Centennial Feature: Honoring Brother Professor Neal McAlpine

As the Nashville (TN) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. approaches its 100th year of achievement, we proudly highlight one of our distinguished brothers whose life’s work blossomed far beyond the classroom — Brother Professor Neal McAlpine.

For more than 40 years, Professor McAlpine served as a Professor of Horticulture at Tennessee State University, specializing in ornamental and flowering shrubs and plants. He held a Master of Science degree in Horticulture and became widely respected for his groundbreaking research with orchids and peaches. Each peach season, he demonstrated his commitment to community and education by opening the university orchards to the public once research samples were collected — a gesture that reflected both generosity and love for people.

Professor McAlpine’s influence extended well beyond the United States. From 1980 to 1984, he taught at Egerton College in Njoro, Kenya, where he helped establish the college’s horticulture curriculum — leaving an enduring global legacy in agricultural education.

His excellence was recognized through numerous awards and his induction into the School of Agriculture and Home Economics Hall of Fame, where he wore his medallion with great pride every day.

Initiated in 1939 through the Alpha Theta Chapter, Professor McAlpine went on to become one of the most respected and beloved members of the Nashville Alumni Chapter — and at one time, the oldest living Kappa Alpha Psi member until his passing in 2003. A proud Mason and man of faith, he embodied the ideals of Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor with quiet dignity and enduring purpose.

Through his research, mentorship, and lifelong service, Brother Professor Neal McAlpine cultivated more than plants — he cultivated people, communities, and excellence that continue to grow long after his time.