Ripon alumna believed to be first to pledge

In 1964, the Ripon College chapter of Alpha Chi Omega made history by pledging Lezlie Heard Bishop ’66. It is historic because Bishop is believed to be the first black woman to pledge a National Panhellenic sorority. According to Bishop, Ripon’s Alpha Phi chapter also was interested in pledging her, but the national office of the sorority would only approve a “social affiliation” — meaning she could live with the sisters at Ripon, but not receive lifetime membership and would be required to surrender her pin upon graduation.

“Very little of this incident was known by the student body at the time,” Bishop wrote in 2002. “The brave women who stood up for me against so many odds have always known. The importance of this was not lost at the time.”

Bishop worked for 25 years as an executive with AT&T before starting her own business, LeZebra Consulting and Communications. She is now retired.