The Oracle - Summer 2021

VOLUME 91 | NO. 42 | SUMMER 2021

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF OMEGA PSI FRATERNITY, INC.

SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.

ATTN: GRAND KRS 3951 SNAPFINGER PARKWAY DECATUR, GA 30035

PLEASE EMAIL ALL EDITORIAL CONCERNS, COMMENTS AND INFORMATION TO: BROTHER NORM SENIOR EDITOR OF THE ORACLE EDITORTOTHEORACLE@OPPF.ORG

ORACLE LAYOUT DESIGN AND COVER BY BROTHER QUINEST BISHOP, SR. BRAND AND MEDIA DIRECTOR - IHQ QBISHOP@OPPF.ORG

BROTHER MATTHEW WILLIAMS GRAPHIC DESIGNER MATTSOLO799@GMAIL.COM

ON THE COVER

Front row (L-R) Brothers Kameron L. Johnson, Gregory Young, Justin Thornton, Daniel Dunn, Brandon Rahshad taylor

Back row (L-R) Brothers Derrick Lottie, Lilo Abraham, Oris Granger, Zachary Freeman

*DEADLINES FOR THE ORACLE*

WINTER ISSUE (JAN) - DEC. 1ST

SPRING ISSUE (APR) - MAR. 1ST

SUMMER ISSUE (AUG) - JUL. 1ST

FALL ISSUE (NOV) - OCT. 1ST

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: WWW.OPPF.ORG

FACEBOOK & YOUTUBE: @OFFICIALOMEGAPSIPHI INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: @OFFICIALOPPF

THE ORACLE EDITORIAL BOARD

International Editor of the Oracle

Brother Norm Senior

3951 Snapfinger Parkway

Decatur, GA 30035

Email: EditorTotheOracle@oppf.org

Undergraduate Editor

Brother Lynwood Adams

International Director of Photography

Brother James Witherspoon

District Directors of Public Relations

1st Brother Alexander Jones

2nd Brother Zanes E. Cypress, Jr.

3rd Brother Calvin Beidleman

4th Brother Marcus Bethay

5th Brother Irwin Todd

6th Brother Dr. Tim Hunter

7th Brother Sean Bland

8th Brother Lilo Abraham

9th Brother Frank Watson

10th Brother Fred J. Saffold

12th Brother Jason Jones

13th Brother Dr. Carl Bampoe

Assistant International Photographers

Brother Galvin Crisp

Brother C. Delray Brown

Brother Wayne Pollard

Brother Jayson Jones

Emeritus Photographer - the late Brother John H. Williams

Copy Editors and Contributing Writers

Brother Ivory Gene Cooper

Brother Reginald Whitaker, Jr.

Brother B. Christopher Griffin

Brother Dr. Walter T Richardson

Brother Joe Briggs

Brother Kyle S. Yeldell

Brother Damon Scott

Brother Jonathan Matthews

System Program Engineer

Brother Cornelius Beidleman

Brother Sylvester Wilkins

Brother Robert C. Warren Jr. Esq.

Brother Lyndon Roane

Brother Dr. Luis Hines

Brother Herb Ford

Brother Richard Thompson

Brother Julian Boykin

The Oracle

3-year old, Isaiah Jordan Fryar, the grandchild to Brother Craig Jackson

When asked what he was doing, his reply was “getting ready!”

MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL

FOUNDER

Dr. Ernest E. Just 1883-1941

FOUNDER

Dr. Oscar J. Cooper 1888-1972

FOUNDER Professor Frank Coleman 1890-1967

FOUNDER Bishop Edgar A. Love 1891-1974

Dr. David Marion 41st Grand Basileus

Ricky Lewis 1ST VICE Grand Basileus

CALEB LOVE 2ND VICE Grand Basileus

MARK EVERICK JACKSON GRAND KEEPER OF RECORDS AND SEAL

JOHNNIE B. SMITH GRAND KEEPER OF FINANCE

REV. DR. WALTER T. RICHARDSON GRAND CHAPLAIN

BENJAMIN L. CRUMP GRAND COUNSELOR

WILLIAM COUNCIL GRAND MARSHAL

ANTONIO F. KNOX, SR. IMMEDIATE PAST (40TH) GRAND BASILEUS

Eleualio Abraham UNDERGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE

KENTON KELLEY UNDERGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE

ELLIOTT KELLY, JR. UNDERGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE

1ST DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES

5TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE

KELVIN K. AMPOFO

2nd DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania

CONRADO

3rd DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE Virginia and Washington, D.C.

DAVID

4TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE Ohio and West Virginia

9TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas

6TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE North Carolina and South Carolina

7TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi

8TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota.

10TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin

12TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming

13TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, China, Germany, Ghana, Hawaii, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, St. Croix VI, St. Thomas VI, St. Maarten, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom

LENNITT BLIGEN

B. MORGAN

RELIFORD

SAM MCKENZIE

KURT WALKER

REGINALD M. HARRIS

OSUMAN O. ISSAKA

HAROLD BAILEY

DERRICK IVORY

KWAME DOW

TRACY D. GEORGE

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR GRAND OFFICERS

DR. DAVID E. MARION

GRAND BASILEUS GRANDBASILEUS@OPPF.ORG

RICKY L. LEWIS

1ST VICE GRAND BASILEUS 1ST VICEGRANDBASILEUS@OPPF.ORG

CALEB LOVE

2ND VICE GRAND BASILEUS 2ND VICEGRANDBASILEUS@OPPF.ORG

MARK E. JACKSON

GRAND KEEPER OF RECORDS & SEAL GRANDKRS@OPPF.ORG

JOHNNIE B. SMITH

GRAND KEEPER OF FINANCE GRANDKF@OPPF.ORG

BENJAMIN L. CRUMP, ESQ. GRAND COUNSELOR GRANDCOUNSELOR@OPPF.ORG

REV. DR. WALTER T. RICHARDSON GRAND CHAPLAIN GRANDCHAPLAIN@OPPF.ORG

WILLIAM COUNCIL GRAND MARSHAL GRANDMARSHAL@OPPF.ORG

ANTONIO F. KNOX, SR. IMMEDIATE PAST (40TH) GRAND BASILEUS TONYKNOX93@YAHOO.COM

Undergraduate RepresentativeS

ELEUALIO ABRAHAM LILOABRAHAM14@GMAIL.COM

KENTON KELLEY KENTON_KELLEY@YAHOO.COM

ELLIOTT KELLY, JR. ELLIOTT.KELLYJR@GMAIL.COM

DR. DORSEY C. MILLER 35TH GRAND BASILEUS DCMA@BELLSOUTH.NET

LLOYD J. JORDAN, ESQ. 36TH GRAND BASILEUS LAWQUE@MSN.COM

DR. GEORGE H. GRACE 37TH GRAND BASILEUS OMEGAGRACE@AOL.COM

WARREN G. LEE, JR. 38TH GRAND BASILEUS OMEGAWARRENLEE@OPPF.ORG

DR. ANDREW A. RAY 39TH GRAND BASILEUS DOCRAY20@FRONTIERNET.NET

DR. EDWARD J. BRAYNON, JR. 30th Grand Basileus

DR. DORSEY C. MILLER 35th Grand Basileus

LLOYD J. JORDAN, ESQ 36th Grand Basileus

DR. GEORGE H. GRACE 37th Grand Basileus

WARREN G. LEE, JR. 38th Grand Basileus

DR. ANDREW A. RAY 39th Grand Basileus

Brother Bryce Deadmon earns Gold at the 2020 tokyo summer olympics

The Brothers of the 9th District would like to send congratulations to Bro. Bryce Deadmon on earning gold in the Men’s 4x400 relay at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. Bro. Deadmon was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in Fall 2017 through Nu Delta Delta Chapter at Texas A&M University - College Station. Bro. Deadmon becomes only the second Omega Brother to earn an Olympic gold medal in Track & Field next to the late Bro. William DeHart Hubbard.

GRAND FROM THE

Dear Brothers:

The cover story in this edition of the Oracle focuses on our 2nd Cardinal Principle, Scholarship. All of our founders were scholars who gave the guarantee 110 years ago that “as we have selected fourteen other men who were like minded to ourselves, with the same ideals, same aspirations and with the same scholarship, that they would in turn select other men like themselves; then whenever the fraternity might be established, that would be the order and men of high ideals and scholastic standing would be selected ad infinitum.” We continue to uphold the vision of our founders. Founder Just’s thesis, completed in 1915, is entitled, “Studies of Fertilization in Platynereis Megalops.” Brothers throughout Omega, such as Dr. Paul D. Adams and Dr. Gernerique T. Stewart continued scholarly work in their dissertations on “Intramolecular Quenching of Tryptophan Fluorescence in Cyclic Hexapeptides” and “The Photodegradation of Nitro-Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and the Identification of Their Photoproducts.” That’s scholarship.

In 2007, Brother Ted Ginn, Sr. opened Ginn Academy, the first and only all male public high school in the state of Ohio. This school is 99% black and has a 98% graduation rate with 60% of graduates going to college and 20% going into the armed forces. That’s scholarship.

Brother Dr. Marco Clark, Founder & CEO of Richard Wright Public Charter Schools for Journalism and Media Arts, has devoted the greater part of his life to ensure

GRAND BASILEUS THE DESK OF THE

all children receive a high-quality education, believing education is the great equalizer. Since its formation in 2010, in Dr. Clark’s garage, to now a 20-million-dollar facility in Washington, D.C., Richard Wright has had six graduating classes. Graduates in each 12th-grade class have been accepted to five or more colleges/universities as a graduation requirement. That’s scholarship. Another example of scholarship is the life lived by Lafayette Stribling. Most of you probably don’t know him. He was not a member of this fraternity, but he was my friend.

Coach Stribling coached twenty-five years at South Leake High School where he was the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach, Head Girls’ Basketball Coach, and Baseball Coach. He had all winning seasons. He won a state title with the boys’ basketball team and two state titles with the girls’ basketball team, and he won a baseball championship with nine players. He was also the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Grenada High School.

After winning more than eight hundred high school games, he was hired and coached the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils men’s basketball team for twenty-two years. He won four regular-season SWAC championships and gave Duke University all they could handle in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in the 1985-1986 season. He became the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Tougaloo College in 2005. During his time there, he won four Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season titles, one conference tournament title, three conference Coach of the Year

awards and five NAIA national tournaments.

He once took a team to a NAIA Championship Final with seven players. Both colleges have named their basketball courts after Coach Stribling. He died recently, after coaching 55 ½ years. Unfortunately, I never saw him coach a game. I bonded with him after he retired as I saw him in the barbershop most Tuesdays. He would sit there after getting his haircut and tell stories about past basketball games, talk about present day high school, college and professional basketball teams, and give us a Master Class in life. I would stay long after my haircut to listen. The number of men he’s impacted cannot be counted. Despite all of his wins in sports, he taught them more about life than anything else as most great teachers do. He was the son of sharecroppers. His father had no education and signed his name with an X. Yet, this black man became one of the greatest coaches in history in various academic settings. When recruiting players, he would make three promises to their parents: 1) your child will get a degree, 2) your child will win a championship, and 3) your child will go to church. He helped shape me into who I am today.

I will miss him. That’s scholarship. Thanks Coach.

In Friendship,

David Marion, Ph.D. 41st Grand Basileus

RICKYLEWIS@EARTHLINK.NET

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. International Headquarters

3951 Snapfinger Parkway

Decatur, GA 30035

Telephone: (404) 284-5533

Fax: (404) 284-0333

1st VICE GRAND BASILEUS

Greetings Brothers,

We congratulate our Omega scholars! Scholarship is and always has been very important to our beloved fraternity. The three undergraduates who founded our great fraternity thought so. Their faculty advisor thought so. The university president thought so, even though he tried to dissuade them from accomplishing their mission. One-hundred and ten years later, more than 200,000 initiated men who committed themselves to those four cardinal principles think so.

Let us remind ourselves why scholarship was so important then and why it is still important today. Scholarship connotes a commitment to something; scholarship implies a passion that draws others to see one’s good work, to see one who stands out above the others–one who even in failing the first time around, finds the temerity to get back up and try it again. I am certain that those scholars we honor in this issue of the Oracle know something about having the audacity after failing to get up and try it again and again until success is found. Scholarship is of paramount importance to all men of Omega. Scholarship enables us to meet any challenge and use it to enhance our ability to step out of our comfort zones. We are seeing just this year an untold number of Omega men becoming the ultimate vanguards of scholarship by accepting roles as University Presidents. We congratulate them for their passion.

That said, we also congratulate our Omega graduates on all collegiate levels: the baccalaureate graduates, master degree graduates, and the MDs, PhDs, EdDs and all of the other graduates who this year through the storm of COVID-19 and all of the ills it presented – did not give up nor give in to the trepidation, trial and tribulation. But to those who said proudly, I got this! I am an Omega man.

Finally, brothers, we encourage you to take heed and support our Omega health initiatives. We have received too many notifications of brothers who have entered Omega Chapter. Nothing can be more important to Omega than having well educated, productive and healthy men to carry on the work of Omega. Brothers, we implore you to practice healthy living habits. What are the habits of healthy living? I am not a doctor, nutritionist nor subject matter expert in these topics. But I am a reasonable man who can read and reason and one who can and does value information. What I have learned from my education and life experience is: be alert to that which can harm your body and thus your livelihood. Your children need you; your families need you; we need you here to help us continue to do the work that our Founders demands of us.

While you can, please prepare a Living Trust for you and your family. It’s a must!

Thank you again for this opportunity to serve as your First Vice Grand Basileus. I am honored!

God bless the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

FROM THE DESK OF THE Ricky L. Le s

Yours in Friendship, Ricky L. Lewis, 35th First Vice Grand Basileus

@JHOWARD_ED

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

International Headquarters

3951 Snapfinger Parkway

Decatur, GA 30035

Telephone: (404) 284-5533

Fax: (404) 284-0333

FROM THE DESK OF THE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Greetings, my Brothers!

I hope you are safe and healthy as we migrate this current stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. I stand with the millions of Americas who have been fully vaccinated. I encourage you to consider going through the process if you have not done so already.

It is an honor and privilege to work at the International Headquarters and even more so as your executive director. I am supported by a staff that is committed to the success of Omega and her endeavors. Just recently, we onboarded two men of Omega with particularly important roles and responsibilities: Brother Kenneth Foster (Xi Delta 1987) is now our Assistant Executive Director, and Brother Quinest Bishop (Xi Zeta 1995) is now our Brand & Media Director.

As we put together our plan to reopen the IHQ office, we are also putting together a plan for restructure. We are a leadership-enriched culture with the attributes of professionalism, accountability, consistency, collaboration, and structure at the core of what we do.

My immediate goals are to strengthen old as well as develop new processes that support our business objectives, to encourage and facilitate creativity in everything we do, and to support opportunities that build partnership for us all to better serve our community, preserve our history, and achieve the outcomes we desire. It is my strong belief that Omega Psi Phi will change the world to ensure it is a better place for generations to come.

If you have not done so already, I encourage you to sign up through your District Keeper of Records and Seal to join our constant contact email distribution. In addition, please follow our fraternity’s official social media platforms listed below. I am on twitter @jhoward_ed. Let’s connect there.

• Twitter.com/o cialoppf

• Facebook.com/o cialomegapsiphi

• YouTube.com/ o cialomegapsiphi

• Instagram.com/o cialoppf

Continue to stay safe.

John Howard

1st district scholar brother derrick lottie

Boston University

Major - Finance

Overall cumulative GPA was a 3.53 and earned a 4.0 in his last semester of college (May 2021). Was on the Dean’s List (earned a semester GPA of over 3.5) at institution in Dec. 2018, May 2019, May 2020, December 2020, and May 2021. Recently began career as a full time investment banking analyst at JP Morgan. Career Aspirations - “ to start a private equity fund with a focus on minority led companies or to enter the real estate space as a developer.”

3rd

Virginia State University

Major - Political Science

My future aspirations are to attend law school and become a practicing attorney, focusing on appellate litigation.

5th district scholar brother Brandon Rahshad

Cumberland University

Second Vice 5th District Representative, was the 2019 Undergraduate Omega Man of the Year for the 5th District. GE Omega4Life intern, High Aspirations Society Member, District Scholar, and past Founders’ Scholarship Award Recipient in the 2018-2019. Bro. Taylor was recently named Mr. Cumberland University. He has also received Servant Leadership Awards from the student body as well as awards from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for his play on the football field.

2nd

Lincoln University

Major - Political Science

Career Aspirations - “After graduation I plan on attending law school and pursuing a career as a criminal defense attorney, eventually becoming a partner at my own firm.”

4TH district scholar brother D’NIYAE MORRIS

Notre Dame College

Major - Sports Management

GPA: 3.75

Bro. Morris plans to pure his entrepreneurial spirit and give back to his family and neighborhood in Cleveland.

6th district scholar brother Zachary C. Freeman scholar

Claflin University

Major - Mathematics

GPA: 3.88

6th District Scholar and International Scholar of the Year

Career goals/aspirations: attend law school at the University of South Carolina.

district scholar brother gregory young

district scholar brother daniel dunn

taylor

7th district scholar brother Justin Thornton

Georgia Southern University

Major - Criminal Justice and Criminology (Summa Cum Laude). Now attending The University of Georgia School of Law. Career Aspirations - “After becoming a Lawyer, I want to engage in social justice issues, aggressively advancing equality across multiple sectors. I then want to open my own private practice firm, specializing in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.”

9th district scholar brother Oris granger

Lamar University

Major - Industrial Engineering

Future aspirations: Currently working as an Operations Engineer for L3 Harris Technologies. “My future aspirations are to one day become an Engineering Manager and be a vigilant and efficient leader for the company.” Starting graduate school in January majoring in Engineering Management. Lastly, “I will continue to uphold traditions within Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and continue to serve and uplift my community!”

12TH district scholar brother ISAIAH KESHAUN CROSBY

University of California, Irvine

Major: Business Economics

Minor: Political Science.

GPA: 3.40

Dr. Charles R. Drew Memorial Scholarship Commission

Bro. E. Newton Jackson, Jr., Ph.D. Chair

Bro. G. Stewart, Ph.D. Vice Chair

Bro. Willie Rockward, Ph.D.

Bro. Maurice Hobson, Ph.D.

Bro. Corbet Ellison, DDS

Bro. Brandon Nzekwe , Ph.D.

8th district scholar brother Lilo abraham

Southeast Missouri State University

Major - Business Administration with an emphasis on accounting. Currently has a cumulative GPA of 3.8. Career Aspirations - Plans to pursue a career in financial advising. He has already completed internships with Wells Fargo and Edward Jones. Brother Abraham is the father of Gianna Abraham.

10th district scholar brother Kameron Leroy Johnson

University of Michigan

Major - Business Admin & Musical Arts - Jazz Piano

Future aspirations - “Accumulate generational wealth through strategic investing and entrepreneurship in the music industry.”

Bro. Kenneth Little, JD, Esq.

Bro. David Marion, Ph.D., 41st Grand Basileus

Bro. Caleb Love, 2nd Vice Grand Basileus

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OPPF.ORG/scholarship

COLLEGE PRESIDENTS

PRESIDENTS

RHO PSI CHAPTER DEDICATES NEW MONUMENT AND

BEGINS ONE MILLION DOLLAR ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

By Brothers Alvino Douglass, Trey Hayes, Jerry McCord, and Martez Moore

Thanks to Project Rho Psi Reloaded, the Mighty Rho Psi Chapter of Tennessee State University (TSU) dedicated its new monument during the University’s Homecoming weekend on Saturday October 30, 2021. The Rho Psi Chapter was the first chapter of a Greek-letter organization established on the campus, and later, it became the first Black Greek-letter organization at TSU to establish an alumni affinity chapter. It also became the first chapter to receive a charter as an alumni association at any Historically Black College or Universities (HBCUs). The alumni chapter funded the design and construction of the monument.

With their financing, they created the first and only perpetual giving model to support scholarships on any HBCU campus. The original monu-

ment, built in 2000, was known as Project Rho Psi 2000. It was designed by Brother Walter Vincent. The new monument was designed by Brother Joshua Butler, and he stated, “this monument was designed to create inspirational giving: Giving to TSU students and the future.” The dedication ceremony was attended by more than 400 Brothers and guests, highlighted by the attendance of the 41st Grand Basileus, Dr. David Marion; 1st Vice Grand Basileus, Ricky Lewis; International Director of Photography, James Witherspoon; Chief of Staff, Will Jemison; and Special Assistant to the Grand Basileus Terrance Course. Other distinguished guests included 5th District Representative Sam McKenzie, State Senator Brenda Gilmore, and Tennessee House of Representative Member and Brother Rev. Dr. Har-

old Love, Jr. The ceremony culminated in a $10,000 donation from the Fraternity to the Rho Psi Chapter and TSU, which was presented to the University’s President Dr. Glenda B. Glover.

The dedication was given by Dr. Harrison Foy, Chairman of Project Rho Psi Reloaded, and in his dedication, he explained after missing a year of school due to a lack of financial resources, “I didn’t want any other student to feel the way I did when I had no money for registration.” The President of the alumni chapter, Brother Alvino Douglass, tasked Brothers Foy and Butler with rebuilding a new monument that would inspire Brothers to give with

the result being a monument that can track giving from an initial brick and moving up to the 4 Cardinal Principles on the monument wall. If Brothers would like to invest in the Scholarship Fund, please contact Brother Martez D. Moore, Fundraiser/Endowment Chair, at rhopsialumni@gmail.com. The goal is to raise an endowment of $1,000,000 for student scholarships. Rho Psi Chapter was the 39th chapter of Omega Psi Phi, Inc., and the only chapter chartered in 1930. It has initiated

over 900 members. In 1962 when Grand Basileus Cary D. Jacobs and National Executive Secretary H. Carl Moultrie I visited the Rho Psi Chapter they reported back to the Supreme Council what they witnessed on the campus and stated, “this is a Mighty Chapter,” and this is how the chapter became known as Mighty Rho Psi. After thanking everyone the Basileus of the chapter, Trey Hayes, summed it up by saying “We are the model chapter and long live the Mighty Rho Psi.”

a promise made a promise kept!!!

By Bro. Leon M. Smith II

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) provide supportive learning environments, strong educational foundations, and invaluable life lessons that African American students use long after graduation. Nevertheless, these important institutions continue to struggle financially despite the recent surge in government support and philanthropic donations. This fact is due at least in part to the low number of alumni that give back to their alma maters after graduating. In 2017, U.S. News & World Report published a list of Historically Black Colleges and Universities that achieve the greatest rate of alumni giving. “For the HBCUs that supplied data to the survey, the average giving rate was a dismally low, 11.2 percent,” says Journal for Blacks in Higher Education (“The Sorry State of Alumni Giving at Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” 2017).

From the inception of our beloved fraternity, Scholarship has been and remains a crucial precept of our existence. The pursuit of scholarly attainment is a charge that has been issued to all of her loyal sons. In fact, the concept of Scholarship is so central to our mission that our Founders, in their infinite wisdom, made it both our Second Cardinal Principle as well as a mandated program. This commitment to Scholarship extends to and beyond, affording future generations of young people the opportunity to obtain an education. These efforts are collectively championed at the local, district, and international levels. Furthermore, the fraternity’s philanthropic strategy also includes the annual donation of thousands of dollars to HBCUs through its College Endowment Fund (CEF).

In August 1921, Founder Professor Frank Coleman wrote, “High ideals and good intentions alone, never

did, and as long as human nature remains as it is, never will bring about one great reform, win a single battle, or conquer a single dreaded disease. However good the intentions may be, actions are the only evidence of their existence.” In August 2016, it was in that spirit that eleven Omega Men assembled to launch the Beta Psi 1923 Foundation Inc., a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization with the expressed purpose of developing a legacy of sustained financial support for matriculating students at Clark Atlanta University (CAU). And so, from that very moment, Omega Men who matriculated through CAU from all across the country bonded together to raise funds for this important worthwhile initiative.

In 2018, the Beta Psi 1923 Foundation pledged to donate $100,000 over a 5-year period towards the establishment of the Dr. Moses C. Norman, Sr. Endowment Fund. The endowment was established in honor of Clark alumnus, the late Brother Dr. Moses C. Norman, Sr. Brother Dr. Norman served as the 33rd Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (1984 – 1990), a retired Dean of Clark Atlanta University’s School of Education, and a for-

mer Area Superintendent in Atlanta Public Schools. As an undergraduate student, Brother Dr. Norman became a member of the fraternity through Beta Psi Chapter in 1954.

