"Luicen Victor Alexis" (July 8,1887-December 18,1991)

Not much is known of his early childhood in New Orleans,what is known are the achievements he would make in later years to come.Born to Louis Victor & Alice Saucier Alexis,he was educated in the local schools where he excelled academically.Lucien was determined to attend Harvard University.Not having the finances to do so,he began working in 1907(at the age of twenty)as railway mail clerk,saving for the education he so desperately desired.By the time he reached twenty-seven,Lucien had set aside enough money for four years of college.He applied and was accepted at Harvard but was asked to attend (for one year)Philips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire,a prestigious high school.While at Exter,he lived in the home of Mr.H.F.Quimbly and soon developed a keen interest in Foreign languages and the sciences.By now he had only enough money for three years upon entering Harvard,Lucien managed by graduating "cum laude" a year early (1917).It was there,Harvard,that he earned the nickname:"The Negro Einstein."That same year,Lucien entered officers' training school in Des Moines,Iowa and was commissioned as a 1st lieutenant in 1921 and assigned to the 367th Infantry on October 15,1917.World War I was raging in Europe and Lucien for service in France on June 1918.Two months before departing,Lucien married Rita Holt in Gulfport,Mississippi and together they would have one son,Lucien Victor Alexis Jr.Upon returning to New Orleans Lucien teaching.He was assigned to Mcarthy Elementary in 1921 and was appointed Assistant Principal in 1923 at Willow Elementary.His greatest reward came in 1926 when he became principal of McDonogh#35,the only public high school opened for the education of African American students in the city of New Orleans.For the next 30 years,he would leave an indelible mark on this institution which is still being echoed by many of his formal students up to the present day."It was not unusual to spot our principal walking up and down the corridors of the Rampart Street School reading scientific works printed in German.Noted for his mastery of latin,he often found time to instruct advance classes in the subject." (Class of 1936).Other graduates affectionately tell stories of his successful adminstrations also his dreadful "army."
Being a former military man,Lucien was said to be strict but fair as well as famous for his method of disciplining students.Students who violated his dress or discipline code were forced to join Alexis"Army"and ordered to march up and down the second floor of the school building.Respect for Mr.Alexis soon extended beyond the school grounds and into the community.Since Mcdonogh#35 was located on South Rampart and Girod Streets,the students had to pass through a neighborhood of sleazy bars,hoe houses,and various other vices.Often girls were meddled by men on the way going and coming from school.Fortunately,once it was known that you were an "Alexis" girl,you were never meddled again.They respected Mr.Alexis and knew to show respect to his students.Lucien did not give up his interest and love for science once he became principal.For five years he engaged in a serious scientific study and soon published a 40 page brochure outlining his principles of a new theory which he termed his "ethonic"theory.From 1929-1937,he published the following articles:Fundamentals in Physics & in Chemistry,The Thermo Electric Formula,The Riddle of the Magnetic Field,An Empirical Disclosure of the Fallacies of Relativity,A Counter-Deduction from Bent Alpha Tracks,Radiations-Their Loci of Travel and Their Loci of Orgin,The Co-Orgin of Gravity & Cosmic Rays,Simple formulae for Measuring Atoms,Their speed,and the Speed of Light.
Upon retirement,the brilliant educator and published author opened Straight Business School on North Claiborne near Esplananade Avenue and Rita basically ran it.Luicen was also president of the Supreme Industrial Life Insurance Company,founder,and executive director of the School of Postmodern Science in New Orleans,a charcter member of Sigma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.Lucien is buried in the family's tomb in St.Louis Cemetery No3.