ELDER WATSON DIGGS (circa 1890-1947) Elder Watson Diggs, born in Christian County, Kentucky, was
a graduate of Indiana State Normal (now Indiana State Teachers
College) and Indiana University, the birthplace of Kappa Alpha
Psi Fraternity. He served as Grand Polemarch for the first six
consecutive years of the Fraternity's existence. For this and
other outstanding contributions to the Fraternity, he was awarded
the Fraternity's first Laurel Wreath in December, 1924. An educator
by profession, he taught in the public schools of Indianapolis,
Indiana, where he was elevated to a principalship. After his death
on November 8, 1947, the name of the school where he taught was
changed to the Elder Diggs School in his memory. Upon America's
entrance into World War I, Diggs resigned his principalship to
enter the Nation's first Officer's Training Camp at Fort Des Moines,
Iowa, and was commissioned a lieutenant. After European service
with the 368th Infantry, he became a captain in the Reserve Officers
Training Corps. Diggs was instrumental in having the Indiana Constitution
amendment to permit Negro enlistment in the Indiana National Guard.