On December 13, 2020, the Foundation fulfilled its initial commitment to the university three years earlier than promised. The amazing aspect of this testimony is that the $100,000 was raised by the generosity of only 89 donors which included Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. with a donation of $10,000 during the fraternity’s 80th Grand Conclave in New Orleans. 40th Grand Basileus Antonio Knox stated, “Brother Norman was a true Omega Man, a legend, a giant, a man that earned the highest praise while serving Omega for 62 years.”

Since 1950, there have been more than 350 men initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., through Beta Psi Chapter. With this in mind, The Foundation made a conscientious, strategic decision that it could not just be chapter-focused in its fundraising efforts if it was to make any serious strides in turning the tide of CAU alumni giving. Hence, The Foundation would serve as a catalyst of a revolution of unprecedented and sustained alumni support that would include all CAU fraternities, sororities as well as alums of all backgrounds and affiliations. Thus, we implemented a “unified” CAU alumni approach.

Beginning on March 1 and ending on May 1, 2021, The Beta Psi 1923 Foundation conducted the CAU Unity Brick Campaign, which was designed to help raise much-needed funds for student scholarships. However, just as importantly, this campaign helped increase alumni giving at Clark Atlanta University as a whole. Over 1000 bricks were purchased from supporters from all over the globe. In many ways, each brick that was purchased metaphorically represents a patch in grandmama’s quilt that tells the many stories of those that love Clark Atlanta University.

On October 29, 2021, The Beta Psi 1923 Foundation presented Clark Atlanta University with an additional $125,000 check at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Clark Atlanta University Unity Brick Plaza. Special guests at the ceremony included 41st Grand Basileus Brother Dr. David Marion, Clark Atlanta University President, Dr. George T. French Jr., and U.S. Congressman Brother Hank Johnson. Highlights of the ceremony included a resounding rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by CAU Junior Mass Media Arts major, Ms. Chris-

tiann Holmes, remarks by our distinguished dignitaries, and the presentation of a $10,000 check by Brother Dr. Marion to the Foundation from the fraternity. Brother Dr. Marion stated, “HBCUs need our help now more than ever! Omega Psi Phi Fraternity stands ready to lead by example!”

We were also blessed to have in attendance at the CAU Unity Brick Plaza Ribbon Cutting Ceremony our Beta Psi Bridge Builders (brothers initiated at Beta Psi Chapter before 1975) and family members of the late Brother Dr. Moses C. Norman, Sr., Brother Conrad Norman, and Brother Christopher Norman. “I’m sure my Dad is proud of his dear Beta Psi and Omega! Omega Excellence!” Brother Christopher Norman said of the occasion.

Since making their initial pledge in 2018, the Foundation has donated more than $250,000 to CAU that has fully funded the Dr. Moses C. Norman, Sr. Endowment (>$200,000) as well as funded direct scholarships to CAU students including Dr. Gideon K. Mincey Memorial Scholarships and male scholarships as well as supported the “Close the Gap” Emergency Fund and CAU’s Covid Relief Fund.

Early 20th-century novelist Thomas Wolfe once penned, “Go, seeker, if you will, throughout the land, and you will find us burning in the night.” The Beta Psi 1923 Foundation will continue to be a light in the seemingly dark night of HBCU Alumni giving. For more information, please visit www.betaspsi1923foundation.com.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY NAMES LAW LIBRARY

after brother

vernon e. jordan, jr. esq.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Brother Vernon Eulion Jordan was born in Atlanta, GA and graduated with honors from David T. Howard High School in 1953. He attended DePauw University, in Greencastle, Indiana, where he was the only African American in his class of 400 students. To earn money during his college matriculation, he worked during the summers as a chauffeur for banker and former Atlanta Mayor Robert Maddox.

Jordan would later recount his experience working for Maddox, who owned a large home with a very extensive library. When he was not driving, Jordan spent his down time reading books in the Maddox home library, unbeknownst to Mr. Maddox, who, when he discovered Vernon reading, was shocked. He then granted permission for his young employee to continue using the library when he was on the grounds but not working. Subsequently, one evening during dinner, Maddox proclaimed to his family, “Vernon

can read!” He never forgot that experience, using it as inspiration later in his very successful career.

Bro. Jordan was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in 1956 through Zeta Phi Chapter in Indianapolis, IN. According to current Tenth District Keeper of Finance, Brother Melvin Thomas (1976 Zeta Epsilon), who is a member of Zeta Phi, Omega’s 31st Grand Basileus, Brother Burnel E. Coulon, often shared with brothers the story of a young Vernon Jordan who expressed interest in seeking Omega when he was an undergraduate student at

By Bro. Damon Scott

DePauw. Since there was no chapter on campus at the time, some brothers of Zeta Phi would travel to pick him up and take him back to Indianapolis on weekends, to pledge, and eventually initiate, him. Clearly those brothers saw something in the young student that indicated he would become an asset to Omega.

After Bro. Jordan earned his undergraduate degree from DePauw, he was accepted into Howard University School of Law, where he graduated in 1960. Just one year later, he was part of a team of attorneys that sued the University of Georgia over segregation and discrimination in its admissions policies. The result of the suit was a federal court order forcing the university to desegregate and admit two African American students in 1961. One of those students was Charlayne Hunter-Gault. Upon her admission to the University of Georgia, he personally escorted her past a group of angry white protesters to the university admissions

office so that she could register for classes. Ms. Hunter-Gault would go on to become an Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist with the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and The New York Times.

Bro. Jordan had a stellar professional and legal career. He got involved in social activism, serving as the Georgia field director for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1970, he became executive director of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Then, starting in 1971, he served as president of the National Urban League for 10 years. After returning to the private practice of law for several years, he would serve as an advisor to U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. And he eventually helped someone he actually considered

a friend who decided to run for president, Bill Clinton. After Bill Clinton was elected in 1992, he asked Jordan to serve on his presidential transition team and he was grateful that his friend asked him to take on the role of trusted advisor in his administration. Jordan also served on the board of directors for several household name corporations, including Xerox, RJR Nabisco, Sara Lee, Revlon, and Corning.

In 2001, Bro. Jordan decided to write a life memoir, which he titled Vernon Can Read!, a reference to his experience earlier in life as a college undergraduate when his former employer was surprised to learn that he could even read.

Now, some twenty years after sharing the story of his very impactful life in a book, Bro. Jordan entered Omega Chapter. As a fitting tribute, his Alma Mater, Howard University, honored his life’s work in civil rights and the law by renaming a place where law students read and learn every day, the Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Esq. Law Library.

Danielle Holley-Walker, Dean of Howard University School of Law, stated that “Mr. Jordan was active in the life of the University and the law school, as a Trustee Emeritus. He was committed to the law school’s excellence and had arranged for a faculty chair to be named in his honor. Before his death, Mr. Jordan had planned to have an office at the law school and make the law library one

of the places of his post-retirement work. To pay tribute to Mr. Jordan’s life work and his work with Howard, President Dr. Frederick placed his name in nomination to the Board of Trustees to have the law library renamed in his honor.”

In the renaming announcement, Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick said “Vernon Jordan’s life embodied Howard’s motto of truth and service, from his early beginnings as a lawyer, to his work in the civil rights movement, and later as an advisor to Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush, and most prominently as a friend and advisor to President Bill Clinton. Mr. Jordan was the kind of person who enjoyed mentoring students to help them succeed. He often shared the story of how he came up with the title of his memoir Vernon Can Read!, which became a pivotal moment in his vast narrative of triumph over controversy. Therefore, it is most fitting that we name Howard’s Law Library in his honor.”

Brother Vernon E. Jordan lived a life full of purpose and meaning. He helped many people along the way, and his service to our community, and in the law, will be honored in perpetuity.

Writer’s note: Brother Damon Scott, J.D. (1990 Mu Iota) is a proud alumnus of Howard University School of Law, Class of 1996.

BRO. COREY BORNER

INTERVIEW

By Bro. Richard Thompson and Bro. Roger Henderson

The first time Bro. Corey Borner stood, looked down at his feet, he thought of his Mama.

It was June 8, 2021 when Bro. Borner took his rst steps. His mama, Charlotte was right there recording a video of her baby boy walking. It had been over 12 years since she had seen him walking or running as he was racing to catch the school bus to DeSoto High School in DeSoto, TX.

“That’s why it’s so touching,” said Borner, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury during football practice, which left him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, at age 16. “The story’s so touching because your Mama’s recording the first steps you take in June, first steps ever. Twelve years, (from) 16 to 28 years old, that’s a long time. We’re not talking about a year or two. We’re not talking five months. We talkin’ about 12 years.”

Her 30-second video of Borner walking in an Exoskeleton suit has been viewed almost 400,000 times on his Twitter (@LILCOREY_ TRILL), a viral inspiration for anyone to simply #FINDAWAY, his personal testimony.

Yet even that moment would be surpassed when Borner (“Steamroller,” the ace of Lo-Que-Motion, Theta Alpha, Spring 2019, Mighty Ninth District) used the Ekso and walked across the stage — adorned with his Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., stole — to graduate with a degree in Communication from the University of North Texas at Dallas on August 16, 2021.

That video went viral too.

“That’s where it really kicked off,” said Borner about God opening doors, allowing him to spread his testimony of perseverance in local

and national media; to meet, befriend, and uplift a swath of celebrities and everyday folks that he might not have met otherwise; to his motivational speaking opportunities and his own football camp; and to his city of DeSoto, Texas designating September 7 as “Corey Borner Day.”

For this edition of The Oracle, Bro. Borner took the time to discuss his promise to walk again, his faith, his responsibilities, and more. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

ORACLE: How did it feel to take those first steps using the Eksoskeleton?

BORNER: Well, nervous, happy. Why I say that? You got to think about it. You are nervous because you’re about to finally take some steps in the machine that you never took before. The last step you took on the football field to where that morning, your mama said you run down the stairs to catch the bus. You came back twice because you forgot something. She seen you run upstairs, down the stairs. That’s her last time.

So, the nervous-happy, you nervous because you’re finally taking a step. Then, the happy part is it’s GO time. God done blessed you to be in this position. I’m not worried about the cameras. I’m focused. I’m zoomed in, tuned in. And to have my Mom recording, it made it even more inspiring because she saw me running down those steps. Now, you’re recording, Mama Borner, and you’re seeing your son. That’s a lot of emotion right at that time.

Every time I get in [the Eksoskeleton], I have fun in but I also take advantage of the opportunity because that machine’s not here [at his home]. It’s at Baylor. You have to really… it’s GO time. I use the mentality of the football mindset to stay focused and take how many steps that God enables me to take. So I use that mindset – that football mindset.

ORACLE: In 2009, after you were injured, you woke up in the hospital and saw yourself on television. When did you commit to yourself and everyone else that you would walk again?

BORNER: Well, in the hospital, the question you asked, I saw my picture on television. I was panicking. Was wondering why am I on the news? Because in my mindset, when the injury occurred, I’m thinking I’m going to get these crutches, and I’ll be back to school the next day, or the next week.

That wasn’t the case because when the doctor came in there – I wasn’t screaming, but I was literally like, “What’s going on? What’s going on?” – and he came in there and told me [about the extent of the injury]. Because I saw my Mom and Dad crying as well. And plus, I was on the IV [intravenous line], so I’m in and out, in and out. But I do remember this, what he told me, because I was woke.

He told me I had a ‘‘C5/C6 spinal cord injury, and he’s going to have to use a wheelchair. And he won’t have full use of his hands. He’s not going to have full use of his legs for forever.” That’s when tears start to fall, and I start to blame God, and ask God, “Why me? Why me?”

I had to realize that everything’s on God’s time. To let God know what’s on your mind, you got to open your mouth and tell him what you want and what you believe in. That’s when faith kicks in. Something that you strongly believe in that people say that’s impossible, but you know that it is possible. With all faith in God, anything is possible. No matter what old Billy say, or old Joe say, or Brittany say, how you feel and what God has planned for you matters most.

It took me about a year to accept the fact this is where God wants me, right here in this [wheel]chair. It took a whole year to accept the fact that, okay, football’s over with. What’s my Plan B in life? Okay. What can I do from now? But I’m going to always say, “I will walk again,” because I believe that God will raise me on his time. No matter how long it takes. Because this injury, it’s a process. It’s going to take a while. I’ve been saying that since 2009.

ORACLE: How did the mantra “FIND A WAY” become your testimony?

BORNER: In 2009, the ex-athletic director at the DeSoto High School, Ms. Pam Deborde, she used to come in the hospital sometimes and she would ask me, “Corey, how are you going to get through this? How are you going to get through this injury?” I said, “Ms. Pam, I’m going to find a way how to do it. No matter how hard it is, no matter how hard life going to get, I’m going to tell myself, ‘Find a way.’” Because we all go through things in life, but how can we find a way to get through?

I have wristbands with it on there, [Ms. Deborde] started off the wristbands, white and black, and black and white. I used to just hand them out to people at school, “Here. You wear it, you wear it, you wear it.” Still to this day, I still have them. And I sell them to people because a lot of people really know that ‘FIND A WAY’ is coming from Corey, and it’s real powerful.

When I use “find a way,” I use it in different perspectives because everybody’s not in a wheelchair. [However] everybody’s going to have a job lost, everybody’s going to have a marriage problem… it’s something. But you find a way to get through those minor things that you think are major. Tell yourself, “Find a way to make it work.”

ORACLE: How are you able to stay positive and focused?

BORNER: It’s somebody’s situation that’s always worse than yours. So why should I be complaining and this person was born this way? He ain’t never got opportunity to walk. He ain’t never got opportunity to drive. God did bless me to do that. So why am I sitting up here mad at the world when this person over here ain’t never did anything?

Prime example, it’s little girl on my [Instagram] page. You probably saw her. She in a wheelchair as well. Her name is Kasaiya Woodridge. And I met her at an elementary school that I spoke to and I was not directly going to her class. I had rolled past her door, and I saw her, and I wasn’t worried about nothing else. I wasn’t even worried about the other kids that I’m about to go speak to. I turned my chair around and went to her.

The first thing she asked me that shocked me, “Do people make fun of you being in the chair?” It blew my mind because this young girl is like eight years old asking me that. She’s really bright, so I’m like, I kept it real with her. I say, “Yeah, people do laugh at me. Do they laugh at you?” She said, “Yeah, they laugh at me as well.” And

ever since then, me and her, we got a relationship so close. Man, I buy her stuff for school, shoes, all that. She was born that way.

Yeah, I just thank God for letting me meet her because those are the type of people that keep you going. Because you got to think about what they go through as well. Yeah, we’re both sitting but she can’t do as much as I do. She’s still young, sixth grade, been in a chair her whole life. But she does acting classes. I check on her with that. I try to tell her she can still pledge, too. I showed her that. Whatever you want to do, you can do it. It’s just how we’re doing it now since we’re sitting. But don’t let that be a crutch. You’re like this, just prove people wrong with what they say you can’t do but you can.

Bro. Borner’s introduction to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is rooted in his church, Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church, where Immediate Past Ninth District Representative Patrick Smith is also a member. Borner says Bro. Smith confirmed for him that a person in a wheelchair can pledge.

BORNER: I asked him, I said, “Mr. Patrick, can people in wheelchairs pledge?” And he said, “Corey, you still got your brain, don’t you?” I said, “Yes, sir.” “So, what’s stopping you?” I asked him that because at the time I never seen nobody [in a fraternity] in wheelchairs at all. Since I pledged, I’ve seen a couple. But at that time, I ain’t never seen nobody else. Can I set a trend for somebody being in a chair? That was my mindset then. Let me set a trend for somebody that’s like me, because they going to see me, and they going to know, “Okay. Well, I’m in a chair, too, so I can pledge. I can do the same.”

ORACLE: You’ve met a lot of celebrities and have a large following on social media. How do you keep your common touch?

BORNER: Well, number one, you have to stay humble. Why? That’s the key thing. Even with anybody, I tell them when I go speak, you got to stay humble because you can be up here so long. You can be up, but once people start forgetting about God, and not thanking him for blessing you doing all this, he can take that away from you in a snap. I don’t get cocky with this. I thank God for everything. Because as soon as you get cocky, things will go left on you. And you think you supposed to be going right, it’s going left. And that’s how it’s going to be. And just in that positive attitude, like I said, you got people watching. People are going to watch. I try my best

to lead by example. Because some people, first thing you make a mistake on, they try to take it and run with it. But I do know it’s certain things I can do, certain things I can’t do, especially being in the public eye. And that’s why God gave us a brain to think and use it. Because you could be doing something, you be in the moment, you so happy, and you so cocky and confident that you up now, you could make one mistake and slip up, it’s all gone.

I do my best to lead by example, and do what God wants me to do, and that’s inspire the world with my testimony. Because I wake up, there’s people want to hear what I got to say. I could go one day without posting something and people are like, “Corey, where were you at? I need this type of encouragement, man. … Hey, I’m going through this, man. I don’t need you not posting what you posting because you keep me going.” And that mean a lot to me when people tell me that.

Especially with the #FINDAWAY. I got people all around the world want a #FINDAWAY wristband now because it’s so powerful. The meaning of it is powerful. And if I’m not giving up, nobody should. Just think about what I go through. You might not know word for word what I go through, but just imagine. And people get the misunderstanding of, “Yeah, Corey good, Corey good,” but those celebrities are not sitting in this chair. I can meet people all day long. All day long. But they’re not in this situation.

ORACLE: That seems like a huge responsibility to bear being an example Yet, you feel like God chose you for this situation.

BORNER: Well, he chose me because he sees the outcome of it now. Of course, we have those trials and tribulations. Of course, when it happens, you trying to figure out what’s going on. And I say this, too, a lot of people say, “Don’t question God.” But when you ask him something, it’s having a conversation with him. That’s why I say to people, “You can talk to God. You can ask God questions.” I try to stop people when they say, “Don’t question God.” No, you have a conversation with him, and you still ask some questions. And he talking to you, so that’s a good conversation.

And he chose me for this because he knows it’s a tough

battle, but he chooses those ones for these battles. I can be that motivation for somebody else that’s going through it because I’m not the last one that’s going to be in the [wheel]chair. There’ll be many more people that can just come to my page. “Okay. Well, he’s being positive, he got a good support system.”

Yeah, of course, a lot of people in wheelchairs don’t have the support system. A lot of people in wheelchairs do not have the same platform I have but I try to tell them –don’t be like me. You can do anything. Find your way to be great in a chair. Find your way to be great. If you have one eye, find your way to be great. If you have one leg… everybody has something, a disability that we can make an ability.

richard WRIGHT celebrates THE COMPLETION OF NEW SCHOOL

JOURNALISM, MEDIA, CREATIVE AND PEFORMING ARTS FLOURISH IN NEW SPACE

By Bro. Richard Thompson

Washington, D.C., September 20, 2021 - Bro. Dr. Marco Clark, Founder and CEO of Richard Wright Public Charter Schools for Journalism and Media Arts, celebrated a dramatic change to the campus with a new state-of-the-art facility. The official ribbon cutting ceremony at 475 School Street SW on Friday, September 17, 2021 from 12-2pm was attended by students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, partners, donors, community, educational, business, political leaders, and members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. This building marks the first facility owned and operated by its founders of color since its humble origins in a house garage and church basement eleven years ago. The major completion of the first phase of expansion serves to develop, educate, and cultivate young creatives, innovators, multimedia storytellers, and leaders in the District.

The new Richard Wright School features music, dance, film, art, and news studios, learning labs, collaborative learning spaces, community lounges stimulating creativity at every level. Lower and Upper School Academy classes began in the building starting in August 2021. At five stories and 62,500 sq.ft., Richard Wright Schools is now the first public high school open in the Southwest quadrant in over 50 years.

The ribbon cutting opened with live music and Master of Ceremonies, Madelyne Woods, news anchor for Black Information Network (BIN). Bro. Dr. Marco Clark welcomed guests and shared an emotional moment of what the new building means to this educational community, most importantly its students. He acknowledged the many notable guests integral in the fruition of this dream, including the Richard Wright Board of Trustees. Founding Board Members, Bro. Gregory K. Adams, Sr., Chairman of the RW Board of Trustees; Bro. Wayne Eley, Sr., Treasurer; Bro. Troy Priest, Esq., and Board Member Bro. Leonard Upson, are all Men Of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Representing the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. under the

leadership of Grand Basileus, Dr. David Marion, was Bro. Kelvin Ampofo, 2nd District Representative of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. who presented Richard Wright with a check for $10,000. Many Omega men from the 2nd and 3rd Districts joined in the celebration including Bro. Robert Fairchild, Fatherhood Advisor for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Bro. Franklyn Malone, Bro. Horace Austin, and Bro. Dwayne Brown.

Speakers included Dr. Faith Gibson Hubbard, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs; Ward 8 DC Councilmember Trayon White; Dr. Christina Grant, DC State Superintendent of Education; Dr. Michelle Walker-Davis, DC PCSB Executive Director.

The program closed with remarks from Bro. Gregory K. Adams, Sr., Richard Wright Board Chair, and a moving closing

“Every opportunity Richard Wright has given me; I am extremely grateful for. Once Again, I could have never envisioned myself doing some of these amazing things years ago, But now I am striving for high goals and achievements. I want to be somebody in this world. I want my name to leave an outstanding impression because I aspire to make an impact in my community all because of the amazing family I have here at Richard Wright. Because of Richard Wright, I am spreading my wings and continuously pushing myself because I know I am destined greatness”

affirmation from Rev. Tony Lee, Founder & Sr. Pastor of Community of Hope AME. But truly one of the most impactful and heartfelt moments were the words shared from Student Ambassador Skye-Ali Johnson, DC State Board of Education Student Representative, Class of 2022, who said:

The inspirational words spoken by Student Ambassador Skye-Ali Johnson set the uplifting and celebratory tone for all the speakers. The ceremony closed with the Richard Wright Choral Ensemble leading the community in the “Richard Wright School Song” as students and guests cut the ribbon, signifying a historic moment for this unique school.

Student Ambassador Skye-Ali Johnson

against all odds, with friendship

Brother cameron kinley is pursuing an opportunity with the Tampa bay buccaneers

By Brother Joe Briggs

After a several-month ordeal, where Brother Cameron Kinley believed himself to be required to step away from the opportunity with the Buccaneers, the U.S. Secretary of Defense elected to reverse the Acting Secretary of the Navy’s previous decision denying Kinley the opportunity to pursue a career in the NFL.

Cameron was undrafted this year, but our Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways - Kinley was enthused and ecstatic to find out the Buccaneers were extending a free agent contract to him worth $3M.

Cameron is a Memphis, Tennessee native where he attended Lausanne Collegiate School and worked hard to outshine and outperform his peers. His perseverance was rewarded with an admission to the prestigious United States Naval Academy (USNA). To further add to this prestige, Kinley decided to join the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity where he was surrounded by other men of exceptional caliber who embodied the things he held dearly to his heart - Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift.

Kinley is an exceptional young man and when he wasn’t outshining his peers in the classroom or on the field, he was helping uplift his community. Outside of his duties, Kinley volunteered for multiple organizations such as The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim, We Feed Our People, Maryland Special Olympics, The Phelps School, Project STAND, Top Teens of America Conference, the Stanton Center, the Anne Arundel Food Bank Thanksgiving Drive, and the Anne Arundel Food Bank Toy Drive. His demeanor, unquestionable character, and dedication to his craft earned him several accolades such as the 2021 F.M. Kirby Scholar Athlete Award and the honor of being a finalist for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy. Kinley was also inducted into both the 2021 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Class and the 2021 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Hampshire Honor Society. As a man of Omega, Kinley was awarded the National Herman S. Dreer Leadership Award in 2020 and was also the recipient of the 2021 2nd District Grand Basileus Award.

Kinley showed he had the qualities any organization would desire in a young leader. He demonstrated this throughout his time as the USNA football team captain and as the first African American Football player to be class president. Kinley is a part of this year’s USNA graduating class and is graduating with a B.S. in Political Science and a minor in Japanese.

It’s evident Kinley works hard at everything he does and he was thrilled to have been noticed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, offered an opportunity to join their organization, and being allowed to defer his commission as a U.S. Naval officer while he pursues said opportunity with the Buccaneers. This excitement was cut short when Kinley was informed his request to defer his commission was denied and he was told only days before graduation. With not many more options, Kinley still gave his final speech as class president at the ceremony, standing tall and proud; he was happy to have been able to graduate from one of the top educational institutions in the country but was sad he was now being denied an opportunity he was previously told he could pursue.

