Alumni Brother Spotlight: A. Bates Lyons

The Senior Kappa Spotlight in this issue of the Diamond Newsletter falls on Brother A. Bates Lyons. Who is A. Bates Lyons? Over the years, many brothers have been associated with Brother Lyons through the salient work he has done for our beloved fraternity, especially the Northeastern Province. But, who is he, really?

I may know this brother better than most. I’ve known him since we were college roommates and line brothers. But his individual accomplishments in Phi Nu Pi over the years deserve recognition by the Northeastern Province brothers who may only be somewhat familiar with his unfailing service over the years. Originally from Philadelphia, Brother Lyons is now a proud member of Hartford Alumni Chapter.

Brother, A. Bates Lyons, was initiated into Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity in 1963 at Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio; the Delta Zeta of Kappa Alpha Psi. He holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Central State University, an MBA degree in Organizational Behavior from Columbia University and certificates from MIT, and New York University in Executive Management. He is a Life Member of our fraternity.

Since his initiation, he has accepted numerous positions of responsibility within the fraternity on the Local, Provincial, and National levels. They include Keeper of Records of his Undergraduate Chapter; Polemarch and Keeper of Records for the Hartford Alumni Chapter and Keeper of Records and Director of Chapter Advisors for the Northeastern Province. He was instrumental in the chartering of four collegiate chapters, within the Northeastern Province. Service on the National level includes, Chapter Development and Leadership Specialist (a consultant position working with collegiate and alumni chapters)and membership on the Task Force to Update The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi (4th Edition). He was also the National Co-Chairman for the C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference, where he revised improvements in the curriculum of the CRWLC. He was a Chapter Advisor for 10 years for the Lambda Xi Chapter located in Providence, RI. He presently holds the position of Chapter Advisor for the Rho Gamma Chapter located at the University of Bridgeport, Southern Connecticut State University, and University of New Haven (a chapter he assisted in chartering). He has volunteered, since 1991, at the Grand Chapter Meetings to assist in the capacity of management of On-site Registration. He is recognized by many brothers nationwide.

He was awarded the James M. Kidd Distinguished Service Award by the Northeastern Province – the highest award offered a Brother in the Northeastern Province, in 1997 and he was awarded the Northeastern Province Alumni Achievement Award in 2006. He held the position of Northeastern Province Co-Chair of the Undergraduate Leadership Forum where he designed and presented the program. He received the William L. Crump History Award in 1991 for his contributions to the 4th edition of The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi.

In addition to his other awards, he was chosen for the George F. David/G. Thurston Frazier Decade Award. This award is given to the brother who has contributed outstanding service to the fraternity. One brother initiated within each decade is selected for the award. The Delta Zeta Foundation is the sponsor of the award.

In addition, Bates held the position of Region Director, and Secretary/Treasurer of KAPPAC, a Kappa initiative whose primary purpose was to Keep African Americans Political. He presently holds the position of Secretary/Treasurer of Unity9 PAC, another political action committee with a similar purpose to KAPPAC.

Professionally, he was Founder and President of A. Bates Lyons and Associates, a staff development consulting firm. His firm conducted and specialized in staff development programs and assessment profiles, workforce audits and training seminars for targeted audiences. The primary purpose of the firm was to provide participants with information, knowledge, and skills in key areas of valuing and managing workforces. A secondary purpose was to link the valuing and managing of the workforce to departmental objectives while managing transitions.

Prior to establishing his consulting firm, Brother Lyons had experience in the Private and Public Sectors. In the Private Sector, he was employed in the Human Resources field as a Manager with major corporations. In the Public Sector, he was a Gubernatorial Appointee of Governors Ella Grasso and William O’Neill to the position of Undersecretary to the Office of Policy and Management. He was also appointed to the position of Deputy Executive Director to the CT Technical Colleges.

Although essentially retired, Brother Lyons still finds time to design and present workshops that specialize in workplace diversity, multicultural curriculum development, team building, time management, and much more.

Brother Lyons possesses over 35 years of private and public sector experience in assisting organizations to reach their maximum business potential. He is presently an Adjunct Professor at the UConn School of Business where he teaches Workplace Diversity.

He served his country and rose to the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army and is a Vietnam Veteran.

He presently resides in Torrington, Connecticut. In 1999, he was elected to the Torrington Board of Education and held that position until 2011. He has served this Board as Chair and Vice Chair; Chair of the Budget Committee; Chair, School Improvement/Community Relations Committee; Chair of the Personnel Committee; and Chair of Administrative Negotiations for the Board.

He remains active in his church as a Member of the Vestry and Chair of the Finance Committee. When his church was calling a new priest, he chaired the Search Committee. He is a member of the Chancel and Gospel Choirs, and is a National Certified Trainer in the area of Anti-Racism for the National Episcopal Church and Connecticut Episcopal Diocese. He also served as Chair of the Budget/Program, and Anti-Racism Committees for the Connecticut Episcopal Diocese. In 2013, he was elected to the Standing Committee of the CT Episcopal Diocese and presently holds the position of Secretary of this Committee.

Brother Lyons is blessed with God given talents which enable him to stand ready to serve his fraternity and community. He continues to put these talents to good use.

Stanley W. Smith
Wilmington Alumni Chapter