the Crimson & Gold Society, and has been inducted into the John S. Candler, William Sprigg Hamilton, and Idris Rhea Traylor, Jr. Province Courts of Honor. He also serves as the Secretary for the Southern Indiana Alumni Chapter.
Tanner married the former Jacquelyn Hackett on October 20, 2023, in Indianapolis, Indiana. They live with their dog Duke in Fishers, Indiana.
Gregory D. Gordon (Epsilon Eta–Virginia Tech '78)
Member of the Charlottesville-Albermarle Jaycees from 1984-1992, serving as Membership Chairman, State Director, President and Chairman of the Board. Led, organized and/or participated in hundreds of projects that benefitted the local community(e.g., food baskets during the holidays, Multiple Sclerosis Society telethons, Boo House events and Toys for Tots).
Worked for U.S. Army intelligence for 38 years, serving as an official A. I. community representative in national and international events and conferences.
Served on several diplomatic missions representing the U. S. as an international arms inspector for the Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) Treaty from 1990 to 1997 as part of U.S. and foreign inspection teams traveling into the former Warsaw Pact to verify military equipment types, numbers and locations in Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
Volunteer at The Players PGA Tour golf tournament since 2000, serving as a course marshal and the marshal captain/co-captain on multiple holes. The event has raised tens of millions of dollars for charity in the timeframe that he has served.
Served multiple years as Vice President and Treasurer for the New River Valley Alumni Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order, providing support and advice to the board and to the brothers of the Epsilon Eta Chapter at Virginia Tech of which he is founding member.