Cameron is represented by Divine Sports and Entertainment, a full-service sports agency owned and managed by two young and talented brothers of Omega Psi Phi, Brother Michael De Sane and Brother Ryan Williams-Jenkins. Michael has seven years of professional experience and is well versed in negotiating contracts and marketing deals.

Michael is hands on with each of his players and believes in building personal relationships to ensure that he meets their needs, and he is heavily involved with his local community as a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and as a co-founder of NBSEP “National Black Sports and Entertainment Professionals”. This non-profit focuses on normalizing diversity within the front office of sports and entertainment companies.

and Seattle Seahawks. Throughout his career Ryan has developed relationships with athletes, NFL personnel, college administrators, and coaching staff. Prior to being a founding partner at Divine Sports and Entertainment, he worked in the United States Marine Corps as a Commander.

The news of Kinley’s request being denied hit Cameron, his family, and the agency hard. The agency went to work and did everything in its power to highlight and amplify Kinley’s story to raise awareness.

Utilizing the full extent of their personal and professional networks, Ryan and Michael began to lobby politicians, business owners, and influential reporters who could help spread the news. The team found an ally in me with my work for the NFL Player Association’s legal department. I was excited to help my fraternity brothers navigate the legal jargon surrounding the memorandum the Department of Defense had regarding cases such as Kinley’s.

The Omega Psi Phi network opened opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t have presented themselves to a new and budding sports agency managed by young men. The team was able to pitch, coordinate, and execute over 55 media engagements between the months of May and July. These engagements included ESPN, Don Lemon Tonight, and The Athletic. These media engagements allowed Cameron Kinley’s name to permeate throughout the information environment and the speed and flexibility of the agency’s public relations team allowed Divine Sports and Entertainment to dictate the narrative. Once more people began to hear about Kinley’s story and the obstacles he was facing, even more opportunities presented themselves. Charitable organizations like the American Gold Star Mothers invited Kinley to their events and he was able to grow his network by meeting influential individuals.

Ryan is a leader with seven years of professional experience and is well versed in NFL player engagement, operations, and sales. His experience working with NFL players and guiding them through the draft process has proven successful for both the New York Giants

The growing media interest surrounding Kinley’s story gained us an audience with members of Congress. The team was elated to have had Sen. Marco Rubio’s support in asking President Biden to help in Kinley’s case. Cameron Kinley is now attending the Buccaneers’ training camp where he is striving to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. The agency, his family, and those following the story have high hopes for him. In the end, this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of so many individuals. Fostering and nurturing those friendships along the way was as vital to our success as it is essential to the soul.

Omega Men, “Each One Bring One” “Each One Bring One” “Each One Bring One” “Each One Bring One.” Brothers, every time you talk about the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., to another brother, these 4 words should always be a part of the conversation. Whether you are an elected officer, paid Omega employee, appointed committee member, or just a brother who loves Omega, Reclamation and Retention should be first and foremost on your mind. Why? Because it is important to our brand and critical for our survival. The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., has initiated over 125,000 members since its founding on November 17, 1911. Yet, we currently have just over 30,000 financial members compared with over 60,000 unfinancial members. Brothers, you may find this hard to believe but we just achieved the 30,000 plus financial milestone for the first time in our history during 2021. Great work, right? Yeah, it only took us 110 years to accomplish this. Those are unacceptable numbers and is an embarrassment to the legacy of our beloved founders. As a financial and active member of this Fraternity, you should also be embarrassed by these numbers, yet many brothers are happy to just walk around wearing

the shirt, throwing up the hooks or bragging about being an Omega man without being financial or actively doing anything to positively promote our brand. Many Brothers also don’t actively participate in the many initiatives and programs that we sponsor, why not? Brothers, it’s time for all Omega men to get serious about this organization, but only if you truly love the Royal Purple and the Old Gold. Remember: MEMBERS VERSUS MEN: “The value of our Fraternity is not in numbers, but in men, in real Brotherhood. Eight men thoroughly immersed in the true Omega Spirit are far greater assets than eighty with lukewarm enthusiasm.” Unfortunately, we also have many financial members, some who hold high corporate or professional positions, who fail to promote our brand and remain silent. They need to step up as well. Wear your Omega lapel pin frequently so that when someone ask you about it, you can boldly look them in the eye and say, this represents that I am a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the greatest fraternal organization in the world. We’re not expecting or asking any brother to set out a hop or throw up the hooks, but we are asking every member to show the pride and honor of being a member

and to consistently promote our mission, goals and objectives. As your International Reclamation and Retention (R/R) committee, we consistently strive to work on providing programs and initiatives focused on executing R/R while continuing to promote and execute our theme “Each One Bring One.” We need you to champion these programs and initiatives too.

Brothers, Reclamation and Retention is the lifeline of this Fraternity, a lifetime commitment, and the key to our success as Omega continues to elevate to the “Next Level.” If the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is to be all that it can be, Every Brother must make a concerted effort to stay financial at all levels and continue to work on helping to make Omega better than it’s been and the best that it can be. Remember, the stronger our numbers, the greater our voice.

Brothers, the Omega train continues to move to the next level, are you on board? If so, make Reclamation and Retention a major priority and your personal commitment to “Each One Bring One.” LONG LIVE THE OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.

darryl e. moore international reclamation and retention chairman

WHERE ARE YOU OMEGA MAN?

By Brother Herb Ford

You knew that this would be a long term, life long relationship. Not one of those booty calls or weekend flings. It looks like you just enjoyed the chase and enamored with the process. Wherever Big Brother Almighty told you to be, you were there. Whatever time he told you be there you arrived 15 minutes early and with plenty of Enthusiasm. Time was not an issue and you had no excuses. If you had an assignment, you did it. If you had to pick up trash, you did it. Clean the chicken, you did it. You wore the suit, the jeans ,the t-shirt, whatever was required, you just did it. You wanted her so bad, and you did whatever you had to do to get her attention. Did you just enjoy the chase, the thrill of the hunt? Or did you want more? Now that you got her, where are you now. You have no time for her now! You block her calls, and don’t return emails. Can’t find you at chapter meetings, committee meetings, social action, nothing.… but let there be a party, you are the first one to bring out the gold boots. Let there be an MSP session, and now you are quick to call and ask, “How do I get MSP certified?. Or worse yet, you want ‘them’ to come see you. Let’s be real, you got the shirt on, the license plate, the hat, the hoodie, the bracelet, the lapel pin, and the shield on the wall. All of that matters for nothing, if you are not around working.

What was it that drove you to her? What was it that enabled you to put her at the top of the priority list. Why was she the apple of your eye? What was so attractive about her that made you talk about her all the time? Nonstop you talked about her; the purple and gold night and day… It is GOD, Family then FRAT! During the process nothing would stop you and I mean nothing. Answer this Omega Man, what is the wedge that keeps you from doing thy duty with her now? How did that wedge fester and grow to become such an immovable object that separates you from her sweet loving arms? You had a job before the process. You had a family before the process. You knew of the commitment and what was required when you took the oath. Or did you? You knew there was only 24 hours in a day. So what is it that drives you away from her? What did she do to you to make you so mad, that you don’t come around no mo’?

Where are you, Omega Man?

She is asking where is all of your love and peace and happiness…?

AS A CONSERVATIVE RAISING MY SON

By Brother Julian Boykin

The second happiest day of my life was when my son was born August 15, 2020, at 10:48pm and the happiest day was marrying his mother. My life changed from that day and will never be the same. Julian is my first child, and my only son. With everything I have, I’m going to protect my son, and I will instill in him the attributes that he will need to be successful in life. I used to be a Democrat and I thought they had the solutions to everything, but looking back, I remember my turning point.

In 2015, I was in Huntsville, Alabama having a conversation with Councilman Richard Showers. I raised the question about Homeownership, Entrepreneurship, and Financial Literacy for African Americans, and my questions were put on the back burner. These three core values are the foundation for Black people closing the wealth gap when compared to other ethnicities. Out

of all three core values, Financial Literacy is the most important one to me. Illiteracy has been a major setback for the Black community. Just being able to own a home, a family can use the equity to start a business. Owning a business could create jobs and the opportunity to earn unlimited income. The income stream could create generational wealth and the ability to decide your own work schedule.

I will raise my son with the conservative values that I hold near and dear to my heart: personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. I also believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. I want my son to understand the value of hard work, setting goals, and understanding that nothing is given to you. My plan is to leave my son a legacy

that will prepare him for the outside world. These core values and principles will give my son the foundation he needs to be successful in this world. I view a strong America as a place where small government exists, our 2nd Amendment rights are not being taken away from us, and we have better controls when it comes to our borders. The current Republican Party is not the future I want for my son, so I will help lead the charge to defend Conservative values.

America is an exceptional nation but in the words of former President Ronald Reagan, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

aea historical semester

at methodist university

fayetteville, nc

The Alpha Epsilon Alpha Chapter (AEA) of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., was chartered on January 20, 2018, on the campus of Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The brothers at AEA had a year of prominence on and off campus. Under the guidance of off-campus advisor Brother Jack Martin and on-campus advisor Brother Tavares Hunter, the brothers of AEA lived up to the prestige, for which Omega Psi Phi is known.

AEA brothers are members of and participated in a plethora of activities, clubs, athletics, and honor societies throughout the campus. Brothers represented AEA as: Resident Assistants, Football Coaches and Players, National Forensic Science Honor Society members, Peer Mentors, Black Student Union members, Computer Science Club members, Vice President of Greek Council, and Vice President of The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). Membership alone does not satisfy the brothers, as they have made a habit to serve in leadership positions and excel with distinction in the various organizations.

In March 2020, academic studies and extracurriculars at Methodist University were placed on hiatus pending the University’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. During the following summer, the brothers of AEA vowed to continue their outreach efforts. Despite the challenges of the “new normal,” with which all students were forced to comply, and the chapter’s small membership, their passion and commitment for outreach did not waiver.

Within the past academic year (2020-2021), AEA executed its outreach plan and conducted over 25 programs through collaboration with several other Greek organizations. One major program executed was The Salvation Army Blanket Drive, a joint event with the Social Work Club and the Rho Zeta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Through the program, AEA collected clothing to donate to foster care children. Another significant program was the celebration of International Women’s Day in collaboration with the ladies of Beta Sigma Phi. AEA is also proud of the successes with its quarterly roadside clean-up project, and the donations to the Religious Life Books Program.

The brothers of AEA did not hesitate to approach topics of controversy such as race, sexual misconduct, and police brutality. Au contraire! The Date Rape Violence

Prevention Program included such topics as sex trafficking, catfishing, dating apps, and safety precautions while utilizing these apps. This interactive program had an attendance of over 150 students. AEA tackled the discussion of race with a program to discuss racial inequalities. The brothers created the Green and Gold Talk, in which its focus was police brutality, protest, riots and the subsequent looting, as well as a heated yet imperative conversation about “What Lives Matter.”

Additionally, the brothers never ceased their pursuit of the fraternity’s second Cardinal Principle, Scholarship

as AEA maintained the highest organization grade point average among the fraternal organizations at Methodist University.

Greek Week at Methodist University is the highly anticipated annual meeting of fraternal organizations, for a week of programs, games, and other socially oriented gatherings. The Greek Council Vice President, an AEA brother, along with a trusted few, planned exceptional events for all of Greek life to enjoy. On the last day of Greek Week, the Greek Council hosted an awards program.

A month prior to Greek Week, the Greek Council submitted a survey to each Greek organization on campus to complete. The organizations indicated their choices for the various awards. Based on the results from their peers, the Council announced the award recipients whether individual or organization. Nine awards are presented annually with the most prestigious and sought-after awards being the Greek Organization of the Year, Community Service Chapter of the Year, President of the Year, and Greek Man/Woman of the Year. The brothers of AEA were honored to receive four of the nine awards.

Brother Brandon Bagley received the Methodist University Greek Life Four Pillar Award, which recognizes a student on campus who exemplifies the four pillars – Scholarship, Leadership, Brotherhood/Sisterhood, and Service. In recognition of his truly exceptional leadership as AEA Basileus, Brother Patrick Brannen received the President of the Year Award. Brother Ja-Quez Harrell received the Greek Man of the Year Award. The most coveted award, The Greek Organization of the Year, went to Alpha Epsilon Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. AEA was one of ten fraternities and sororities at Methodist University, to compete for this distinguished award. Additionally, AEA Chapter was the recipient of the Undergraduate Social Action Chapter of the Year Award, received at the 76th Mighty Sixth District Annual Meeting.

As this exceptional school year ends for the esteemed brothers of the Alpha Epsilon Alpha Chapter, it is with immense pleasure that the brothers carefully approach their future endeavors, welcome new brothers, and continue on the path of excellence, set forth by the fraternity’s beloved founders, Dr. Ernest E. Just, Bishop Edgar A. Love, Professor Frank Coleman, and Dr. Oscar J. Cooper.

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY’S

TROJAN INTRODUCTION PROGRAM

On July 8, 2021, Brother Deondre Davis (Vice Basileus) and Brother Brandon Dula (Keeper of Finance) of the Nu Psi Chapter, Third District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. participated in the Virginia State University’s (VSU) Trojan Introduction Program. The program provides information to incoming first-year students on academic success, campus life, and campus organizations. The information provided was beneficial and informative to the incoming students. The Brothers will continue providing this service throughout July to ensure there is a forum available for the new students to ask questions and get answers.

During the summer, the brothers continued to live their creed in the community. Brother Deondre Davis, a Psychology major, works as a Direct Support Professional at a special needs group home. In this position, he is tasked with counseling formerly incarcerated individuals as they transition back into society. Brother Jeffery Jones, a Criminal Justice Major, works as an intern in the Psychology Department at VSU. Brother Jones has worked on the “VIEW” project, which seeks to reduce anxiety and prevent substance abuse amongst teenagers and incarcerated individuals via the use of Virtual Reality headsets. Lastly, Brother Deandre Henderson, Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Major, has performed very well in his job with DefyGENETICS. This company provides group and individual mental, physical and spiritual training for tactical (military), sports athletes, and athletes in the game of life. He mentors and trains young men who are striving to further their education by obtaining athletic scholarships.

2ND ANNUAL HBCU MARCH

OF THE GENERATIONS

On August 29th, 2021, The People’s Uprising participated in the 2nd annual HBCU March of the Generations in Washington, D.C. This peaceful rally and protest pushed local, state, and national leaders to invoke progressive change for Black, brown, and low-income students nationwide, particularly those students who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). National, state, and local organizations convened in Washington, D.C. to advocate for the passage of President Biden’s proposed Build Back Better Act, which will provide two years of subsidized tuition at HBCUs and benefit low-income students through a Pell Grant increase.

Bro. Miles omas, student at Howard University, participated as a volunteer in the organization, with the help of Bro. Colin Dickens and other acting members. ey provided strong

foundational support for the delicate execution of this peaceful protest. On the day of the event, Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. served as Lead Marshals to ensure participants were safe.

ALPHA DELTA CHI BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT

NEWBERRY COLLEGE, NEWBERRY, SC

Alpha Delta Chi sponsored a Back-to-School community event at Gallman Park in Newberry, South Carolina on August 14, 2021. The Brothers grilled hotdogs and hamburgers and served chips and drinks to community members. They also distributed school supplies to children. The event included games and entertainment for the children in the park. The children had lots of fun.

The brothers of Alpha Delta Chi wanted to support kids as they went back to school and lighten any financial burden that families are enduring during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Providing children with school supplies was a way to uplift the community.

zeta chapter supports

virtual promise academy elementary

In June 2021, Brother John Beverley of the Zeta Chapter, Third District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., spoke on a virtual panel for Promise Academy Elementary. The Promise Academy Elementary hosted an HBCU week for the first time for their students in hopes of exposing the students to the legacy and culture of HBCUs across the nation. They selected current and former students of HBCUs and scheduled a day for the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Brother Beverley provided insight on life as a college student, campus life, and why HBCUs matter. Additionally, he spoke about the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and how the Brothers aspire to uplift Black people and their community. It was a great experience to model excellence for these young children. On behalf of the Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., we always look forward to uplifting the community and inspiring youth.

ALPHA DELTA CHI ZETA

DELTA GAMMA

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY, FAYETTEVILLE, NC

COVID VACCINATION EVENT

DELTA GAMMA PARTICIPATES

IN DRIVE-THRU FOOD DISTRIBUTION

Lumberton, NC – On Friday July 30, 2021, Second Harvest Food Bank held a major distribution event in Lumberton, NC at Southeaster Agricultural Center. The goal of the distribution event was to serve residents of Robeson County. The food bank director contacted Beta Chi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., for assistance soliciting volunteers. The food bank had a goal to reach two thousand families. Brothers of Delta Gamma Chapter, along with brothers from Beta Chi, Beta Nu, and Chi Mu Chapters volunteered to participate in a drive-thru food give away. The brothers helped distribute many items including smoked meats, canned goods, dry food, COVID boxes, and cases of bottled water.

Delta Gamma brothers and the other Omega brothers served over 1,100 families allowing Second Harvest to reach more than half its goal that day. The drive thru was a success all around as the project significantly served many families in need while the brothers spread uplift in the community.

OMICRON GAMMA

UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WASHINGTON, DC

On Saturday, May 1, 2021, the Brothers of Omicron Gamma Chapter, Third District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. partnered with Mayor Muriel Bowser and community leaders to canvas neighborhoods across the District of Columbia to help Washingtonians plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Five Brothers from Omicron Gamma Chapter participated in this effort by engaging and educating D.C. residents on the value of making a plan to receive the vaccination.

The Brothers included in this endeavor were Javan White, David Patterson, Ryan Ball, Michael McFadden, and Cameron Turner. Ten centrally located sites served as activation hubs for the anticipated 1,000 volunteers to canvass across all eight wards on this Day of Action. May 1, 2021, was the first day Washington, D.C. made available walk-up vaccination sites for adults Volunteers informed residents of the many ways to get vaccinated. The experience was a tremendously valuable and worthwhile event as the residents received potentially lifesaving information.

EPSILON SIGMA RECEIVES unique graduation gift

bowie state university

When it comes to graduation gifts, it is the thought that counts. For the graduating Brothers of Epsilon Sigma Chapter at Bowie State University, the graduation gift from the graduate chapter Brothers of nearby Gamma Pi Chapter was about the thought as well as the uniqueness. In a gesture of pure Omega love – love for the Fraternity and for each other – the Brothers of Gamma Pi bestowed all four graduates with stoles to adorned their gowns on graduation day. Of course, the stoles were Purple and Gold.

“The Brothers of Gamma Pi are always looking for innovative ways of continuing to bridge the gap between undergraduate and graduate brothers,” said Bro. Shawn Estelle (Epsilon Sigma ‘93), who oversees Gamma Pi’s advisory relationship with Epsilon Sigma. “These brotherly gestures help in strengthening the bond and will lay the groundwork for their transition to a graduate chapter and their continued service to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.”

The gifts were especially meaningful given the challenges that the pandemic presented to the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021. While these young Brothers will no doubt remember what they went through with disruption, such as the transition to virtual classes and events among others, they will no doubt have even fond memories of receiving some Fraternity colors to go with their graduation regalia. Four stoles were purchased and delivered to the young men – three who graduated Spring 2021 and one who will gradu-

epsilon sigma

ate during the Summer 2021.

“We chose a traditional design made out of handwoven kente cloth symbolizing the link with our ancestors. Of course, the bright Purple and Gold is in honor of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.” said Bro. Estelle, who credited Gamma Pi’s Bro. Rodney Beverly for the idea as a way of extending congratulations. He hopes it becomes a tradition.

The Epsilon Sigma Chapter sent a letter of thanks to Gamma Pi Chapter that read, in part, “The Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., would like to thank the Gamma Pi Brothers for blessing our three chapter Brothers with Fraternity stoles during the spring 2021 Graduation Commencement Ceremony. This academic year was a tough one for a lot of reasons but, we were blessed with three graduates in the Class of 2021 from the illustrious Bowie State University.”

The three spring recipients are Bro. Stefon Somers (Spring 2018), Bachelor of Science in Business Admin-

istration; Bro. Quentin Braswell (Spring 2019), Bachelor Of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management; and Bro. R.J. Rountree (Spring 2020), Bachelor Of Science in Sports Management. The summertime graduating Brother’s name was unavailable at press time.

“Our chapter is blessed to have been able to receive the support from our neighboring brothers of Prince George’s County,” Epsilon Sigma continued in their thank you letter. “The 2020-2021 Academic School year has been severely challenging for most due to COVID-19 restrictions and even though our brothers had the ability to persevere, being able to check one thing off of their To-Do list for graduation needs is something to be highly grateful for.” So, on behalf of our three chapter brothers the Epsilon Sigma Chapter is much obliged for the helping hand and appreciates the endless support from the Gamma Pi chapter.”

Bowie STATE UNIVERSITY Bowie, md

On October 22, 2021, the brothers of Gamma Gamma Chapter were involved in the Walk Against Gun Violence, purposed to raise awareness and end gun violence. The event brought the Grambling University community together. The walk started at the Performing Arts Center and ended at the Tiger statue in front of Grambling Hall. The event was a success. So many people were impacted by the tragic incident that happened during homecoming, but everyone came together for the love of Grambling and the community. It was this spirit of community that made the event such a success.

XI PSI CHAPTER

ASSISTING INCOMING FRESHMAN

On August 12th members of the Xi Psi chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. assisted incoming freshman and returning students with moving back on the campus of South Carolina State University.

Safety protocols were put in place for the safety of the students and their families.

XI PSI

SOUTH

CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, COLUMBIA, SC

GAMMA GAMMA

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, GRAMBLING, LA

PHI DELTA OMEGA MEN CONTINUOUS SERVICE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT

AS THEY LIVE THEIR CREED

During May and July 2021, the Brothers of the Phi Delta Chapter, Third District of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. continued to provide service to the community in various capacities, as demonstrated by the internships and positions some of the Brothers are participating in or will be in future. Some of these activities consist of the following. Brother Donovan Gill was selected to join as an intern in the 2021 Extended School Year Student Academic Recovery (ESY/SOFAR) Summer Enrichment Program. In this position, Brother Gill served as an educator and mentor to children with special needs. Brother Carrington Hill was named the Events Operations Chair for the RamTHON Executive Board. RamTHON is Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) student organization that supports the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

His role involves planning significant events throughout the year while partnering with other organizations within the Richmond Community. Brother Ty Wilson will participate in a mentorship program called Trio. In this program, Brother Wilson will expose Richmond students to things outside of their environment. The mission is to encourage them to enroll in college and obtain a degree. Brother Ray Buckner II was selected to participate as an intern at the YMCA. His responsibilities are to educate children of all ages on the benefits of staying active, facilitate physical fitness and activity classes for children, create workout plans for children of all ages and skill levels, and assist in personal training with supervision. Lastly, he coaches a flag football team for the same age groups.

Other notable accolades are extended to Brother Alexander Anderson and Brother Carrington Hill, who were selected as the 2021-2022 Judicial Chair and Academic Chair for the VCU NPHC Executive board. Brother Carrington Hill was invited to participate in a panel event hosted by the “Break the Cycle” at-risk program at the Calvert Square Enrichment Center. Brother Hill will discuss his college experience and his Greek experience as well. Lastly, Brother Clifton Sandy was selected to participate in the Marcus Graham Project Sports Marketing Workshop hosted by the Washington Wizards Basketball Team. Brother Sandy had the opportunity to collaborate and learn first-hand about sports marketing from professionals working at the highest levels in the National Basketball Association. The Brothers of Phi Delta are truly persevering through this challenging environment to ensure they continue to live their creed and be productive and outstanding men.

side from the Founders, perhaps no other Brother on the Fraternity’s Charter Line had a greater impact on Omega than Bro. William Gilbert. His impact fraternally was equally matched by his achievements professionally. It is no wonder that when the Founders reflected on who to select as potential candidates, Bro. William Gilbert’s name rose to the top.

Bro. William Gilbert was born on March 26, 1888, in Nashville, TN to the Rev. Dr. Matthew William Gilbert and Agnes (Boozer) Gilbert, the third of seven children. His father, a Baptist minister, was nationally renowned having risen from the bonds of slavery to earn his A.B. degree from Colgate University (then Madison University) in 1887, his D.D degree from Guadeloupe College in 1896, and B.D degree from Union Theological Seminary in 1907. His ministerial duties took him and his family to several cities during young William’s upbringing including Nashville, TN, Jacksonville, FL, Savannah, GA, and New York, NY where Rev. Dr. Gilbert pastored at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. An educator as well as a minister, Rev. Dr. Gilbert taught at Benedict College from 1902-04 and was president of Selma University from 1911-16. He also co-founded Florida Baptist Academy (which is now Florida Memorial University) and served as its first president from 1892-94. His children would follow in his footsteps with two becoming pastors and two educators. Bro. Gilbert’s calling was education.

who is william gilbert?

By Brother Jonathan A. Matthews

After an early education in the schools of Jacksonville and New York, Rev. Dr. Gilbert sent three of his children, Ruth, William, and Newton to attend Howard Academy’s college preparatory school on Howard University’s campus in 1904. Ruth, two years older than Bro. Gilbert, graduated from Howard Academy in 1907 and enrolled at Howard University later that fall graduating with her degree in 1911. Bro. Gilbert finished Howard Academy in 1908 and followed in his sister’s footsteps enrolling at Howard in the fall of 1908. His brother, Newton, left Howard Academy in 1909, became a licensed minister in 1910, finished his secondary education in New York at the DeWitt Clinton High School in 1911 before entering his father’s alma mater, Colgate University.

Bro. Gilbert thoroughly immersed himself in the activities of Howard as an undergraduate. He was elected president of the freshman class. In the spring of 1909, he was selected by a young, upstart English professor, Ernest Everett Just, to be a part of a new acting organization he was putting together called the Howard University Dramatic Club (now the Howard Players). Just served

as Director while Gilbert was Manager of the Club handling all business affairs. The Club’s first performance of Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer premiered at the Andrew Rankin Chapel to a capacity audience on Friday, April 16, 1909. The performance was a theatrical and financial success. The Howard Journal praised Just for his directorship and training of the all-freshman cast and Bro. Gilbert “who managed the affair in such a manner as to cover himself with glory.” He would go on to manage the Club until he graduated from Howard in 1912 producing and managing three more productions.

After graduating from Howard, Bro. Gilbert pursued a career in education similar to his father and his sister, Ruth, who was teaching at Selma University where their father was president. Bro. Gilbert secured a teaching position at the State University in Louisville, KY (now Simmons College) in 1912. After teaching mathematics there for a year, he became principal of a school in Jackson, AL in 1913 before leaving there to teach printing and mathematics at Southern University and A&M College in 1914. Bro. Gilbert had a background in printing working at Howard’s print shop during his undergraduate years. He taught at Southern until 1918 when he returned to one of his childhood homes, Nashville, TN, to become an instructor of languages, printing, and broom making at the Tennessee A&I Normal School (now Tennessee State University). He taught there until 1925 when he became Ass’t Superintendent for the Sunday School Publishing

Board in Nashville. Health concerns caused Bro. Gilbert to resign that position in 1926. He and his mother, who was his business partner, established the Gilbert Sandwich Shop across the street from Tennessee A&I in 1926, a business he would own and operate until his death in 1928.

Fraternally, Bro. Gilbert was a giant in Omega. While graduating from Howard in 1912, he assisted Alpha Chapter in securing its first Fraternity house at 1907 3rd St., NW in the fall of 1912. With Alpha Chapter owing Bro. Gilbert $25 for house start-up expenses, in 1912, he forgave the debt stating that Brothers should use those funds to purchase coal for the house and that he will send additional funds as soon as he is financially stable with his new employment. Upon moving back to Nashville in 1918, he joined the newly established Delta Chapter in 1919 where he was viewed as a “staunch member of Delta and well versed in all that belongs to Omega.” At the 10th Grand Conclave (December 1921) in Atlanta, Bro. Gilbert was elected Omega’s 4th Editor-to-the-Oracle. Up to that point, only two Oracles had ever been produced. During his tenure, he produced the Oracle on a quarterly basis, established publishing guidelines, and formal submission dates for Chapter updates and information. He also assumed, as part of his Oracle duties, the responsibility for constructing and implementing the second year of the fledgling Campaign for the Study of Negro Literature and History (now Achievement Week) in 1922. Two months after the Conclave, he was appointed Grand Keeper of Records after the sitting holder of that position, Bro. Benjamin Wilbon Clayton (Alpha Chapter 1914) was declared by the Supreme Council disabled “to properly perform the functions of his office.”

Brothers were so pleased with the performance of Bro. Gilbert in these triad positions that they elected him to the newly revised position of Grand Keeper of Finance at the 11th Grand Conclave (December 1922) in Philadelphia (this previous position was Grand Keeper of Seals). Dreer notes in the first history book that “(Bro. Gilbert’s) contribution to Omega’s financial history cannot be praised too highly.” During his two-year tenure, he devised forms for the transfer of funds and issuance of petty cash, installed a new

accounting system utilizing cash and ledger accounts, introduced financial membership cards to Brothers (a first), and oversaw the quadrupling of income to the Fraternity all while maintaining profitability.

His fraternal efforts did not end with his tenure as Grand Keeper of Finance in 1924. In 1925, he became a charter member of the first graduate Chapter in Nashville, Gamma Phi, where he would go on to serve as its second Basileus in 1926-27. Also, in the spring of 1926, he organized the historic Eta Psi Chapter at Fisk University.

Personally, Bro. Gilbert married Sadie Evans from Louisville, KY on January 1, 1924. They established their home in Nashville where Gilbert’s mother, Agnes, lived after the death of her husband, Rev. Dr. Gilbert, in 1917. Unfortunately, tragedy found the Gilberts. Longevity in age was not known to the Gilbert children. Two of Bro. Gilbert’s older siblings died in childhood. His younger sister, Florence, died in 1907 at the age of 15 after a long illness. His brother Newton, who was only a year younger than Bro. Gilbert, died during his senior year at Colgate University at the age of 25. And Bro. William Gilbert would tragically pass on April 10, 1928, at the age of 40 after battling several health issues over the years. Heartbroken over the loss of her son, Bro. Gilbert’s mother, Agnes, fell ill shortly after his funeral and passed away just sixteen days after her son’s death on April 26, 1928. She was 65. Bro. Gilbert’s sister, Ruth, would go on to continue to teach. His youngest brother, Ralph, would take up his father’s mantle and become a prominent minister and civil rights leader in Savannah, GA (he passed at the age of 57 in 1956).

Cast of She Stoops to Conquer, April 1909. Future Omega Men

1st Row: William Henry Pleasants, Charter Line (1st from the right)

2nd Row: Ernest Everett Just, Founder (1st from the left), Clarence Albert Hayes, Charter Line (4th from the right), Moses T. Clayborne, initiated Feb. 28, 1912 (2nd from the right), William Gilbert, Charter Line (1st from the right) Photo courtesy of Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University. Color by @officialoppf

The Oracle History & Archives

DETROIT, MI—Founded in 1941 and activated by President Franklin Roosevelt, the legendary Tuskegee Airmen are marking their 80th anniversary this year and celebrating the opening of a new home for the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum. The World War II fighter squadron’s artifacts and exhibits will now be housed at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.

This national museum provides a place to recognize, display, and celebrate the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen to the defense of the United States during a period in our history when Black people were not thought of as equals to their white counterparts. The military record of the famed World War II Black fighter squadron is worthy of public recognition. It is legendary!

Trained at the segregated Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, these aviators, nicknamed the Red Tails because of the color painted on the tail of their aircraft, flew more than 15,000 individual sorties overseas. They safely escorted and protected numerous American bombers against the German Air Force and had one of the lowest loss records. Their courage and skills resulted in them earning and being awarded Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars, and an airplane full of Distinguished Flying Crosses. They also had a significant impact on the effort to integrate and desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Wright Museum is named for a Detroit African American physician who opened a museum there to promote the preservation of Black history. Among some of its most wellknown and popular collections are those dedicated to the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman. The museum houses more than 35,000 artifacts pertaining to the experience and culture of Black people. The expanded exhibits and historic artifacts will be housed inside the Coleman A. Young Gallery at the Wright Museum. The gallery is named after Detroit’s first African American mayor, who was also a second lieutenant, bombardier, and navigator as a Tuskegee Airman. Prior to the move to the Wright Museum, the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum had been located at Historic Fort Wayne in the Southwest area of the city.

Omega Psi Phi salutes those brave men who were pioneers for Black pilots during World War II and since. Many of them achieved very honorable accomplishments while nobly serving their country. Among the ranks of the brave and courageous men who wore the Tuskegee Airmen uniform were, of course, many sons of Omega.

Charles H. DeBow, Jr. was born on February 13, 1918, in Indianapolis, IN. He developed an interest in flying at a young age. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Indiana University. He was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.,

through Zeta Phi Chapter in Indianapolis, in 1941. He transferred to Hampton Institute in Virginia, where he learned how to fly aircraft. He loved flying so much that he decided to drop out of college. He worked various jobs to save money while continuing to pursue his passion for flying. He eventually enlisted in the United States Army. Not long thereafter, the U.S. War Department announced its acceptance of applications from Black people interested in the Air Force. He knew that joining the Air Force could be his chance to fly full time.

Brother DeBow eagerly applied and was accepted into the Tuskegee Army Air Corps pilot training program. He was a member of the first aviation cohort that began with 13 cadets. Training began on July 19, 1941, with ground school training in subjects such as meteorology, navigation, and instruments. Eight months later, on March 7, 1942, DeBow was one of five of the 13 cadets in this cohort to complete the pilot training program. They earned their silver wings, becoming the nation’s first Black military pilots. He flew with the 99th Fighter Squadron, and

eventually DeBow was promoted to lieutenant. He commanded the 301st Fighter Squadron. In 1943, the 301st Squadron was assigned to Italy where they flew 52 combat missions in the European Theater, including support for D-Day.

One of his greatest military achievements was participating in the North

African Theatre. The Tuskegee Airmen provided air support for General George Patton’s tank corps. Much has been recorded about the Tuskegee Airmen flying support for bombing missions, but their expertise in dive bombing is a lesser known part of their history. When General Patton began the invasion of Sicily, his troops were being battered by

tuskegee airmEn museum dedicated in detroit’s

CHARLES H. WRIGHT MUSEUM

By Brother Damon Scott

German artillery. They were stuck on the beaches, unable to move forward. General Dwight Eisenhower ordered the Tuskegee Airmen based in North Africa to fly over to the mountains overlooking Sicily and knock out the German artillery. Lt. Charles DeBow led the dive bombing mission in this battle. They were victorious and saved the invasion of Sicily. One

of Patton’s generals publicly thanked the Tuskegee dive bombers, saying “Tell those colored pilots thanks for us. They saved the mission.”

Lt. DeBow was interviewed for a feature article in the August 1942 issue of American Magazine. It was titled, “I Got Wings.” In it, he told the story of being asked by a civilian who stopped him on the street in Montgomery and asked “You one of those new colored fliers over at Tuskegee?” When DeBow replied proudly, “Yes, sir,” the man went on to query “What do you boys want to fly for, anyhow?” The pilot recounted his response. “First of all, I’m flying for Uncle Sam. We’re in a war for the future. Our democracy isn’t perfect, but I want no part of fascism. Maybe tomorrow, maybe months from tomorrow, I might be shipped off for combat duty. East or West, I don’t care which.

“I’m flying for Dad and Mom, too. Dad’s a porter in a white barbershop in Indianapolis, making $30 a week, and Mom used to earn $20 more as a maid in a department store. Both of them gave up comforts and vacations to see me through school. I can’t let them down. Finally, I’m flying for every one of the 12,000,000 Negroes in the United States. I want to prove that we can take a tough job and handle it just as well as a white man. God didn’t fit me to be a great educator like Booker T. Washington, or a great scientist like George Washington Carver. But maybe I can fly so that nobody can ever again say, ‘Oh, Negroes are all right as janitors and handymen, but they can’t learn to fly, or fight, or be good officers.’”

I think all of us at Tuskegee feel that way. We’ve got double duty–to our country and to our race. That goes not only for the fliers, but for the ground crews, and doctors, and executive officers, and radio specialists, and supply men . . . everybody. We’ve all got a job to do–and we’re going to see it through!

After the war ended, DeBow returned to Indiana, earned a Master’s degree from Butler University in Indianapolis, and a second one from Indiana University in Bloomington. He taught high school English and was an Associate Lecturer in English at Indiana University and Purdue University. Brother Charles DeBow entered Omega Chapter on April 4th, 1986, at the age of 68.

George S. “Spanky” Roberts was born September 24, 1918, in London, WV, a small town in Kanawha County.

Brother Roberts graduated from high school prior to his 16th birthday and matriculated to West Virginia State College, now West Virginia State University. According to records, he was initiated into Omega through Theta Psi Chapter in 1935. In 1941, Brother Roberts became the first African American cadet accepted for pilot training in the Army Air Corps. He was also a member of the first graduating class. He was appointed the second commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron, succeeding General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., another member of that initial class. During the war, he commanded the 332nd Fighter Group, which consisted of four fighter squadrons. In 1948, after desegregation of the U.S. Armed Forces, Brother Roberts became the first Black commander of an integrated U.S. Air Force unit. He retired with the rank of Colonel in 1968 after 27 years of active duty. Brother George Roberts entered Omega Chapter on March 8, 1984 at the age of 65.

Luke J. Weathers, Jr, was born December 16, 1920, in Grenada, Mississippi. He was studying biology at Lane College in Jackson, TN, when he was initiated into Omega in 1940 through Epsilon Phi Chapter in Memphis. He later attended Xavier University in New Orleans, where he learned about the Tuskegee Airmen. He enlisted in 1942.

He rose to the rank of Captain, during which time one of his assignments was to escort a crippled bomber back home, after a raid over Austria. During the escort, he encountered eight German Messerschmitts fighter craft. They were set to finish off the bomber. Captain Weathers courageously ordered two fighters under his command to continue escorting the bomber, which left him to face the eight German fighters alone. He aimed straight at the enemy and quickly shot down two of them, disrupting their formation, which caused the remaining German pilots to turn tail and retreat.

It was that type of bravery during his storied career that earned Brother Weathers both a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross with seven clusters for the dozens of missions he flew over Europe and North Africa during World War II. In 1960, after strenuous testing, Brother Weathers was accepted for employment in the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) as an Air Traffic Controller. Then in 1965, after achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he became the first African American Air Traffic Controller in Memphis, TN.

Bro. Luke Weathers entered Omega Chapter on October 15, 2011, at the age of 90, and was laid to rest in Section 64 of Arlington National Cemetery.

Dr. Lincoln J. Ragsdale Sr., was born on July 27, 1926, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was trained as one of the pioneering African American fighter pilots of World War II. Later he became a civil rights leader and entrepreneur in Phoenix and the Southwest. After graduating from the Tuskegee Army Air Corps pilot training program, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in 1945. He was then relocated to Luke Air Field in Arizona. He was part of the government’s first steps to integrate the armed forces, becoming one of the first Black pilots to serve at that location.

Brother Ragsdale was initiated into Omega through Phi Iota Chapter in 1948. He graduated from Arizona State University, and later received a Doctorate of Business Administration from Union Graduate School. After settling in Phoenix, he became one of the leaders of the local NAACP, Phoenix Urban League, and other civic organizations fighting racism in Phoenix. In 1953, Brother Ragsdale helped desegregate Phoenix’s most affluent and segregated neighborhood, as well as helped desegregate Phoenix high schools, one year before the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education.

Brother Ragsdale also helped desegregate Phoenix’s most influential corporations as early as 1962, including Motorola and General Electric. Between 1963 and 1992, he fought for diversity in Phoenix’s public and private sectors, and for entrepreneurial opportunities for people of color in Arizona. Brother Ragsdale also played a major role in the Martin Luther King Holiday movement in Arizona, an effort that ended after twenty years of struggle to get the state to recognize the federal holiday.

In a 1983 interview with The Arizona Republic about his experience as a Tuskegee Airman, 2nd Lieutenant Ragsdale described the psychological lift the squadron provided for African Americans. “I remember when we used to walk through Black neighborhoods, right after the war, and little kids would run up to us and touch our uniforms, and they’d ask ‘Mister, can you really fly an airplane?’ The Tuskegee Airmen gave Black people a reason to be proud.” In a subsequent interview in 1990, he stated, “I wanted to be a pilot because I wanted to prove something. The papers said that Blacks could not do it . . . I wanted to prove that we could do it. We were very segregated; the Army was segregated . . . the Navy was segregated. We couldn’t use any of the facilities. We were treated as second-class citizens, but the only way

to change something is to prove that you can do something.”

Brother Ragsdale entered Omega Chapter on June 9, 1995, at the age of 68. His name lives on throughout the state that he called home for 50 years. Arizona State University established the Dr. Lincoln J. Ragsdale Memorial Scholarship, named in his honor. The local Phoenix chapter of the Tuskegee Airman is co-named after him, and the Executive Terminal at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport also bears his name.

Jerry T. Hodges, Jr. - All of these stalwart Omega men were contemporaries of Brother Jerry T. Hodges, Jr., who will be 96 years old this year and still maintains his active membership with Omega. Brother Hodges was born in Arkansas on June 29, 1925. After his high school graduation, he enrolled in Hampton Institute in 1943. The U.S. was engaged in World War II at the time, so Brother Hodges enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1944. In September of that year, he was shipped to Tuskegee with about 60 other cadets, for preflight training and cadet corps. With all Black instructors in primary

and basic training, his was the first class to fly B-25 twin engine bombers solo without an instructor. He graduated in 1945 as a 2nd Lieutenant in a class of 37, which originally had 70 cadets. It was the largest class at that time to graduate from Tuskegee. As a Tuskegee-trained pilot, he accumulated about 560 hours of flying time, including approximately 400 hours flying the B-25 bomber.

He was discharged from the service at the end of 1946 and decided to go back to Hampton for spring semester 1947. He arrived on campus just after Omega had chartered Gamma Epsilon at Hampton in the fall of 1946, and in April 1947, Brother Hodges became a member of the first pledge class initiated after the chapter was chartered.

It was around that time, Brother Hodges admitted, that he realized he didn’t much care for the east coast. He had family living in California at the time, so he decided to apply to business school at the University of Southern California (USC), where he was accepted and enrolled as a sophomore in the fall of 1947. He graduated in the spring of 1950 with

a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting. Brother Hodges reflected on both his tenure in Omega, as well as his experience as a Tuskegee Airman. When he arrived in Los Angeles, there were only two chapters throughout the greater metropolitan area. When he joined Lambda, for undergraduates, there were approximately 100 brothers active in the chapter.

Upon his graduation from USC, he then affiliated with the graduate chapter, Lambda Omicron. There, he would become Keeper of Records and Seal, and eventually Keeper of Finance. During his tenure, the Grand Basileus visited Los Angeles and heard Brother Hodges give his chapter KF report. The Grand was so impressed with his presentation, he asked him to serve as chairman of the International Budget and Finance Committee.

At that time, national dues had been $8 ever since they were established. He made a recommendation to increase dues to $15. He was concerned that the increase might have a negative impact on membership; thankfully it did not. He recalls that there were about 10,000 financial brothers at the time.

Brother Hodges joined the Los Angeles chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen about two years after it was started. Given the leadership skills that he displayed in Omega, it is not surprising that he eventually became vice president of the local chapter of the Tuskegee Airman.

He was also a member of the board of directors for the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation, and subsequently became its chairman. Its assets totaled around $800,000 when his tenure as chairman started; over a period of 12 years, he helped build the budget to $2.3 million! The

money raised by the Foundation is awarded for scholarships to freshmen attending any two year college or four year university. The study of aerospace is emphasized, however, scholarships are awarded for any field of study.

When asked what he would like our current and future generations to know about the Tuskegee Airmen, Brother Hodges talked about the difficulty in getting the Tuskegee Airmen training program started. During the war, some pilots were shot down in enemy territory in Germany and Northern Italy, and others were even lynched! Nonetheless, he is proud of the history and success of the fighter group that proved Black people could be excellent pilots. He added that originally fighter squadrons escorted the bombers to the target and were supposed to then leave the squadron on their own. However, then-Colonel Benjamin O. Davis changed that practice and commanded them to stay with the bombers over the target until they

got back home safely, which is what endeared the Tuskegee Airmen to the bomber squadrons.

Brother Hodges feels very fortunate to have had the life experience of a Tuskegee Airman, and has already contributed to the new museum

home. He thinks it is a great idea to help perpetuate the name and careers of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. It is fitting that the history and accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen, many of whom also happened to be Omega Men, will be chronicled and displayed in a museum founded by, and named after, Dr. Charles H. Wright, who himself was an Omega Man. He was an active member of Detroit’s Nu Omega Chapter, which provided some of the public funding for the establishment of the museum in 1965. It was the largest collection of its kind in the United States, until it was surpassed by the Smithsonian Museum of African-American History in Washington DC.

Now, the Wright Museum has another storied history to tell . . . that of the brave and courageous Tuskegee Airmen.

THE VIOLENCE! can omega stop

By Brother Robert Warren, Jr. Esq.

For most of my life, I have toggled between abject cynicism and cautious optimism. I am cynical because I see life in purely pragmatic terms and have dealt with enough disappointments to understand that the universe is often arbitrary and capricious. However, my faith has continued to comfort and inform me that, during darkness, God provides light. The recent spate of rising gun violence in our communities has the cynic in me wondering if we will ever see this light.

New York City, Chicago, and Washington, DC are three American cities under siege from gun violence. I grew up in New York and have lived in the DC area for over 40 years. There have always been neighborhoods in my hometown and my adopted city where I always double-checked to ensure that my vehicle was locked, that my head remained on a swivel, and that I had checked any venue for adequate escape routes. I have only been a visitor to the Windy City, but gun violence in the Black Chicago community has been a scourge for decades as well.

In July 2021, a six-year-old Black girl, Nyiah Courtney, was killed in Southeast Washington, DC, by a bullet that was obviously not meant for her, but ended her short, beautiful life, nonetheless. Her mother was critically wounded in the same shooting and at the time of this writing, had not been informed that her baby girl was dead. Ironically, the shooting occurred at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard, named to honor two of our heroes who died far too young by gunfire. I wonder if the gunmen who decided to engage in this shootout that ended Nyiah’s life ever glanced up at the street signs and asked, “what would Dr. King and Minister Malcolm think about what we came here to do?” In my most cynical self, I doubt that these murderers even know what Martin and Malcolm worked to accomplish in their 39 years on this earth.

Black people live in an America that is roiled by racism, injustice, and inequality. This is our bitter legacy as the descendants of enslaved Africans. The cynic in me expects mistreatment from White people. I also am not shocked when White people commit acts of violence against Black people. I remember a few years ago leaving a restaurant in downtown DC, following an Alpha Chapter Charter Day dinner, when I walked into a phalanx of MAGA hat wearing loons. The smirk on my face belied

the underlying fear that if I did not get clear of these folks and pick up my pace, I could possibly end up like Solomon Northup in “12 Years A Slave.”

I joke and I digress, but my point is that if and when the police apprehend Nyiah’s murderers, they will not be wearing MAGA hats, and I am one hundred percent certain that they will be young, Black men. Nyiah is not the only Black pre-teen child felled by a bullet in the last few months, but her murder has shaken me to my core. Six-year-old babies dying by gunfire is not normal and should not be acceptable. Nyiah’s death made the front page of The Washington Post and was headline news, but usually Black children and young people dying by gunfire are at the back end of the Metro section right next to the weather forecast. That is how commonplace gun deaths have become in our communities. No one cares and our lives are not “newsworthy.” The Washington Post also reported that over the last three years, 40,302 gunshots have been fired in the District of Columbia. That breaks down to 13,434 gunshots per year and almost 37 gunshots per day in the purported Capital of the Free World. Maybe that is why death by gun is not newsworthy and gets mentioned just before the weather. A Black person dying by gunfire has become as common as rain.

I am not a sociologist or a psychologist, so I will not pretend to understand how we came to a point where young Black lives are as fungible as day-old bread. I know that the aforementioned post-traumatic stress disorder of slavery, Jim Crow and the like have some root causes. In my non-scientific analysis, I considered that the tragic rush of “crack babies” who were born in the early-to-mid 1980’s is approaching middle age. Some of these individuals may well be grandparents at this point. The natal feeling of hopelessness and despair that these forgotten and neglected children of the 1980’s were born into has now become multi-generational hopelessness and despair. One Black man formerly incarcerated for murder explained the reason behind this cavalier attitude

towards taking a life thusly, “if I feel that my life is worthless, then your life is worthless to me as well.”

Omega has made significant strides in its mentoring efforts with the Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative, the Youth Leadership Academy, our partnerships with the My Brother’s Keeper program and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, as well as the countless other programs that chapters are conducting on a local level. Omega is not absent in this struggle and we should be proud of and encouraged by our collective efforts. However, for all the young Black men that we have steered on the right path, we are obviously missing so many others. Many of our mentees have at least one parent or guardian who will bring them to our Omega houses or partner colleges. It may be time to meet the young men we seemingly cannot reach where they are, in those neighborhoods where the violence seems to be at its worst.

As Omega takes its rightful place at the tip of the spear of this fight, we must recognize and address the cancer of violence within our ranks. We cannot preach “stop the violence,” “put down the guns,” and “Black men, stop killing Black men,” when we allow and ignore the prevalence of intra-fraternal violence among Omega Men. Most Brothers who will read this editorial understand the value of Friendship and live their lives accordingly. Sadly, the demographic of those Brothers who believe that violence among Omega Men is both acceptable and, in some cases, traditional, is larger than one may believe, based on conversations that I have had personally, and many conversations that I have “ear-hustled.” The motives and rationales that lead to Brothers physically attacking each other are just as pointless and trivial as the motives and rationales behind gun violence in the streets. Different chapters are analogous to different neighborhood crews. Not knowing Omega’s history adequately has a similar outcome to being in an unfamiliar and hostile area. In both Omega and the streets, a hard look or a sharp retort may result in a violent outcome.

If Omega is going to put its human, financial, and spiritual resources into bringing peace to our beleaguered communities, we must first have an honest self-examination. In many instances, we are hypocrites. We decry the senseless murders of Black children and young adults at the hands of other Black children and young adults. Yet, we are willing to exonerate Brothers for exhibiting the same sociopathic behavior within our ranks. Either we will be problem solvers to the violence in our communities, or by our actions, we will tacitly support that same violence. We must do better. Omega deserves better and the communities that we serve deserve better. The cautious optimist in me dearly wants to win this internal battle with the abject cynic.

In Friendship, Brother

Robert C. Warren, Jr., Esq.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (“OPP”) has formed its own insurance company. Pan Global Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OPP, a licensed captive insurance company. Owning a captive means that part of OPP ‘s premium and interest thereon that covers part of OPP’s insurance will remain within OPP’s control and not with third-party insurers. At the same time, OPP’s liability will be covered as if a third-party insurance company covered the liability.

The decision to create its own insurance company underwent years of analysis. Most recently, OPP hired Artex Risk Solutions, a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., one of the world’s largest Insurance brokerages, to extensively review OPP’s risk and insurance coverages. The study validated OPP’s analysis concluding coverage of OPP’s liabilities is profitable for third-party carriers. It also concluded that OPP could cover its own risk and, at the same time, maintain the profitability of coverage.

Although many did not believe that OPP could meet the prerequisites to establish its own captive insurance company, OPP did meet the stringent requirements. After intense and detailed review by the District of Columbia insurance regulators, Pan Global LTD was issued its certificate of authority on October 22, 2020.

Initially, Pan Global is providing only OPP’s excess insurance coverage. It provides excess liability coverage over OPP’s two primary commercial insurance policies while mitigating loss expense and providing stability in loss cost financing. While covering OPP’s excess liability, Pan Global gives OPP the flexibility in choosing retention levels, the ability to fund future losses, and lessen the impact of insurance market fluctuations, which has not been kind to OPP.

Brother Lonnie Liston Smith, Jr. received an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts at Morgan State University’s 2021 commencement. Bro. Dr. Smith was initiated at Pi Chapter (1958) and graduated in 1961 from the University. Prior to the commencement, Dr. David K. Wilson, University president, told Smith the Board of Regents had voted unanimously, a rarity. It marked a high point for one of the country’s greatest jazz-soul-funk musicians. Although Brothers are familiar with his music, it is only recent they are becoming aware that he is an Omega Man.

Bro. Smith and his two brothers were always surrounded by music at their home in Richmond, Virginia. His father sang tenor with the gospel group, The Harmonizing Four. Eleanor Roosevelt invited then to sing at the funeral of her husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Gospel singers, like Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Five Blind Boys, Clara Ward, Rev. James Cleveland and others, were frequent visitors to the home. Bro. Smith’s father never stood in the way of his sons becoming musicians.

A Greyhound bus carried Bro. Smith to Baltimore in 1957, and he lived off-campus while at Morgan. Bro. John Stevenson (Pi, 1958), a military veteran, influenced Bro. Smith toward the Fraternity. Pi Chapter sponsored a Sunday Jazz Show in Holmes Hall with Lamps Smith on piano, Stevenson on alto saxophone, Julius Glover on bass, along with James Allen (Pi, 1957) on drums. It was an energized standing-room crowd every Sunday. Smith played at the Royal Theater and numerous jazz clubs to include The Red Foxx, backing Ethel Ennis, and The North End Lounge, which featured noted jazz groups. Smith played with a saxophone player and drummer in the City’s famous strip clubs on Baltimore

lonnie liston smith

receives doctorate in fine arts

By Brother Dr. Walter Gill with Bro. Craig Owens

Street. Recently, when asked about the girls stripping, he responded, “I was too busy playing, so I never looked up.”

Smith has played with Pharaoh Sanders, Gato Barbieri, Max Roach, and Miles Davis; had a gig with Art Blakey; and has backed Betty Carter. In 1973, he formed Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes. Several of his albums are considered classics in the fusion, quiet storm, smooth jazz and acid genres. In the 1990s, Smith became involved with “Guru Jazzmataz: Volume One” (Rap meets jazz) and was discovered by a new audience. He has two hit singles with Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z. Blige sampled Smith’s “A Garden of Peace” in her “Take Me as I Am” and Jay-Z sampled “Garden of Peace” in “Dead President.”

In 2016, Smith was recognized as Morgan Alumnus of the Year. He and Maysa gave a concert at Morgan’s Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center in 2017. During Morgan’s 2019 Homecoming weekend, Smith played at Keystone Korner in Baltimore. Early on, Smith realized the healing power of music, especially with African Americans since coming to these shores. ” I love the Fraternity and am grateful for all the fraternal friendships I have made over the years. Peace”

ON MANAGING UNCERTAINTY uplifting brothers

By Brother Luis Hines, Ph.D., LMHC, LPC

Since the Fraternity is reopening back to business and district meetings are in its planning stages. There are uncertainties hovering over expectations of “Where Do We Go from Here”? Businesses and personal lives are preparing to resume “normalcy” . There comes this anxiety, fear and uncertainty.

Fear and uncertainty can leave you feeling stressed, anxious, and powerless over the direction of your life. It can drain you emotionally and trap you in a downward spiral of endless “what-ifs” and worst-case scenarios about what tomorrow may bring.

I know we are all different in how much uncertainty we can tolerate in life. Some brothers seem to enjoy taking risks and living unpredictable lives, while other brothers find the randomness of life deeply distressing. But all of us have a limit. If you feel overwhelmed by uncertainty and worry, it’s important to know that you’re not alone; many of us are in the same boat. It’s also important to realize that no matter how helpless and hopeless you feel, there are steps you can take to better deal with uncontrollable circumstances, alleviate your anxiety and face the unknown with more enthusiasm, and confidence.

Tip 1: Take action over the things you can control.

Much about life is uncertainty at the moment – and many things remain outside of your control. But while you can’t control the spread of a virus, the recovery of the economy, or whether you’ll have a paycheck next week, you’re not totally powerless. Whatever your fears or personal circumstances, instead of worrying about the uncontrollable, try to refocus your mind on taking action over aspects that are within your control.

Tip 2: Challenge your need for certainty.

While uncertainty and change are inescapable parts of life, we often adopt behaviors to try to cope with the discomfort they can bring such as excessively seeking reassurance from others, micromanaging people and relationships, procrastinating, and repeatedly checking things.

By challenging your need for certainty, brothers can begin to let go of negative behaviors, reduce stress and worry and free up time and energy for more practical purposes.

Tip 3: Learn to accept uncertainty.

No matter how much brothers you strive to eliminate doubt and volatility from your life, the truth is you already accept a lot of uncertainty every day, i.e., crossing the street, getting behind the wheel of a car, hanging out with da Bruhs or celebrating at an event you’re accepting a level of uncertainty. To help you become more accepting and tolerant of uncertainty, here are some tips: Know your triggers, recognize your physical and emotional cues, allow yourself to face the fears and it will pass, and let go and accept that uncertainty is a part of life.

Tip 4: Focus on the present.

One of the surest ways to avoid worrying about the future is to focus on the present. Instead of trying to predict what might happen, focus your attention on what’s happening right now. Brothers, you can learn to purposely focus your attention on the present through mindfulness practice by following an audio meditation or incorporating it into an exercise program.

Tip 5: Manage stress and anxiety.

Most brothers engage in some form of physical activities. Exercise is a natural and effective stress-reliever and anti-anxiety treatment. Try relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing, and meditation and try to set aside time each day for regular practice. Get plenty of sleep and rest. Eating a well-balanced healthy meals can help maintain your energy and help regulate your overall moods.

Lemuel Julian

Haywood, MD, was Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Southern California and Hon-

ored

Clinical Professor of

Medicine at

Loma

Linda University, serving there for over 52 years. He authored or co-authored over 600 scientific publications, focusing on hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, sickle cell disease, and computer applications in cardiology. Dr. Haywood recently wrote Cardiology at the Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center: A Personal History, published in February 2020. Notable among his many accomplishments, he established one of the first coronary care units on the west coast and led a team that developed the first computerized system for real-time heart arrhythmia detection in 1969. He

THE LEGACY OF DR. L. JULIAN HAYWOOD

ALPHA CHAPTER, SPRING 1945 | GAMMA EPSILON CHAPTER, FOUNDER 1947

Compiled By Brother Jonathan R. Matthews and Brother Tarkin Jones

was among the first black physicians to be appointed a full professor of medicine at a majority institution.

Born April 13, 1927, Dr. Haywood was the fifth of six children born to Thomas Woodly Haywood, M.D., and Louise Viola Hayley Haywood. He completed his early education in the segregated schools of his hometown of Warrenton, NC, where his father practiced as the area’s first African American physician (and the only one for decades) and his mother taught grade school. After graduating from John R. Hawkins High School in 1944, he entered the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program (AsTRP) at Howard University in Washington, D.C., during World

War II. Dr. Haywood was introduced to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. by Bro William Green and Bro Sgt Robert Smith. It was here where he was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity through Alpha Chapter on March 3, 1945.

The end of the war resulted in his discharge in 1945, after which he transferred to Hampton Institute (now University) that September, in Hampton, VA where his four older siblings attended. In the fall of 1945, when he arrived on campus, he was concerned that there were no fraternities or sororities there, although there were non-Greek social organizations. He began to research whether the current ban on

fraternities and sororities was “ironclad” and approached the new Dean of Students who ironically also just came from Howard University.

He received sponsorship from Professor Bro. Arthur Burke (Eta Tau 1939) and Professor Bro. Arthur Mosely (Epsilon Iota 1946) and Hampton officials decided to allow fraternities and sororities to establish Chapters at the school for the first time in its history. Dr. Haywood, along with two other transfer Omega men, Emmett Lee, Jr. (initiated at Rho Psi Chapter) and Alonzo Bryant (initiated at Lambda Sigma Chapter), petitioned and filed the paperwork to the Third District to charter a Chapter at Hampton in the late fall

of 1946. On December 27, 1946, the first day of the 33rd Grand Conclave in Ft. Worth, TX, the Fraternity approved the chartering of a Chapter at Hampton, assigning the name Gamma Epsilon to the new Chapter. On Saturday, February 8, 1947, Third District Representative Harry Penn initiated 15 men into the newly formed Gamma Epsilon Chapter at Hampton Institute chartered on February 12, 1947, with Dr. Haywood serving as the Chapter’s first Basileus. During his time on campus, the chapter initiated 45 Brothers over three lines in the spring and fall of 1947 including Bro. Thomas Casey (first black man initiated into the Canadian Football HOF), Bro William Kearney (Founder of Hampton’s Mass Media Department and campus radio station WHOV), Alphonso Knight (Hampton Director of Alumni Affairs), and Bro. Jerry T Hodges (Tuskegee Airman). When selecting candidates, he sought men who were “serious, capable, and had character”.

Dr. Haywood graduated from Hampton in 1948, where he earned a B.S. degree in biology with high honors. He then returned to Howard University as a medical student in the College of Medicine, receiving his M.D. degree in 1952. After completing

an internship at St. Mary’s Hospital (affiliated with the University of Rochester and Georgetown University schools of medicine) in Rochester, NY, he entered the residency program in psychiatry at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and was assigned to the affiliated Roanoke Veterans Affairs Hospital in Roanoke. However, after six months, he resigned from this position when he was refused on-site housing based on race. He was accepted into the residency program in internal medicine back at Howard, headed by Dr. John B. Johnson, under whom he had served a summer fellowship before receiving his M.D. degree. Drafted into the service during the Korean War, he entered the Navy in 1954 and served most of his time as a medical officer at the U.S. Naval Depot in Bayonne, NJ. He began a residency in internal medicine at the Los Angeles County General Hospital in September 1956 and served as professor of medicine at Loma Linda University in 1960. In 1963, Dr. Haywood joined the USC School of Medicine faculty. He was a professor of coronary care and cardiology and established and served as the Director of its Coronary Care Unit and the Coronary Care Outpatient Follow-up clinic in 1966. In 1963, he was also a traveling Fellow at the Radcliffe In-

firmary in Oxford, England. Further, in 1972, he was named Director and principal investigator for the USC Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center.

Dr. Haywood was among the first physicians to document the effectiveness of bedside EKG monitoring. Cardiac arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that can develop in an instant and then quickly, and sometimes fatally, spiral out of control. Bro L. Julian Haywood sought a way to continuously monitor the heart for such rhythm changes and alert nurses and doctors when an anomaly was detected and, in 1969, developed a prototype and software of a digital heart rhythm monitor to detect heart rhythm abnormalities in heart attack patients. This prototype is now retained at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. (https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/ nmaahc_2017.42).

Dr. Haywood developed the first coronary care unit training program for nurses and trained over 300 cardiovascular specialists in addition to undergraduate medical and post-graduate students.

He authored or co-authored over 600 publications and received recognition from many medical organizations, including the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians, National Institutes of Health and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences.

Dr. Haywood received numerous awards and accolades, including the Howard University Alumni Achievement Award during its Charter Day in March 1982, Distinguished Alumnus of Hampton University, the

Dr. Julian Haywood, continued

American College of Cardiology Certificate of Merit, the American Heart Association Award of Achievement in Research, and the White Memorial Medical Center Commitment to Quality Research Award. He was one of the founders of the Association of Black Cardiologists in 1974 and helped establish and lead the Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation. In 2015, USC established the L. Julian Haywood Visiting Professorship in Cardiovascular Medicine. A year later, the University named the coronary care unit at the Los Angeles County+University of Southern California Medical Center in Los Angeles the Dr. L. Julian Haywood Coronary Care Unit in his honor. Ever mindful of his roots, Dr. Haywood donated the family property to the Town of

Warrenton to establish the town’s first park, the Hayley Haywood Park, named to honor his father and his mother’s family’s contributions as prominent citizens, which was dedicated in May 2018. In June 2020, the Gamma Epsilon Alumni Association presented Dr. Haywood with an appreciation award and a life membership to the Fraternity for his service and accomplishments to the Chapter, University, and the medical profession.

Dr. Haywood entered Omega Chapter at the age of 93 on December 24, 2020 due to complications from COVID-19. He is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Virginia Elizabeth “Betty” (Paige) Haywood, son Julian Anthony (Tony) Hay-

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

wood, several nephews, nieces, and grandnieces, and numerous cousins.

“A CALL FOR BROTHERS TO BE SITUATIONALLY AWARE ABOUT THEIR PROSTATE HEALTH”

What is the meaning of situational awareness?

By Brother Lyndon “Lyn” Roane

To be “situationally aware” or SA. I’m positive our military and law enforcement brethren have embraced the term in more ways than one. In this context it’s simply increased awareness of what is going on around us and applying known and unknown information so we can make decisions for our safety and of loved ones. Information can be gleaned from things seen and unseen from our operating environment with the end result being putting those pieces of information together for future actions. This information can develop a good idea of what is going on, and then using it to predict what might happen next. However, what happens in those circumstance when there is an enemy working silently against you. So, what’s your SA on your prostrate health Bruh?

It’s not as easy a conversation as following your favorite team or who set Owt the baddest hop, but it’s warranted. Here’s why.

Prostate cancer in our community is known as the silent killer. Why? Simply because we overwhelmingly choose not to go to our physician or urologist to have such a discussion. If you’re a Bruh over a 40 along with getting a colonoscopy, a prostrate exam should be a procedure also requested. It could be normal, but what if it isn’t? Our ‘manhood’ isn’t lessened. We all need help.

For men suffering from prostate cancer, the normal symptoms can vary from frequent or painful urination, painful ejaculation, or a decrease in the amount of ejaculate, pain in the back, hips, or thighs, blood in semen or urine, weak urine stream, unintentional weight loss, erectile dysfunction to name a few. Fortunately, in my case I had none of these symptoms. None! But this is the benefit of seeing medical professional. After some initial blood work as part of my annual physical, my physician discovered elevated PSA levels. Further testing garnered additional

fluctuating levels at which time my urologist ordered a biopsy to be on the safe side. After the biopsy and a nerve wrecking two-week wait with many thoughts, I was found to in fact have prostate cancer. Diagnosis showed it was localized in three primary areas.

There were no words that could have quantified how this was a major blow for me. How could this happen as I always was responsible through my adult years of maintaining great health and regular checkups. But nonetheless, it happened. The process was a tremendous letdown causing me to go through many levels of stress and anxiety. Yes, the fear of the unknown gets the best of many and was the most agonizing factor in this situation. Going every day not knowing how fast progression will be, what will be the underlying effects, will I be able to overcome this were all questions I asked myself internally daily. But all was not lost and this chapter has a great ending. For there came a day I said to myself, “Lyn this is not you”. Many who know my journey recognize I’m a man who has never feared and backed down from anything or anyone in my Life! My faith in God and resilience have sustained me through some seemingly tough situations. I made a conscientious choice this challenge I’m facing would be no different. I made a decision that I would beat this by any means necessary and that I would not send myself down a course of despair. “See it through”

Growing up I never had a brother. One of the major joys for me in my Life is when I became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc on March 19th, 1994. On this day, I become affiliated with the greatest Fraternity in the world. As men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. we set the stage. Everywhere you go people always want to know what the Ques are doing and where the Ques are going to be. Our tenacity makes us different from the

other Fraternities.

That same tenacious aspect or spirit of our world needs to fuel and catapult us as Omega Men to be more situationally aware of our health and be incredibly aggressive as it pertains to be managing all aspects of health. When there is an issue go get checked out. Take the aggressive steps to set pride aside of thinking that going to the doctor makes you less of a man. It simply does not.

In our world you always hear of the Bruz being OWT! Owt at the tailgate, Owt on the Yard, Owt at the party and many others. Why not as Omega Men we be vigorous about being OWT for Health and Wellness? Make no mistake. The world we live in needs Omega Men in massive numbers. We cannot be that if we are ashamed and lack the due diligence as it pertains to our health. November has traditionally been a time when men’s health awareness is raised. But it’s also the month we celebrate through Achievement Week and Rededication Ceremonies our great fraternity. As a brother of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, I implore the Brothers to be situationally aware of their well-being. Omega needs you all in good health holding the principles of our great Fraternity. Take the time to rededicate to our beloved fraternity and also check on our chapter and line brothers. I challenge you to do it before we celebrate at the 2022 Conclave in Charlotte. Know we’ve done our part in “Lifting as We Climb”. God Bless you all.

Bro. Fred Lowery SVP/Pres, Customer Channels Thermo Fisher Scientific

Bro. james ray EO -Stanley Black & Decker (Ret)

Bro. David henry GM- Connected Home Div NETGEAR

Bro. lenny mcneill VP- U.S. Bank Strategic Markets and Consumer Lending

Bro. dennis r. maple CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Goddard Systems, Inc.

Bro. l.p. green CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Savoy Venture Partners

Bro. edward walters SVP - Lincoln Financial Group

Bro. DARYL BUTLER VP of Marketing, Google

Bro. bennett l. gaines SR VP, Corporate Services, and CIO (Ret) FirstEnergy Corp

Bro. j. ofori agboka VP, for people eXperience and Technology (PXT) for Global Operations - Amazon

The Omega Corporate Task Force will host a series of panels at the 2022 Grand Conclave for all financial members to gain knowledge and have access to key resources in achieving financial independence and navigating corporate America.

Bro. dwight gibson CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BlueLinx

Bro. mike wright VP, Head of HR and Diversity Practice Seiden Krieger Associates

Bro. george washington PresIDENT George Mason University

Bro. quentin roach VP/Supply Chain CPO Mondelēz International

Bro. grady l. crosby VP- Public Affairs/CDO/Pres Johnson Controls Foundation

Bro. stafford thompson SVP of Life Product Management Lincoln Financial Group

Bro. DERRIC GREGORY SR. VP/General Auditor CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Bro. jeff tate VP/CFO Leggett & Platt

Bro. netha johnson PresIDENT Bromine Specialties

IOTA CHI PLAYS A ROLE IN OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.

INTERNATIONAL FATHER’S DAY PROGRAM & CELEBRATION

By Brothers Francios fils-Aime & Lourenco Lopes, Cambridge, MA & Phoenix, AZ

For close to 2 hours on Father’s Day, June 20, 2021, Brothers from all over the world celebrated virtually by means of the Inaugural International Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Father’s Day Program and Celebration. The theme of the program was Fathers celebrating Fatherhood.

This program was birthed in 2020 as a collaborative partnership between Brothers of The Phi Iota Chapter Phoenix, AZ 12th District and The Iota Chi Chapter Cambridge, 1st District Cambridge, MA, when they hosted an exceptional virtual Father’s Day celebration. The event included words of wisdom and reflection led by Brothers Francois R. FilsAime II, Immediate Past District Representative of the First District, and Lourenco Lopes, Jr., Basileus of the Phi Iota Chapter of Phoenix, Az.

This year’s program celebration consisted of virtual Father’s Day forums observed from June 13-June 18 throughout each District. These recorded forums were then sent to the International Headquarters to edit and organize. Finally, one video from each District was presented during the celebration on June 20, 2021.

Brother Chris Collins (Epsilon Chi 1995) moderated this year’s program seamlessly, moving it along. Greetings and salutations were provided by Brothers Lennitt Bligen, Jr. DR of the Formidable 1st District, Kwame Dow D.R. of the Massive and Progressive 12th District, and Lourenco Lopes, Jr., Basileus of Phi Iota Chapter from the Massive and Progressive 12th District.

The program opened with a prayer from the Formidable First District Chaplain Bro. Anthony B. Lilley. 12th District Chaplain Bro. Chris Clemons then closed out the program with a prayer.

Bro. 1st Vice Grand Basileus Ricky Lewis shared prophetic words and recollection of what Fatherhood meant to him before Bro. Grand Marion shared his remarks. Bro. Grand Basileus Marion marveled the attendees with his accounts of Fatherhood and his journey and experiences, which included various life lessons. This keynote address by Bro. Grand Marion was riveting and hit home with all participants, Brothers and guests alike.

The Fraternity is looking forward to having this virtual celebration again to bring consciousness to Father’s Day highlighting the wonders of Fatherhood. The opportunities that modern technology allows us to share how mentors, guardians, and even women, shape Omega men to be the positive members of their communities and to Omega at large, is priceless. This virtual celebration has never been done before within any other similar organizations. It will be a model for others to witness and view on a grand stage and platform for years to come. In closing, we would like to extend a very special and sincere Thank You to and for the efforts of Bro. 1st Vice DR Bro. Andrew Davis of the 12th District, the Fatherhood Task Force, Supreme Council, IHQ, and 12th District Tech Team. In closing, we look forward to making this event bigger and better in our Conclave year of 2022. F.I.E.T.T.S.

FOR CHI OMICRON BROTHER FULL CIRCLE

By Brother Darnell Tucker New Haven, CT

Some of life’s best lessons are learned at the worst times. For Brother Pastor Quavon Newton (2015 Chi Omicron), that’s exactly what was needed for him to grow into the man he was ultimately destined to become. Quavon was born August 13, 1986, in Harlem, New York. His parents are Pastor Ezekiel and Alice Newton. All his life he was told that he would be a preacher just like his father. Quavon wanted nothing to do with living in the shadow of his father and that forced him to rebel. The Newtons lived in New York City until his father was called to pastor a church in New Haven, Connecticut. When he was 14, Newton said his parents thought the move to New Haven would assure a change in his attitude, unfortunately it didn’t. “In the eighth-grade, I was really going down the wrong path.” said Quavon.

By his sophomore year, while enrolled at James Hillhouse High School, Newton began to hang around the “wrong crowd” who influenced him negatively. Quavon began to recall the poor life choices he made during this time in his life. “I went from passing all of my classes as a freshman to failing all classes as a sophomore; I was trying to fit in,” he said. “I was doing drugs, selling drugs and carrying illegal firearms.” At the age of 17, Quavon Newton was arrested and expelled from the school. “My parents would go days without seeing me and around that time I got arrested,” he said.

According to Newton, he faced four felonies, being charged with burglary, larceny, assault, and robbery. While engaged in a juvenile rehabilitation program, Quavon Newton received his GED and remained out of trouble. Yet, the street life kept calling him back. “I was hanging on the corner of Sherman Parkway and Elm Street when a car rolled up and fired six shots at me,” said Newton. “Luckily, not one bullet touched my body,” he said. “I was definitely the intended target.” Newton survived the near-death experience and completed the program without a criminal record on file.

A pivotal transformation came with a renewed devotion to God, an opportunity from a mentor, and the birth of his son, Qamari. The opportunity came in the form of employment.

He went from running the streets to working at the local Bank of America starting as a part time teller and rapidly worked his way up to branch manager. During this time,“it was through that experience and with the help of God that I decided to change,” says Newton. Another motivation to change came with being a new father. “When he was born, I realized I had to teach him what success looked like,” said Newton, who on some occasions had to bring his son to class with him when he was in college because he didn’t have a babysitter. “Otherwise, he will look to someone else for an image of success.” He said the most challenging task of being a father is living by example. “We have to live as positive examples every day,” he said. “I want him to look to me for his inspiration.” Not only has Newton remained a positive example in his son’s life, but he is also touching the lives of other young people in the city. While his work for the Lord increased, Quavon managed to attain his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT. On May 24, 2021, Pastor Quavon Newton received his Master of Divinity Degree and was the recipient of the Oliver Ellsworth Daggett Scholarship prize award from Yale University.

IOTA CHI CONTINUES

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

By Brother Gregory Dominique

June 19, 2021 represented a 1st in Massachusetts. In 2020 Governor Charlie Baker signed legislation making Juneteenth a state holiday. What is Juneteenth? A holiday/celebration unfamiliar to some. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 that slaves in Texas were told that they were no longer slaves.

This proclamation of freedom was more than 2 years later than Abraham’s Proclamation of Freedom. Now a holiday, more awareness can be brought to this fact. In wake of the George Floyd tragedy/protest awareness has been brought to hidden racial injustices.

The Iota Chi Chapter, working with Eta Phi and Gamma, have been hosting a Juneteenth celebration for the past 6 years at Franklin Park in Dorchester, MA.

This year the turnout was excellent. Many families and friends came out to celebrate in Franklin Park. This event had all the makings of a great celebration. There was fellowship, great food, music, and of course, the Brothers of Omega Psi Phi set out several hops and marches. Numerous other fraternities & sororities performed their strolls or steps. With the massive crowd of almost 5,000 cheering on, the energy was jubilant. As awareness grows about this holiday the event will continue to get bigger and bigger.

tau iota countinues to provide uplift

to

the youth of hartford

By Brother Sharif Williams, Hartford, CT

For the spring semester of the 2020-21 school year, the brothers of Tau Iota worked with the Academy of Afrocentric Scholarship Program to offer Math tutoring to 8th grade boys. The program ran for fourteen sessions on Saturdays from 9-10am via zoom. The Academy of Afrocentric Scholarship Program was created to assist with identifying and eliminating the systemic forces that black males are exposed their entire lives, develop a complete sense of self-awareness so that they can excel, develop a liberated mindset that will enable the boys to develop solutions to problems that affect communities of color, help those with academic and behavioral struggles identify their weaknesses and develop solutions to solve them. The program is run by Sadiq Ali, Mark Coley, Andrew Martell, and David Johnson. Chapter Basileus Joseph Santana and brothers Kevin Thompson (Tau Iota 2014), Nevel WIlliams (Tau Iota 2018), Travis Tompson (Tau Iota 2018), Joshua Jack (Tau Iota 2014), Marlon Long (Tau Iota 2014), Sam Riddick (Tau Iota 2014) and Alexander Conaway (Tau Iota 2014) all worked with 18-25 young men each Saturday, covering Pre-algebra as well as any work they were covering in school. As we teach and prepare our own children, the sons of Anthony Ross (Tau Iota 1993), Xavier and Atticus Ross, also served as tutors for the program. Currently brothers are preparing to work with the Academy of Afrocentric Scholarship Program to run the Math program for the Fall Semester of 2021. The brothers of Tau Iota look forward to continuing to work with the program to enrich the lives and scholarship of young African American men.

pandemic plus omega perseverance

equals success!

By Brother Carlton Pickron, Ed.D., Springfield, MA

Who in their right mind would completely rehab a building and open a BBQ spot during a once in a century pandemic? Our frat Brother Darryl Thomas! Brother Thomas is a loving husband and father who hails from Cranford, NJ where he was a star student athlete in football. He earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and continued his scholarly athletic performance, earning a degree in education and a minor in Sociology. Since graduation, Bro. Thomas has worn many hats: certified dog trainer, owner of a painting business, landlord and Greek para vendor.

For 12 years he was honored to serve as Dean of Students at Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School of Excellence in Springfield, MA, always striving to make a difference in the lives of the students. You ask, when did Omega Psi Phi come into the picture? Darryl, with his three line brothers Nedland Beauchamp, Henry Smith Louis, and L.A. Love, crossed into the fraternity April 4th, 2004 through Delta Chi Chapter in Springfield, MA. Always working hard for Omega, he has held chapter positions as Keeper of Records and Seal (KRS), Keeper of Finance (KF), Vice Basileus, Membership Selection Chair, and Basileus. District positions include Membership Selection Regional Chair and District Marshall. He has been selected Chapter Omega Man of the Year a number of times. Bro. Thomas is a true Omega Man who is “Thoroughly immersed in that true Omega spirit.” He developed and founded the award-winning Bridge to Manhood program at the MLK Jr Charter School for boys aged 7-12 years. Delta Chi Chapter adopted the program, and brothers served as mentors to the youth, who mostly came from single parent households. The curriculum included homework, study skills, respect, honesty, goal setting, personal hygiene, how to tie a tie and bow ties, and how to be a man. In March of 2020, Bro. Thomas opened Thomas’ Smokey Pit Stop. Before the restaurant, Darryl had side business of barbequing, catering events, and a food truck. He had always had the entrepreneurial spirit, but could he cook?

“Growing up, my father and his two brothers competed over whose barbecue was best. At every family activity,

we’d have another competition. So, I was exposed to the barbecue process and I picked up a lot of things. I didn’t realize how that was going to play out later in my life. When my father passed away in 2008, his spirit for a lot of things –particularly barbecuingreally jumped into me. I wanted to barbecue and bring my family together. I purchased a trailer grill and at a family gathering in New Jersey, I was appointed the next barbeque pit master of the family. It was self-fulfilling to maintain my father’s spirit for barbecuing and receive my uncles’ approval.”

The Thomas Smokey Pit Stop is a family affair. His mother retired and moved from New Jersey to Connecticut to help with the business, along with his wife, Cassandra, who also works as a school counselor. Darryl said, “I didn’t know about COVID-19 in January. In February, I’d heard of it, but of course, we didn’t know the impact. I already had a date for a soft opening on March 7 and a grand opening on March 18....Then the pandemic came into play and it looked like the state was going to close down. The timing was awful. I didn’t know what to do. I’d planned for people to walk through the door and come up to the counter to order food. I’d envisioned them sitting down and enjoying the atmosphere and the music. Everything I’d created was no longer in effect. I had to create a new plan within 24 hours.”

The plan became a take-out only barbeque pit, because Darryl’s motto is “Failure is not an option.” The people of Manchester, CT, greater Hartford, and even Massachusetts were there to support the business and spread the word. The business is now a year old and succeeding in spite of the pandemic. Darryl celebrated their first anniversary March 18th, 2021, by donating 20 percent of the sales to Journey Home: Innovative solutions to End Homelessness. Next time you are in the 1st District, make it a point to stop by Thomas’ Smokey Pit Stop: BBQ Soul Food in Manchester, CT. Meet Bro. Thomas and his crew and have an amazing meal. Brothers, if you are ready for a BBQ cook-off at the Conclave in 2022, Bro. Thomas is ready to throw down!

The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that has wreaked havoc on the world, and especially people of color. Four men of the 2nd District are leading the pandemic response at work and in the community, using their professional training in mission support, public health, internal medicine and family medicine to inform brothers all over the fraternity that COVID-19 is a serious threat to our fraternity and nation.

Dr. Keith Boykin (Gamma Epsilon 1978), Dr. Jedan Phillips (Xi Kappa 1988), Wonzie Gardner (Psi Alpha 1990) and Dr. Cedric Guyton (Chi Epsilon 1991) are known throughout the fraternity as the “Four Horsemen.” This moniker was given to these brothers by Reggie Vance (Nu Omega 1994), who is the 2nd District’s COVID-19 Task Force response Chairperson.

Dr. Keith Boykin is trained in Pediatrics and Internal medicine, gradu-

the horsemen

By Brother James Ussery, Prince George’s County, MD

ating from Hampton University and Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Boykin remembers the Four Horsemen origins beginning in March 2020, with weekly Lambda Gamma Gamma (LGG) Chapter coronavirus Microsoft Teams video meetings and quickly grew into a 2nd District Health Initiative of actions and calls with the Grand Basileus and Brothers throughout the fraternity; along with webinars to assist other organizations in their responses to the pandemic. Dr. Boykin wants brothers to remember that “COVID-19 is not a hoax. There’s a 92% chance that if you take the vaccine, you will not be hospitalized or die from the virus if you contract it.”

Dr. Jedan Phillips is an accomplished physician who specializes in Family Medicine and is 20-year professional at the Stony Brook Medical

School. He has degrees from Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland Medical School. Dr. Phillips has always been about keeping the brothers healthy by speaking about health initiatives that effect the black community. Before joining the Horsemen, Dr. Phillips was on zoom calls in the New York City area speaking about COVID-19 because he realized COVID-19 was impacting the black community in ways such as policy, workforce distribution, and media. Dr. Phillips wants everyone to “continue to wear masks, get the vaccine, and to avoid unsafe situations. We must stay steadfast in this fight; our role as a fraternity is even more valuable because of the distrust and misinformation out there about this deadly virus.”

Dr. Cedric Guyton is a Federal government Pharmacist who holds

Dr. Cedric Guyton Dr. Keith Boykin

Wonzie Gardner Dr. Jedan Phillips

multiple degrees from Albany State University and Florida A&M University. He has spent much of his career working with indigenous populations providing healthcare as a trained Pharmacist in some of the most remote sections of our country. He is the Vice Basileus of LGG and due to his professional work, “I wanted the brothers of LGG and the district to have the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 , because it’s a serious threat to our lives and our families. Get vaccinated, protect yourselves and your communities!”

Bro. Wonzie Gardner is the only non-medical professional of the 4 Horsemen, but he brings a wealth of national expertise to the 2nd District’s COVID-19 Task Force. Bro. Gardner is a retired military logistics officer who has degrees from Tennessee State University and Troy State University. He currently specializes in Mission Support for the Federal government. Bro. Gardner lost close family members to COVID-19 during the beginning of the pandemic and wanted to help. “In every person’s life, there is a time to step-up and help. My time to respond and heal is now, while learning to deal with our new normal.” Bro. Gardner serves as a member of the Federal Safer Task Force which was created to give ongoing guidance to keep federal employees safe and to help federal agencies to safely operate during the Covid 19 pandemic.

As you can see, these phenomenal men of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. are leading from the front! Even in this world-wide pandemic, Omega has responded from the front. There is nothing Omega Men can’t do!

kappa omega chapter

joins the fight against covid-19

By Brother Travis M. Water, Harrisburg, PA

Harrisburg, PA. September 18, 2021. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kappa Omega Chapter has been in the fight to help eradicate the deadly virus. Whether it is collecting donations to support families in need or supporting healthcare providers with community testing and administering the COVID-19 vaccine, Kappa Omega has been there.

The Brothers from Kappa Omega Chapter partnered with Hamilton Health Center in Harrisburg, PA to administer the first round of the COVID-19 vaccine. The city of Harrisburg is traditionally underrepresented and under resourced and like many cities who share the same demographic, it lags behind other communities as it relates to vaccinated residents. In an effort to bring the fight directly to the community, the brothers of Kappa Omega supported the Hamilton Health Center with vaccine administration in a geographically friendly location so that residents would not need transportation to receive the vaccine. Not only were local residents able to get the vaccine, even some brothers of Omega Psi Phi Inc. received their first dose at the event. Kappa Omega Social Action Member and organizer of the event, Bro. Ian Wingfield said, “It’s a good feeling to be able to fight COVID-19 and having Omega be on the forefront of saving lives. These are the things we need to be doing so that we can have a positive impact on our community.” This is the third time in over the past year that Kappa Omega has teamed with Hamilton Health Center to help fight the spread of the virus.

Hamilton Health Center Community Help Manager, Kimberly Craig said, “Because of Omega Psi Phi, Central Pennsylvania is a better and healthier place.” Kappa Omega Chapter will continue to be on the front lines of combating the COVID-19 pandemic as it works to build alliances with community health partners.

school named after

brother charles booker and anna booker

Plainfield, NJ July, 14, 2021 – A groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new school named after Brother Charles Booker and his lovely wife, Anna Booker. The school has an anticipated completion date in the Spring of 2022.

Brother Booker (Omicron Chi 1959) and his wife are longtime civil rights activists in the City of Plainfield. In 1965 they won a legal case, Booker V. Board of Education of City of Plainfield, to end segregation in the Plainfield schools.

Brother Booker, 98, and Anna Booker, 96, met in grammar school, went to college and married soon after Brother Booker returned from service in the United States Army.

The historic event was covered by Toni Yates, News Reporter and Anchorwoman for Eyewitness News WABC-TV. Attendees included Brothers of the Omicron Chi Chapter, Booker relatives, elected officials, and members of the community of Plainfield.

Reacting to the news about the naming of the school, the Bookers said, “We are ecstatic the new school will have our name. This is a blessing we never expected.”

Initiated at Omicron Chi Chapter in 1959, Brother Charles F. Booker has faithfully served the Chapter for nearly 60 years in a variety of capacities including as Basileus, Vice Basileus, Keeper of Records and Seal, and Keeper of Finance.

During his years of service as a leader in Omega, the Plainfield Chapter of NAACP and various municipal committees, Brother Booker frequently used his talents to help galvanize the community to achieve its noble aspirations.

As documented in the December 1962 issue of NAACP’s Crisis magazine, in November 1962 Brother helped organize and manage the execution of the NAACP’s tri-state civil rights forum.

In the past Omicron Chi Chapter honored Brother Booker with its Founders Award for his steadfast service and leadership over the years.

Bro. nelson henry, jr.

is given his final salute and honored posthumously with an honorary doctorate from lincoln university

By Brother Darryl Blackwell, Philadelphia, PA

On Saturday, May 22, 2021, Lincoln University held its 161st Commencement exercises on a beautiful Spring day in Oxford, Pennsylvania. This was the postponed graduation ceremony that couldn’t take place last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Omega was well represented, but one recognition stood out from the rest. The late Brother Nelson Henry Jr., a World War II veteran who received an honorable discharge almost 75 years after the Army kicked him out through a discriminatory “Blue Discharge,” received an honorary Doctorate from

his Dear Lincoln University where in 1941 he was initiated into the Fraternity through Beta Chapter.

Bro. Henry persevered for 75 years as he petitioned the US Army to reverse the “Blue Discharge” from his record, and properly issue him the DD-214, which is a discharge certificate issued upon leaving active duty under honorable conditions. Bro. Henry was finally awarded his honorable discharge in September 2019. In an interview conducted in 2019, Bro. Henry said, “I waited so long,” and, “This was more like a shock, a miracle.” Unfortunately, Bro. Henry would succumb to COVID-19 complications in 2020 and would join other giants of the Fraternity in Omega Chapter. In his last few years, Bro. Henry became financial with Mu Omega Chapter in Philadelphia through the encouragement of Bro. Joseph Sessoms. Mu Omega Chapter’s QueVets Committee (Chapter Brothers who are active or formerly active members of the Armed Forces) welcomed Bro. Henry and actively supported the effort to correct the injustice dealt to him all those years ago.

Lincoln University graciously recognized Bro. Henry’s lifelong display of perseverance and manhood. Accepting his honorary doctorate

was his son Dean Henry. The Keynote Speaker was no stranger to the Fraternity, as Civil Rights Attorney and Grand Counselor, Bro. Benjamin Crump delivered a timely address and also received an honorary doctorate from the university.

It was only two days prior (Thursday, May 20, 2021) that the family, Fraternity members, and friends said their last goodbye to Bro. Henry with a Memorial Service at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, PA. Members of the Mu Omega Chapter QueVets were present and Full Military Honors were given to our dearly departed Brother.

Bro. Henry’s story continues to inspire and is a true testament to the Fraternity’s Cardinal Principle of Perseverance. Waiting 75 years to finally be recognized by the United States Army as the man who faithfully served his country is a reminder to all that one should never stop fighting for what is right.

To view more information on Bro. Henry, visit the Memorial Website: https://memorialservice.wixsite. com/nelsonhenryjr

nu nu 50th

anniversary celebration

By Brother Garry M. Keel Willingboro, NJ

Over 100 Brothers attended the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Nu Nu Chapter via Zoom. Master of Ceremony Brother David Linder and his committee put together a topnotch program.

A full agenda included remarks from First Vice Grand Basileus, Brother Ricky Lewis, Second District Representative Brother Kelvin Ampofo, and Corridor IV Representative Brother Leon Smith.

On April 18, 2021, The Brothers of Omicron Iota, located in Westchester County New York, hosted a dinner to celebrate their 75th Anniversary. Basileus Bro. Geoffrey Rhett and 75th Anniversary Chairman Bro. Larren Joseph, welcomed Second District Representative Bro. Kelvin Ampofo, First Vice Second District Representative Bro. Delrecole Gales, Corridor V Representative Bro. Kevin Woodhouse, and the Brothers of Omicron Iota to the Friendship Worship Center of Bro. Bishop C. Nathan Edwers.

On April 19, 1946, the charter members (who have all gone on to Omega Chapter) Bro. Errold J. Collymore, Bro. Marcellus H. Goff, Bro. Neslie D. Gunthrope, Bro. Clarence M. Long, Bro. Malvin J. Proctor, Bro. Leon W. Scott, Bro. Roscoe C. Ward, and Bro. Arthur M. Williams established the first Black Greek Letter

After an opening prayer, the program began with Basileus Gerald Massenburg providing a brief history of the founding and charting of NU NU Chapter affectionately known as the “Boro Ques!”

In 1969 “Fueled by Friendship “and a chance meeting of two Omega Brothers Joseph Washington & Roy King, the idea to establish a Chapter in the Borough of Willingboro was conceived. From that chance meeting 17 men of like attainment willing to extend the bond of friendship in the borough of Willingboro advanced the brainchild of these two Brothers. More than 50 years later Nu Nu Chapter is still actively serving the residents of the Borough of Willingboro.

A highlight of the program was having 2 of the original founders of the Chapter, Brother Joseph “Joe” Washington and Brother Melvin “Mel” Thomas speak about the efforts of the original 17 Founding Brothers in getting the chapter established and chartered. The program also consisted of Brothers speaking about the 4 Cardinal principles and the impact that each one had on their life both inside and outside of Omega. The program wrapped up with a virtual singing of Omega Dear and a slide presentation highlighting the good work that Nu Nu has done over the past 5 decade to service the greater Burlington County NJ community.

omicron iota

celebrates 75 years

By Brother Neil K. Reynolds Westchester County, NY

Organization chartered in Westchester County. This auspicious beginning set the path for Omicron Iota to become the dynamic force in Westchester County that it is today.

Throughout the years, the Brothers of Omicron Iota have continued to honor, and to work with our Cardinal Principles uppermost in their minds – Manhood – mentoring and teaching life skills to help lay strong foundations for the future; Scholarship – Awarding more than $250,000 in scholarships to High School students throughout Westchester County; Perseverance – continuing to work

towards political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights for all; Uplift – showing appreciation and giving thanks to members of the community via our Annual Mother’s Day Brunch Program, Turkey Basket Program, Toy Drive and participation in food pantries and various other causes.

Although the work itself is the reward, in 2014 & 2015, Omicron Iota Chapter humbly accepted the 2nd District “Small Chapter of the Year” and the 2nd District “Social Action Chapter of the Year” respectfully. All Omicron Iota has done is with great respect and honor to our Founders in the “True Omega Spirit” and our commitment to service will be everlasting; as we love Omega Dear.

iota nu and pi epsilon

memorialize brother russell stansbury

By Brother Zanes Cypress, Harford County, MD

Harford County Md. May 4, 2021. Brothers of Iota Nu, Pi Epsilon and Pi Epsilon Alumni held an Omega Service for Brother Russell Dubois Stansbury at BelAir Memorial Garden Cemetery in BelAir, MD.. Brother Stansbury was the last living Charter Member of the Pi Epsilon Chapter, initiated at Maryland State College (now University of Maryland Eastern Shore), Princess Anne, MD. He was inducted into the Fraternity on May 3, 1947. He was also a Charter Member of Iota Nu Chapter Aberdeen, Maryland, which received its Charter on January 28, 1970. He served two terms as Basileus of Iota Nu Chapter and was the recipient of many chapter awards.

Iota Nu Basileus Brother Aurelio Burton officiated the Omega Service allowing Brothers from Pi Epsilon and Pi Epsilon Alumni to participate reading the Chaplains and

KRS parts of the Omega Service. At the end of the Omega Service, Brother Al Cornish challenged the Brothers in attendance to live the Cardinal Principles as Brother Stansbury had lived in his life. Brother Eric “Moby” Brown presented Pi Epsilon Chapter and its Alumni with a copy of the Pi Epsilon Chapter Charter. A copy of the actual charter could not be located at IHQ due to the death of Brother Don Lee, History and Archives Chair, and COVID-19 restrictions, however the Grand Basileus produced and signed the copy and shipped it to Brother Brown for presentation to the chapter for this momentous event. After the Stansbury Omega Service, Pi Epsilon Brothers held a repast at 501 Johnnys Restaurant in Bel Air, MD where great fellowship was experienced by all. Pi Epsilon Brothers of every decade from the 60’s to the present were in attendance.

INVESTING

IN OUR FUTURE LEADERS THIRD DISTRICT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

OVER $83,000

The Third District chapters continue to promote, invest, and be the bridge builders into the future of their youth in the respective areas throughout the communities in which they serve. These future leaders have been provided with mentorship and scholarships to help start them on their way to the next scholastic and career endeavors. During the summer months of 2021, there were thousands of dollars awarded. The Third District is proud of all its chapters and thank the Brothers for their unselfish and lift as you climb living to ensure our youth have the support to advance them to their next level in life. Some scholarships awarded by the various chapters include (Gamma Omega - $3,000, Tau Omicron – $1,000, Tau Rho - $6,000, and Zeta Iota - $5,000):

Alpha Iota: The Golden Fold class of 2021 graduated ten seniors. This class was the largest graduating class of Suffolk Golden Fold since it was started. The class was awarded the young leaders over $16,000 in scholarships and recognized its young leaders for their academic excellence and community service.

Sigma Kappa Kappa Chapter – with their Community Resource Opportunity Project (C.O.R.P) Inc. Foundation, premiered its Fourth Annual Scholarship and Recognition Award Ceremony and presented over $5,000 in scholarships. The moderator for the virtual ceremony was Brother Winfield Edwards, Scholarship Chairman. Seven graduating high school seniors and one deserving citizen received accolades for their scholastic and community endeavors. The C.R.O.P. scholarship recipients are as follows: Mr. Caleb Fulford, $1,500.00 (Great Bridge High School); Mr. Marcus Green, $1,000.00 (Nansemond River High School); Mr. Caston Reaves II, $1,000.00 (Deep Creek High School); Mr. Antonio Green, $500.00 (Deep Creek High School); Ms. Samantha O’Prandy, $500.00 (Western Branch High School); and Mr. Joshua Barbish, $500.00 (Deep Creek High School). The Perseverance scholarship recipient was Ms. Maya Jefferies, $500.00 (Deep Creek High School). Each recipient was noted for their Community Service, Leadership, and 3.0 or higher G.P.A.

Pi Lambda Lambda – with the George M. Hampton Scholarship and Community Action Foundation (GMHF)

awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships. Some of these Dunlap and Omega U Scholarship awardees included the following: Dunlap Scholarships included Kevin Bull (Belmont University, $4000); C. Victor Herbin, IV (Louisiana State University, $1500); Jawuan Hill (The Julliard School, $1000); Nathan Arrington (Stevenson University, $500) and Charles Hines ($500). GMHF Scholarships were awarded to Sidney Hoeppner (Jacksonville University, $3000); Tori Johnson (North Carolina A&T University, $2500); Jayhara Guzman-Rivas (George Mason University, $2000); Kevin Bull (Belmont University, $1500); Syndey Thaxton (UNC Wilmington, $1000); Daniel Buongiovanni (Brigham Young University, $500); Michael Constant (Cornell University, $500); Jawuan Hill (The Julliard School, $500); Sara Magid (University of Maryland, College Park, $500); and Colin Villacorte (Point Park University, $500). The Omega U Scholarship of $1000 was awarded to four graduating seniors: Cameron Davis (Norfolk State University); Elijah Gartrell (Old Dominion University); C. Victor Herbin, IV (Louisiana State University); and Jawuan Hill (The Julliard School).

Zeta Mu Mu Chapter – proudly announced and awarded four deserving high school seniors with $1000.00 scholarships totaling $4,000. The scholarships were awarded through a joint initiative with the Chapter’s non-profit, the Williamsburg Area Foundation for Education and Community Outreach (WAFECO). The awardees were: Mr. Daniel Daly (Thomas Nelson Community College), Mr. Michael Green (University of Virginia), Mr. Hanan Jones (Hampton University), and Mr. Shawn Overbey, Jr. (James Madison University)

Psi Alpha Alpha Chapter – with Bernie L. Bates Foundation awarded $17,250 to 15 scholars for the 2021 Scholarship and Community Recognition Programs. The awards were presented in three groups of honorees and community recognitions: Students who applied to the Bernie L. Bates Foundation’s Memorial Scholarship Program (selected based on the scholarship committee’s selection criteria); Community Recognition Award nominees (recent high school and college graduates nominated by the chapter and are approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors); and the International High School Essay. The selections were five Bernie L. Bates Memorial Scholarship Honorees ($15,000), ten Community Recognition Awardees ($1,750), and an International High School Essay Contest winner ($500). The event was highlighted with motivating words of encouragement and guidance from Mr. Reginald Williams, speaker, consultant, and award-winning author. His impassioned words urged the students to fully educate themselves

and work to be productive and confident entrepreneurs. All five Bernie L. Bates Memorial Scholarship Honorees were gifted a signed copy of the speaker’s book, A Marginalized Voice.

Omicron Kappa Kappa – Presented a total of $6,000 to four deserving students. The 2021 recipients are; Kaelin Tatyana Smith, who will be attending Howard University; La’Nia Monae White, Edyson C. Powell, who will be heading to Arizona University; and Mitchell Corren Colter, who will attend the University of Dayton. These college-bound seniors are the proud recipients of the OKK foundation’s awards for this year.

20th anniversary celebration

OF THE MALE Protégé PROGRAM

By Brother Calvin D. Farr

On July 31st, 2021, the brothers of the Delta Omega Chapter celebrated 20 years of mentorship to the youth in the Tri-City area of Hopewell, Petersburg, and Colonial Heights. The ceremony’s guest speaker was Brother Ezekiel Dennison, the 28th 3rd District Representative. He discussed how the program was initiated and commended the brothers that dedicated their time and leadership to the program over the past 20 years. The current 3rd District Representative, Brother Conrado Morgan, discussed the success of the program and stated that Delta Omega’s program was the model program for the fraternity. Mr. Calvin Anderson and Mr. Jared Phelps of Delta Omega Chapter Male Protégé Program (TMPP) provided candid remarks about their experiences in the program, including how brothers of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. impacted their lives and created very positive conditions for the proteges to be successful in college and early adulthood. Delta Omega Chapter, with the Delta Omega Foundation, paid tribute to Dr. Evalina Davis with a plaque given to her son, Brother Evan Davis. The Delta Omega Chapter TMPP 20th Year Celebration culminated two decades of a very successful program focused on social action and community outreach initiatives for young adults. e brothers provided excellent role models over the 20 years and passed on valuable life skills from college-educated professionals, leaving an everlasting e ect on past and present young men.

The Male Protégé Program Awarded $5,000 Delta Omega Chapter in collaboration with the Delta Omega Foundation, Incorporated, founded TMPP. The Brothers were recognized for their outstanding program. The 3rd District Representative provided Brother Grand Basileus David E. Marion, Ph.D., 41st Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., with a copy of the July 31, 2021 Zoom presentation of TMPP’s 20th Anniversary Celebration.After the Grand Basileus reviewed the broadcast, he indicated to the District Representative that he would like to see a more detailed TMPP presentation containing parents’ and protégés’ comments. After hearing the presentation, the Grand Basileushosted a virtual meeting on August 19th, 2021 and presented a $5,000.00 donation to Delta Omega Chapter in support of its the Male Protégé Program (TMPP).

TMPP is a Youth Mentorship Program that began in September 2001 with five protégés making up the initial cohort. There are twenty-two participants in the program.

However, more than 300 male protégé participated over the past twenty years. The program seeks to instill the importance of putting God first in everything, being an upright man, a good father and family man, respecting others, and maintaining the right attitude in all situations. The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.’s goal is to continuously improve the program, thus meeting the ever-changing needs... Continued on Page 79

honorable brother

herbert b. dixon, jr.

By Brother C. Delray Brown

Brother Dixon’s distinguished career has led to the ABA Journal Board of Editors selecting him as the new Chairman, who will take over after the ABA Annual Meeting in August 2021. Keep in mind this post has not been held by many men of African descent as the organization did not allow a black attorney to be admitted into membership until 1950. Founded in 1915, the ABA Journal is the flagship magazine of the American Bar Association and signature publication for the profession. The ABA Journal is an award-winning, dynamic multimedia platform delivering legal journalism with an independent voice. With its companion website, newsletters, and podcasts, the ABA Journal is delivered in print and electronically to all ABA members, ensuring it has the largest readership of any legal publication in the world.

Brother Dixon was educated in the segregated schools of Savannah. He attended Alfred Ely Beach High School where he was a self-described nerd. His favorite subjects in school were science, physics, algebra, and

geometry. During his senior year, he applied to Howard University as it was the biggest of the Negro institutions at the time. Given his interest in electrical engineering, and the fact that he was a Georgia resident, Dixon also applied to the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Though he was a Georgia resident and had received the highest SAT score of his high school graduating class in 1964, his race made his acceptance to the predominantly white institution unlikely, and so it was. Georgia Tech did not begin accepting black students without a court order until 1961, and even then, only a few were admitted to the university. Dixon remembers the letter he received from Georgia Tech, in which the school congratulated him on his achievements to date and conveyed that it believed Dixon would be successful in college, just not at their college. Consequently, Dixon matriculated to Howard University in the fall on some partial scholarships with a desire to be an electrical engineer. In his sophomore year greek life came calling and brother Dixon pledged as a member of the Lampados Club for the Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

In his senior year, Dixon set his sights on life after Howard; a life that he intended to share with the former Miss Phoebe Boykins, whom he married that year. Phoebe grew up in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and matriculated to Howard University after high school. Neither of her parents went to college, but they, like Dixon’s parents, instilled the value and importance of education in their five children. Phoebe was an outstanding student and active member of the university community while at Howard. She pledged and eventually

became president of the Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Shortly after graduating from Howard, Mrs. Dixon became a charter member of the sorority’s distinguished Federal City Alumnae Chapter in Washington, D.C. She also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from George Washington University. Mrs. Dixon went on to have a successful career in the telecommunications industry, retiring from Verizon as its Vice President of Sales.

Now with a new wife at his side and in his heart, Brother Dixon initially planned to graduate with a degree in electrical engineering and then apply to graduate school to study for his own MBA degree. After earning an MBA, Dixon thought he would enter corporate America and work as an engineer. His plans would soon change after taking the LSAT on a whim. Brother Dixon made an abrupt decision to apply to law school. Upon graduating from law school and passing the Bar, he began a 12-year long career as a defense attorney. Later with the aid of his fraternity brother and mentor the Honorable H. Carl Moultrie, I, he became a judge in the Washington DC Superior Court for 30 years.

Men of Omega let us congratulate our dear Brother Herbert B. Dixon Jr., (initiated 1966 via Alpha Chapter at Howard University; LM #300) a former Basileus of both Alpha Omega Chapter and Alpha Chapter.He is a current member of Alpha Omega Chapter, a former Third District Graduate Basileus of the Year, and a former International Chair of Omega’s Rules Committee. Brothers continue to strive for excellence and represent men of true Omega caliber!

international protocol

FIRST virtual training via zoom

By Brother Calvin C. Beidleman III

On June 30, 2021, the International Protocol Committee of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. hosted the first ever live international protocol informational training session. This historic training was led by the International Protocol Chairman Brother Gary C. Clark and International Protocol Vice Chairmen Brother Kenneth A. Brown and Brother Dr. Steven G. Johnson. The moderator was Brother Harvey L. Woodson. The production was directed by Brother Cornelius M. Beidleman. Brothers Kevin Poplar and Calvin C. Beidleman, III were onsite to capture the candid action photos of the event. The reason for this event being held virtual was because IHQ and the committee wanted to establish a vehicle that would reach as many Brothers as possible to receive this vital protocol training and would allow for a question-and-answer session.

Showtime in Studio A – the event started at 19:11 with an encouraging greeting to the Brothers from the 41st Grand Basileus Dr. David Marion. Brother Clark welcomed the attendees and gave an overview of how the presentation would flow. Brother Dr. Johnson provided a summary on what is protocol and provided a better understanding of the Fraternity’s protocol to include: 1. The Code of Etiquette and Precedence and how it is governed, 2. Required documents for Omega protocol to be successful, 3. The Joint Position Statement on Hazing” as outlined by the Council of Presidents of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc.. Omega’s current position which in part states Omega practices zero tolerance on hazing.

Next, Brother Brown gave a brief synopsis on various topics some of which included: 1. The order of protocol

observance as it relates to Officers (International, District, Chapter), The international succession order and process, 2. Authorized vendors, and 3. Formal invitation guidelines.

Finally, Brother Clark proceeded with providing a summary of various topics: 1. Procedures on how and where to sing the Fraternity hymn “Omega Dear” in public settings. 2. The appropriate use of the Fraternity’s “Sweetheart” song for serenading an Omega man’s girlfriend, fiancé, wife, including at weddings. 3. Event protocol and the various types of attire. (Official Omega Attire, Formal, Informal, Business, Business Casual, Purple in Passion, and Omega Casual. 4. Procedure for formal seating at various formal event (General, Grand Conclave, District, and Chapter). 5. Protocols related to the order of introductions. 6. The Fraternity’s mandates, and 7. The types of Memorial Services (Fraternity’s Memorial Day, Informal, Formal, and Funeral Memorial Service) and he reminded the Brothers that the Official Omega Attire should be worn which is “Solid Black Suit (no stripes or other designs on the suit) a white dress shirt, a solid royal purple neck tie (no bow-ties or ascots; black socks and black dress shoes” for all Brothers participating Memorial Services for Funerals.

There were numerous great questions from the Brothers that were captured by the moderator Brother Woodson. Brother Woodson relayed these questions to the Protocol Chairman and Vice-Chairmen for their response and clarification. The question-and-answer session went extremely well and brought forth additional clarity for the Brothers. The event closed with closing remarks from Brother John Howard, Executive Director of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

positioned from left to right, Brothers Dr. STEVEN G. Johnson, KENNETH A. Brown, GARY C. Clark, and HARVEY L. Woodson

20th Anniversary Celebration of the Male Protégé Program

continued from Page 76

of participants while recognizing societal challenges. College attendance and completion are highly encouraged, and for those not attending college, alternative avenues for professional and personal accomplishments are recommended.

Each year, the program culminates with a banquet that includes introducing the protégés to the public and recognizing the young men for their achievements. Past guest speakers for the banquet included the Honorable Judge (Brother) Roger L. Gregory, Chief United States Circuit Judge of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, three former Grand Officers (First Vice-Grand Basileus John Scott, Grand Basileus George H. Grace, Grand Basileus Antonio F. Knox, and parent, Colonel, USA, (Ret) Dr. Cortez Dial).

Several protégés achieved significant milestones in higher and secondary education. Some of these professional careers, including Assistant Principal, Teacher, Attorney, Engineer, Entrepreneurs, and Department of Defense are just a few of the outstanding achievements attained by these young men. The brothers of Delta Omega Chapter and the Delta Omega Foundation are incredibly proud of the protégés’ accomplishments and their impact on this program. The program’s success led to its adoption by the International Headquarters of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as the model for all chapters to emulate.

It has been Delta Omega Chapter and Delta Omega Foundation’s honor and pleasure to sponsor this program from its inception to the present. We have made a positive difference in the lives of many protégés and the protégés continue to make a positive difference in the community.

Bro. nathaniel snow recognized

by ohio department of education

By Brother Terrance Nurredin

Brother Nathaniel Snow is the type of teacher who makes a difference in the lives of his students. Brother Snow consistently goes above and beyond to care for and provide for his students. His dedication to improving the lives of these young people has often been recognized by the brotherhood within Omega, however this year Brother Snow’s work was also recognized by the Ohio Department of Education.

Brother Snow was named one of five 2021 TORCH honorees by the Ohio Department of Education. The Teachers of Ohio Representing Character and Heart (TORCH) honors five educators on an annual basis that celebrate the teachers’ efforts to model strong character and heart for their students, colleagues, and the communities that they represent. TORCH honorees need to show dedication to equity within their schools and demonstrate a personal commitment to their students.

Brother Snow is a mathematics teacher at Withrow University High School, in the Cincinnati Public School district. As a product of Cincinnati Public Schools Brother Snow knows the obstacles facing his students firsthand. This intimate knowledge combined with his extremely high care factor allows him to build even stronger connections with the students he teaches, coaches, and mentors.

Brother Snow has coached football, basketball, and track for Cincinnati Public Schools. As a coach Brother Snow brings enthusiasm and direction to the field, court and track, however his greatest impact comes through what he does for his student-athletes as people. Brother Snow has placed an emphasis on ensuring that his students are college-ready by providing tutoring for the ACT and the SAT tests, taking students on college visits, and helping to find scholarship opportunities.

Brother Snow has made a huge impact with young Black men specifically, through his “Omega Esquire” program for high school students. Through this program Brother Snow has taught young men the key principles to man-

hood and provided them tools necessary to take on the world after high school. There are dozens of young men who have completed this program with Brother Snow and have gone on to become men of Omega at their respective universities. Brother Snow remains connected to these young men and you can often find him on a college campus around the country supporting one of his former students.

In addition to the work that Brother Snow does within Cincinnati Public Schools, he is also the graduate advisor for the Tau Xi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi at Miami University. Brother Snow played an important role in establishing that chapter at his alma mater and has added developing the young Brothers of Omega to his already impressive list of contributions.

Beyond all this, Brother Snow uplifts his city through his non-profit organization ‘Snow Angels’, which provides support for the homeless and communities in-need around Cincinnati. Brother Snow is also a doctoral student at Miami University which will allow him to further promote equitable practices in the instruction of mathematics.

Brother Snow truly represents character and heart as the TORCH award was created to recognize so the Ohio Department of Education could not have picked anyone better to honor with this award.

The Brothers of the Kappa Tau Chapter led the way as the Divine Nine organizations participated in community service, educational, and social activities planned for Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic Weekend, held September 2-5 in Canton, Ohio.

On September 2nd, Omega Men and others from the Divine Nine organizations read the book “Be You” to elementary students of Canton City Schools and Emanuel Christian Academy of Akron, Ohio. Later that day, the brothers assisted at the Classic College Fair. More than 350 students from the Canton City, Plain Local and Cleveland Metropolitan school districts met with representatives from multiple universities who inspired the students to realize that college is within their reach. These universities included Akron, Kent State, Florida A&M, Tennessee State, Grambling, Cincinnati, Alabama A&M, Cleveland State, Dayton,

canton, oh welcomes the black college football

hall of fame classic weekend with service

By Brother Casey Smith

South Carolina State, and Central State.

No classic weekend is complete without community service. On Saturday, September 4th the Kappa Tau Brothers organized a home beautification project in conjunction with A Better Community Development (ABCD, Inc.) whose CEO is Bro. Will Dent. Mrs. Annette Ball expressed her gratitude to the Kappa Tau Chapter for their sweat equity as they cleaned flower beds, planted flowers, raked leaves, mulched, and cleaned the pond area.

The 2021 Classic Weekend provided a reprise from a national narrative of strained police and community

relations. The weekend was filled with great activities such as the Fun Fest held at Centennial Plaza which featured vendors, local performance acts, and a sneak peek performance by the Grambling Marching Band. The Fun Fest culminated with a free concert by gospel recording artist Marvin Sapp.

The Kappa Tau Brothers led the planning efforts for the Official All White Party with support from a Divine Nine committee. The evening began with the smooth sounds of the band Hubb’s Groove and then Omega Brother DJ Lo-Key took over and rocked the crowed.

delta alpha hbcu send-off for

dayton area studenTs

By Brother William Gunn, Dayton, OH

On Saturday, July 11, 2021, the Delta Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi collaborated with the Dayton Inter-Alumni Council of the UNCF (DIAC-UNCF), one of 13 active nationwide chapters serving as volunteer advocacy arms of the UNCF, in bringing the inaugural Dayton-Area HBCU Send-Off to life.

They Dayton, OH area is home to two of the great HBCUs with both Wilberforce University and Central State University located in the Greater-Dayton area. With this, students from the Dayton area get tremendous exposure to these HBCUs and

as alumni they can connect with the community and establish roots in the Dayton area. Students and alumni gathered at the Central State University Campus in Dayton for a send-off festival for students.

The event was hosted by the Dayton Inter-Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund, and commemorates Dayton area students heading to any of the nation’s historically Black colleges or universities (HBCU) for the fall semester. In addition to Wilberforce and Central State Universities in the immediate area, various HBCU alumni associations, several graduates, and current

students also call Dayton and the surrounding areas home. They are working, creating, and supporting the causes and institutions dear to them. Many of them were present at the Send-Off as volunteers, community members, educators, and parents to advocate for all things HBCU.

Though the emphasis was on new and returning HBCU students, there was a community focus as well. Six community partners had representatives on hand to discuss mental health awareness, encourage voter registration, and provide on-site COVID-19 vaccinations. The brothers of Delta Alpha Chapter stood firmly with DIAC-UNCF, providing confidence to the youth of the Dayton Metro Area as they pursue scholarship across the country.

Canton OH, Welcomes Black College HOF continued

On Sunday, Sept. 5, in front of nearly 15,000 fans, the Grambling State Tigers defeated the Tennessee State Tigers 16-10 in the second Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

The game capped a weekend of events and activities such as parties, gatherings, a golf outing, a social justice forum, and educational and service activities that once again demonstrated Canton’s legendary hospitality and character. The Kappa Tau Chapter played a significant part in assisting the Pro Football Hall of Fame with ensuring all the visitors had a great time while in Canton. The 2022 Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic will take place September 1-4, 2022. Kappa Tau invites ALL BROTHERS to join them.

THE BLACK RESISTANCE MOVEMENT EXPLORING

By Brother Robin Cole

Brothers of the Epsilon Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. have kicked off their annual youth mentoring program. The Omega Lamplighters Inc. (#OLL) is a youth leadership organization for young men in grades Fourth through Twelfth founded in 2008 by two brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity: Bro. Royle King II & Bro. Simeon Nelson. The Brothers of Epsilon Phi hold various events for the Lamplighters each month. On July 11th the Memphis Omega Lamplighters visited the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

The Lamplighters had the opportunity to visit two art exhibitions on display that that demonstrated Social Action and Social Activism in the African American community. The first exhibit was titled Black Resistance with photos by Ernest Withers, Memphis civil rights photographer and the man who shot Emmett Till’s open casket photo. The exhibition focused on and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the events from March 27 through April 8, 1968 with images capturing sanitation workers carrying “I AM A MAN” placards and police in riot gear on the 28th; Dr. King returning to Memphis on the 3rd; giving his historic “Mountaintop” speech at the Mason Temple; and the memorial march to City Hall

on the 8th are among his evocative, iconic images. The second exhibit titled Preserve and Resist displayed works by artist Elizabeth Catlett. This exhibition explored the many ways in which Black women, as depicted in Catlett’s work, have overcome barriers in their public and private lives. There were also photos displayed of the Blacks Lives Matter Movement and images of protests that supported the movement and the call to action for police reform.

psi tau serving to make fathers feel important

By Brother Rico Walker Lexington, KY

On June 19, 2021, The Lexington Leadership Foundation’s Fatherhood Initiative hosted the 17th annual Father’s Day Celebration in Douglas Park. The celebration is held every year to celebrate and encourage men to get back into the family, faith community and to help better the lives of children and neighborhoods. During the event this year, free COVID-19 vaccines were also offered. The Psi Tau chapter volunteers each year to lend a hand where there is one needed. Members of the chapter assisted with the registration of vendors, handing out food as well as distributed t-shirts to the attendees of the event. The Mayor of Lexington, Linda Gorton, and Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers were present for the event.

encouraging students

during a global pandemic

By Brother Rico Walker, Lexington, KY

On August 11, 2021, the Carter G. Woodson Preparatory Academy opened their brand-new school in Lexington, KY for Kindergarten through 2nd grade male students. The plan is to add a new grade level at the beginning of each new school year until 5th grade students start to attend. This is a STEM based academy that focuses on science, technology, engineering as well as African American history and culture. On the first day of school, many Brothers from Psi Tau Chapter along with Brothers from Psi Psi, Phi Eta, and Rho Lambda chapters we present to welcome students back to in person school after being at home for most of the 2020-2021 school year. After the struggle of the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was an enlightening experience to give high five or fist bump to the students.

Brothers Attending

Ron Griffin - 03/09/1977 - Delta Sigma (Psi Tau)

Charles Duke - 12/18/1999 - Psi Tau

John Douglas - 12/07/1972 - Epsilon Nu (Psi Tau)

Leander Ridgeway - 11/24/1989 - Theta Omega (Psi Tau)

Bishop Carter IV - 11/30/1998 - Psi Psi (Psi Tau)

Jamahl McDaniel - 12/01/2012 - Rho Lambda (Psi Tau)

Edwin Simmons - 11/13/2016 - Psi Psi

Terry Castlow Jr. - 04/07/2019 - Psi Psi

Darmeze Fenderson - 04/17/2021 - Psi Psi

Dorien Hardin - 11/14/2020 - Phi Eta

Jalen Collins - 11/07/2020 - Rho Lambda

Ansle “CJ” Combs IV - Phi Eta

Andreus Crittenden - 04/07/2019 - Phi Eta

Zion King - 04/07/2019 - Psi Psi

brothers volunteer support and aid in

waverly, tn flood recover

By Brother Tariq Muhammad, Waverly, TN

Asmall town called Waverly in Humphreys County, Tenn. was hit especially hard with floods, resulting in widespread damage and numerous fatalities. Recovery efforts are still underway and search parties are still looking for over 20 missing citizens. On Saturday, August 21, brutal floods swept Waverly, Tenn. after a record-breaking 17 inches of rain slammed Humpreys County. As of Monday, August 23, there have been 22 confirmed deaths. On Saturday, Aug. 28, Brothers from Psi Pi and Rho Kappa Chapters in Clarksville, TN descended upon Waverly to assist in recovery efforts. The Chapters donated $800 worth of supplies to the Waverly community. Psi Pi Basileus John Howard along with Brothers James Shelley, John Hunt, Brian Hutchenson, Phil Petrie, Terrence Holt, and Kiondre Leasure all contributed in the successful efforts in Waverly TN.

omega man elected

as president of manrrs

By Brother Rico Walker, Lexington, KY

Bro. Dr. Marcus Bernard was elected national president of MANNRS which stands for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences. MANNRS is a non-profit organization that promotes academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. Prior to being elected national president of MANNRS, Dr. Bernard was the director of the Rural Training and Research Center for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund in Epes, Alabama. Dr. Bernard is currently an associate professor of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY. Bro. Bernard was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. through Psi Tau graduate chapter in November of 2020.

educating the community

and sharing expertise

By Brother Rico Walker, Lexington, KY

On September 23, 2021, Richmond, Kentucky’s local newspaper, the Richmond Register, featured Bro. Dr. Quentin Moore as he took part in a panel discussion on COVID-19. Dr. Moore, an assistant professor at the Eastern Kentucky School of Nursing, discussed the importance of getting one of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Moore is quoted in the article by saying “When you look at the reasons for getting the vaccine, of course it helps protect us from severe disease and hospitalization and possibly death, and not only that, one of the main things is you want to be selfless in getting the vaccine. You are protecting others in your family as well as those who you come in contact with around the community.” He also emphasized how the new Delta variant is currently affecting the younger population and the increased number of deaths. Eastern Kentucky University School of Nursing, Madison County Health Department, and Upward Bound Ministries all took part in the panel to educate the community and share their expertise surrounding COVID-19 and the vaccines.

Bro. Dr. Quentin Moore was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. through Psi Tau Chapter in March of 2001.

CHI IOTA CHAPTER WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

BETA CHI CHAPTER

FOOD DISTRIBUTION DRIVE

Fayetteville, NC- On April 17, 2021, the Brothers of Beta Chi and Delta Gamma Chapters of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. partnered with Action Pathways and Second Harvest Food Bank to deliver food boxes to over 400 Families in and around the Cumberland County Area. This marked the fourth occasion over the last twelve months that the brothers have stepped up to give back to their community.

Brother Chancer McLaughlin, a new initiate, serves as a Board Member with Action Pathways. He helped spearhead this event along with Brothers Dexter Boykin, Calvin Mims, Eric Bradley, and Craig Williams. Serving those in need,

The brothers of Chi Iota know that one person can help save hundreds of lives by hosting a blood drive. Therefore, that’s what they did. Chi Iota partnered with the American Red Cross in Florence, South Carolina.

Hosting this event brought people into the community out to donate much needed blood, due to a low blood supply.

The 6th District Representative, Brother Kurt Walker, joined the efforts of Chi Iota to show his support and understanding the importance of blood donations during a pandemic.

The brothers of Chi Iota continue to uplift the community by promoting a cause that can help save millions of lives each year.

especially those suffering from hunger during the national COVID-19 pandemichas become a passion of these two Chapters. Moreover, the experience of several Brothers having been homeless and their desire to ensure that everyone has access to food regardless of their station life is the impetus for this project.

The chapters successfully executed every aspect of the event from setting up, unloading the trucks, checking in the participants, and loading the food into vehicles per the CDC Guidelines. Beta Chi and Delta Gamma Chapters have scheduled more events to give back to their community.

kappa alpha chapter scholarship

ROCK HILL, SC – Kappa Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is proud to announce the recipients of the Omegas of Rock Hill, Inc., 2021 Omega Scholars.

“For the second consecutive year we are proudly providing scholarships for four African American male high school graduates. Our goal is to reduce the financial burden they may face and help students as they pursue their educational goals,” said Dr. Jesse Gardner, Chair of the Scholarship Committee.

The scholarship recipients are:

Jonathan Behr, a 2021 graduate of Northwestern High School, was the winner of the Wade Witherspoon Jr. Essay Competition. His essay, “The power of Youthful Political engagement”, gives his historical view of political changes in our country.

Johnathan’s final assertions are that

“…the younger generation needs to become and remain politically and socially active to preserve this nation’s integrity and spur reformation to injustices…” At Northwestern he obtained a 5.15 GPA and was ranked 10th out of 368 in his class. He was a member of the Trojan cross country runner and a member of the Trojan track team as a pole vaulter. Jonathan currently works at Cabela’s and has worked as a lifeguard, camp counselor, and adventure guide at Camp Canaan. He loves fishing and playing disc golf. Jonathan will attend Clemson University this fall and major in Chemical Engineering.

Clenekeous L. Owens, a 2021 graduate of South Pointe High School where everyone knows him as “CJ,” has carried a 4.0 GPA throughout high school and has maintained Honor Roll distinctions while participating in National Beta Club, Gospel Choir, Progeny, and Student Council. During his junior year, he

was selected as Director of Publicity for the Student Council. He remembered seeing “Friday Night Lights” and began to brainstorm ideas how he could create similar excitement for his school’s athletic teams and bring the student body together. As a senior, he was elected Student Body Vice President. CJ plans to attend the University of South Carolina where he will major in Sports and Entertainment Marketing.

Troy Moore, II, a graduate of Chester High School where he ranked in the top third of his graduating class with a 4.1 GPA, was a dual enrollment student at York Technical College. His teachers have watched him grow and exhibit “extraordinary analytical and creative ideas”. He was a member of the Beta Club, Junior Civitans, Student Council, and Youth Advisory Board. Troy’s dual enrollment at York Tech allows him to enter South Carolina State

Kappa Alpha Chapter Scholarship, continued

University this fall with an advanced standing. There he plans to major in Performing Arts with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Troy’s mission is to eventually earn his doctorate, but prior to that he wants to inspire and teach young people performing arts.

Bryson T. Pugh, a graduate of Northwestern High School, compiled a tremendous resume of participation in academic, community, and athletic activities, along with parttime employment. He graduated in

special graduation ceremony

for journey coleman class of 2022

the upper one-third of a class of 362 with a 4.0 GPA and took dual credit courses through the University of South Carolina-Lancaster. Despite a very busy schedule, Bryson was also a member in Northwestern’s performance band and the Junior Civitans Club. His part-time employer promoted him to Customer Service Lead after recognizing Bryson’s talent and attention to detail. Bryson will enter Coastal Carolina University this fall. His major professional objective is to pursue a Doctorate in Physical

Therapy (DPT) with a minor in Business Administration in preparation for owning his own Physical Therapy practice.

Congratulations to all of our scholarship recipients. They demonstrated outstanding academic performance and scholarly achievement during their high school career. We are pleased to support their educational endeavors,” said Bro. Eddie White, Basileus of Kappa Alpha Chapter.

Vance County High School (Henderson, North Carolina) held a special graduation ceremony Thursday afternoon for Journey Coleman of the class of 2022.

In September 2020, Journey was diagnosed with stage 4 rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer of the soft tissue. Despite her illness, she has persevered in school. The audience at the ceremony was filled with Journey’s loved ones. Superintendent Cindy Bennett, school board Chairwoman Linda Cobb, other board members, teachers, and more were also in attendance.

“Journey is a phenomenal student who has worked hard since the day she entered our doors,” Vance High principal Rey Horner said. “We are proud of her and excited to celebrate her accomplishments today. She truly makes us Vance County Schools proud.” During the ceremony, Journey’s mother, Sherronda Minor, spoke of her child’s determination and strength. Earlier in the week, Minor shared with The Daily Dispatch how proud she is of her daughter. “That’s my baby, and she’s my hero,” Minor said.

Two members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. honored Journey with a perseverance award. The American Cancer Society says only about 400 to 500 new cases of rhabdomyosarcoma show up in any given year, and it most often occurs in children because it attacks a type of cell that’s critical to the early development of the body’s muscles. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common type of soft-tissue sarcoma, which are cancers of the bones and soft tissue, in children.

CHI IOTA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

My name is Kaiden McKoy, I am the son of Kevin and Angel McKoy. I am a senior at West Florence High School. During my years at West Florence; I was on the marching band, concert band and the jazz band. I have participated in many back to school giveaways, I passed out school supplies for children in many different communities. This coming fall I will be attending South Carolina State University and then I will transfer to North Carolina A&T in the spring.

My name is Quincy Woods, I am the son of Torrey and LaQuinas Woods. Over the years I have excelled in many capacities: academically, sports, and in the community. I can now say that I am a graduate of the illustrious Wilson High School. Over my 4 years at Wilson High School I have been awarded with several accolades. I have been on A/B honor roll, President of the Beta Club, Wilson High School Football Lineman of the Year for two consecutive years, PeeDee Football Lineman of the Year, All-Region 1st Team Center for two consecutive years, MVP of the Golf Team for two years, Wilson’s High School first time 6 4A Lower State Golf Championship participant and winner of the Jim Clyburn’s Rudolph Canzater Memorial Classic. I have also participated in many civil and community events in the Pee Dee area. I have volunteered with the Adopt a Highway Program with the Chi Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. in Florence, SC, the BEDS Ministry, Adopt a Child Program, Take a Child Golfing, and many more activities.

I plan to further my education at Coastal Carolina University and major in Engineering Science.

mighty 6th district

welcomes newest chapter - iota nu nu

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and the Mighty Sixth District recently welcomed its newest chapter of Brothers to serve the fraternity – the Iota Nu Nu graduate chapter in Greenville, North Carolina.

The chapter was approved by the International leadership on February 1, 2021. A chartering ceremony took place in Greenville on May 21, 2021, led by District Representative Kurt Walker. Also in attendance was 1st Vice DR Al White and former DR’s Melvin Mitchell and Victor Bruinton. Members of the Divine Nine in the area were also present. The chapter will focus on community service, as Omega seeks to continue making an impact across the globe.

The current roster includes 28 men from the Pitt County area and the expectation is that more members will join the chapter moving toward the new fiscal year starting in November. Most of the members were part of the Nu Alpha Chapter which consisted of Brothers from the Washington, New Bern and Greenville areas. Nu Alpha was chartered in 1936 and originally consisted of members from the majority of Eastern North Carolina.

tau gamma gamma

engaged with one of 3 schools they adopted for the 2020-21 school year

Members of Tau Gamma Gamma (TGG) Chapter remain engaged with one of the three schools they adopted for the school year 2020-2021. As part of support of the ongoing efforts for one of three adopted schools in the Greater Cumberland County School District, TGG funded a $1200 standalone water filtration system, the Elkay EZH2O® Bottle Filling Station. This system is an easy means to deliver clean, quick water bottle fill and enhance sustainability by minimizing dependency on disposable plastic bottles.

In coordination with the Luther Nick Gerald Middle School Counselor, Mrs. Keller, the System was selected since the standard water fountains in the school were closed due to COVID-19 and the new system provided the best option for the students. Part of the decision-making included the fact that replacing the existing system avoided regular cleaning, enhanced sanitary conditions, and avoided the possibility of body fluid transferral. The new system is a surface mount designed and equipped with sanitary no-touch sensor activation with an automatic 20-second shut-off timer.

TGG continues to support this school as well as two others in underserved communities to meet the needs of minority and other students.

stop hazing run

By Brother Chuck Johnson

Georgia’s state Senate unanimously approved a bill on February 26 (Max Gruver Act) that will institute stiff penalties for hazing. Under the legislation, anyone convicted of misdemeanor hazing would be subject to as much as a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Hazing that results in serious bodily harm would be considered a felony and carry a fine of up to $50,000 and one to five years of jail time. A conviction for hazing that caused someone’s death would result in one to ten years in jail, as well as that $50,000 fine. Gruver died in 2017 after suffering alcohol poisoning during a fraternity hazing incident at Louisiana State University. Chi Gamma Gamma participated in a 5K that raises funds that bring awareness to the risk and some results of hazing.

Bro. alex ambeau iii

air national guard members

Air National Guard members, reservists, and active-duty personnel from across the country arrived in New Jersey to help evacuees from Afghanistan adjust to a new life here in America. The deployed forces are helping an evacuee population that’s reached 95% capacity at two of three planned communities at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Bro. Alex Ambeau III (Phi Rho 2014) was called upon to assist with the set-up of a field vaccination and medicine pharmacy at Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Bro. Ambeau is serving at the Fort McGuire joint military base as the Pharmacy Director helping out with Afghan refugee vaccinations and medicine. The vaccination campaign provided over 8,700 Afghan refugees protection against the COVID-19 virus. The ten thousand or so refugees flown in over the last two months are getting vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox in addition to COVID-19.

psi mu mu

Psi Mu Mu Chapter prides itself on being a beacon of service in Desoto County, Mississippi and surrounding areas. Having a very busy August and September, we hosted a myriad of events starting with a “Restoration Event” in partnership with Restored Citizen Foundation. This was a multifunction event helping people with convictions get expunged, giving them information about their voting rights, and a back-to-school drive. The following details some of our recent major activities so Brothers can see the works and good deeds performed by Omega men.

The consequences of a conviction can vary, such as legal barriers, generalized discrimination, and a social stigma. These consequences can affect every aspect of a person’s life, including employment, housing, education, public benefits, credit, immigration status, parental rights, and even volunteer opportunities. On August 14, 2021, Brother Milo Lumpkin, Psi Mu Mu Chapter, and the Restored Citizens Foundation hosted a multifunction Restoration Event in Covington, TN. The event dealt with restoring individuals’ rights as citizens, giving out information for expungements, registering people to vote, and a “Back to School Supply Drive”. The Brothers of Psi Mu Mu Chapter were able to assist this worthy event all the way from the 7th District to 5th District with supplies the Restored Citizens Foundation needed.

September 16, 2021, Psi Mu Mu Chapter held its 3rd Annual Job Fair

& Community Outreach at Brown Baptist Church, Southaven, MS. The Jobs Fair lasted from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and the event was open to the public. The job fair booths were set up with about 30 employers looking to hire. Doors opened at 9am and within the first hour, less than 10 people looking for work showed up. As the event went on, more job seekers came and found many job opportunities. The concept of the Chapter’s Job Fair was to let job seekers and multiple organizations meet in one single place. The event was a major time saver for both job seekers and the organization. Psi Mu Mu Chapter will keep serving the community anyway possible, through this pandemic.

September 24, 2021, Psi Mu Mu Chapter held a Sickle Cell Blood Drive at the Desoto Donation Center in Southaven, MS. Bro. Antonio Anderson spearheaded the Sickle Cell Blood Drive. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that primarily affects people of African ancestry. Many sickle cell patients require frequent blood transfusions. While a donor from any racial or ethnic group can be a match for a sickle cell patient, the best match for a blood transfusion is from an African-American donor. No one ever expects to

need blood, but everyone is grateful when it is available. That need is one reason why Psi Mu Mu Chapter will always encourage everyone to donate to ensure a steady supply of blood is available for patients in our community.

Touchdowns Against Cancer 2021

The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. St. Jude’s is unlike any other hospital in that the majority of their funding comes from individual contributions.

Psi Mu Mu Continued

In support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Psi Mu Mu Chapter and The Lake Cormorant High School Gators joined high school football teams across the country in “Touchdowns Against Cancer 2021.” Psi Mu Mu Chapter made a pledge for every touchdown the Lake Cormorant Gators score, from September 6th - 29th; they donated monies to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and help the 16,000 children and adolescents that will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

Friday Night Light Mentors

On October 1, 2021, Bro. Korry Bass and Bro. Antonio Anderson supported Psi Mu Mu Chapter’s sponsored school, the Lake Cormorant Gators, under the Friday night lights of high school football. Psi Mu Mu Chapter mentors the kids of Lake Cormorant by sharing the knowledge of success through education. An important objective for them to understand is how the impact of education can and will have on their futures and how it can open doors and create opportunities for them. The DeSoto Ques mentorship program believes in putting education at the forefront.

Pkk rebound progam

poster contest

By Brother Marc Styles

Rebound Program Virtual Black History Poster

Contest Fatherhood Initiative and Mentoring Program The brothers of the Phi Kappa Kappa Chapter in conjunction with Project Friendship and the DeKalb County Juvenile Court Rebound Program held its Annual Black History Month Poster Contest virtually on February 17, 2021. This year’s participants ranged in age from 14 to 17 from the DeKalb Juvenile Court Rebound Program. The DeKalb County Juvenile Court Rebound Program was established in 2004 and is a five-phase intervention program for juveniles who are having difficulty staying clean and sober.

It is a collaborative effort between the Juvenile Court, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Probation Department, School System, Treatment Providers and Families. A variety of programs and intensive supervision are designed to support youth in obtaining and maintaining a drug-free lifestyle. The DeKalb County Juvenile Court Rebound Program involves frequent court appearances, random drug testing, as well as group and family counseling. The Court awards incentives for satisfactory behavior and imposes sanctions for unsatisfactory behavior. Brothers Rickey Lewis 1st Vice Grand Basileus, Christopher Brooks 1st Vice District Representative (7th District), James Reed District Keeper of Records and Seal (7th District), L. Keith Reddings Georgia State Repre-

sentative, DeNorris Heard Georgia State Counselor, and Henry Hankerson Georgia Region 2 Representative, were all on the call. There were talks about having this type of event expanded throughout the Fraternity just before the event ended. The 1st Place Winner received a $650 Gift Card, a painting with prominent African American Men, a cap, book, and t-shirt. Gift Cards were also presented to the 2nd and 3rd Place Winners for $550 and $450 respectfully. A runner up received a Gift Card for $120.

LADY T’S HOMELESS SHELTER

By Brother Sol Solomon

May 16, 2021 GOAL: The Social Action Committee of Delta Mu Mu Chapter has committed to supporting our community through long standing relationships or targets of opportunities when identified. On the above date, three Brothers from DMM met at Lady T’s Homeless Ministry to assist in the first of three planned events to support the ministry. The activities included lawn beautification, fish preparation, cleaned and disinfected food containers, and staged tables for food preparation. The tasks were necessary to prepare the Homeless Ministry for one of two major fundraisers vital to sustaining the homeless ministry. Lady T was extremely thankful for the Brothers who volunteered to assist on this Sunday afternoon. The hours expended certainly alleviated a lot of stress on a ministry that needs as much assistance as possible to carry out her invaluable mission of ministering to the homeless.

farewell to bro. dr. & mrs. willie and tommie farmer

By Brother David F. Richards, IV

On Saturday, August 21, 2021, Brothers of Zeta Beta Beta Chapter participated in the Farewell Parade for Bro. Dr. Willie S. Farmer, Sr. and his wife Tommie in Athens, Georgia. The Farmers are returning to Mississippi after living in Athens since 1987. Bro. Farmer was born on November 26, 1929, in Epps, AL, and he grew up in Meridian, MS.

He attended Jackson College for Negro Teachers (later named Jackson State University) where he was initiated into the Upsilon Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in 1951. As an educator and school administrator, Bro. Farmer has worked at several secondary schools in Mississippi and Georgia. He and his wife,

Tommie, have been active in several civic and religious organizations since moving to Athens. As a member of Zeta Beta Beta, He served two terms as Chapter Basileus and has twice been named the Chapter’s Omega Man of the Year. Bro. Farmer celebrated 70 years as an Omega Man in April 2021. Several organizations in Athens joined to honor the Farmers in the Farewell Parade lead by a police escort with over 100 cars participating in the parade. Photo: Left to right, Bros. Dr. Arthur Hinton, Jr., Sammy Brown, Jeffrey Clark, Anthony Thomas, Alfonso Dunston, Dr. Shean Brown, Terry Sims, Dr. Donovan Gowdie, Robert Smith, Jonathan Blake Smith, David Richards, IV, Quincy Wilkins, Isom Weems, Kashiwa Brawner, Kamau Hull, and Dr. Maurice Daniels.

Rhapsody in Black Legacy Scholarship Luncheon Goes Virtual

Upsilon Omega Chapter | St. Louis, MO On June 5, 2021 a collaborative effort between the Upsilon Omega Foundation, Inc. and the Men of Upsilon Omega Chapter led to a phenomenal success story. A collaborative effort was put in place to ensure this year’s 2021 Rhapsody in Black Legacy Scholarship Luncheon would be a huge success! Since its inception in 1995, Rhapsody has enabled the Upsilon Omega Foundation to provide talented college-bound, St. Louis area high school seniors with over $320,000 in scholarship assistance. With the help of the Upsilon Omega Chapter, plans were put in place to continue the tradition of helping worthy local high school seniors continue their higher educational endeavors. Due to the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, last year’s Rhapsody event had to be cancelled.

Spearheading such a large and highly visible event demanded months of planning and multiple rehearsals to take on the inaugural virtual scholarship event. Over 200 scholars submitted applications for a chance to receive (1) $1,000.00 scholarship towards their dreams to continue their education at the college level. The Rhapsody Committee members selected the top 35 students to receive scholarships and on June 5th, over 120 were in attendance via Zoom Webinar to witness each recipient receive their award.

The event started off with great fanfare when the Upsilon Omega Chapter Basileus, Bro. Donald L. Gage presented the Upsilon Omega Foundation with a check for $2,000.00 on behalf of the men of Upsilon Omega. During the program, the Upsilon Omega Foundation recognized and congratulated MOHELA (Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri) as the event corporate sponsor of the year. MOHELA donated $10,000.00 in scholarships and has been a partner with the Rhapsody event for the last four years.

Dual keynote speakers, the City of St. Louis’ first elected Black female Mayor, Mrs. Tishaura Jones (a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.), and NBC Affiliate KSDK News Director, Art Holliday, gave inspiring speeches to the young college bound students via video.

Special thanks goes out to Rhapsody Program Chair Bro. Jayson Jones, Scholarship Chair Bro. Dr. Jarret A. Smith, Community Outreach Chair Bro. Chris LaGrone, and the entire Rhapsody Committee which consists of: Steve Piphus Sr., Paul Drake, Clem Smith, Dave Morris, Ron Johnson, Ashley Kornegay, Sharrell Topps, Christopher Sims, Jordan Davis, Verne Wilson, Tray Cromwell, Dan Redden Jr., and Barry Person.

Upsilon Omega Receives the 2021 NAACP Community Service Award

Bro. Derrick Johnson, the current CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, was the Keynote Speaker. He was introduced by the NAACP Chapter President, Bro. John Bowman (Upsilon Omega 2013).

The County NAACP branch recognized the hard work of Omega Psi Phi in St. Louis during this pandemic in assisting over 350,000 families and providing food, clothing and other services to the community. We would like to give special thanks to Basileus Donald Gage and Social Action Chair Thomas Kitchen for their outstanding work and commitment to keeping the Omega Brothers engaged with community service projects.

Brother Jayson “Jay” Jones

The Simple Foundation Goes Global

All State Good Works TEAM WinneR DeValon Whitcomb

The 8th District Representative Bro. Osuman Issaka of Beta Upsilon is the founder and CEO of the Simple Foundation. The Simple Foundation is a non for profit organization that has impacted thousands of under privilege children and young adults in the Omaha, Nebraska area. Whether sponsoring after school enrichment programs or providing shelter for disadvantage youth, the Simple Foundation has always been a pillar in the community.

The Simple Foundation hosted an international soccer tournament in East Legion, Accra, Ghana. This international tournament attracted hundreds of young African males to participate and showcase their athletic abilities. Other activities during this tournament including skill test, footwork drills, and basic soccer mechanics led by 34th 8th DR Osuman Issaka. This international event gives Bro. Issaka an opportunity to give back to the community that raise him.

About the Simple Foundation:

Mission. Welcoming youth from diverse backgrounds through our programs that build self-confidence, develop new skills and achieve educational success.

Vision. Empowering people, encouraging involvement and uplifting the community.

Core Components . Academic Achievement, Mentorship Engagement, Community Involvement, Health Empowerment, Social Skills enhancement.

Tau Kappa- From working a cloth-ing drive to mentoring high schoolers, senior defensive tackle DeValon Whitcomb’s commitment to serving the community without any limitations. He volunteers with the Special Olympics over the summer, the Boys and Girls Clubs during school breaks, and works with an organization that services the youth by addressing poverty, prompting cultural integration and fostering academic excellence. Devalon also distributes food on Wednesdays and Fridays to an average of 856 families per month. DeValon and other volunteers have distributed tens of thousands of pounds of food and 500 person-al protective equipment masks.

Brother Whitcomb was recently voted a member of the national All State Good Works Team. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season. All State pledged 1 million in financial support to the players and their charitable causes for the first time in program’s 30 year history. This is one in a series of commitments from All State. Congratulations to the 8th District’s DeValon Whitcomb for his unwavering commitment to community service and his “Good Works” off the field.

hurricane

ida relief

By Brother Nazir Kebe

On Saturday, September 11, 2021, the brothers of Gamma Gamma Chapter participated in the Hurricane Ida Relief donation drive sponsored by Grambling State University Clubs & Organizations. During the early and late afternoon hours of Saturday, the brethren along with other clubs helped by gathering and organizing donations received for families who were affected by Hurricane Ida. Hurricane Ida made landfall on the Southeastern coast of Louisiana and took an unlikely turn Northeast affecting areas on the west coast as well. It even forced a large percentage of residents to evacuate northern Louisiana. In Louisiana, there were at least 2,000 families in the south who were a part of Ida’s path of destruction, leaving greater New Orleans powerless for days. The high demand for fuel, food, and essentials left residents displaced and heartbroken. Although this catastrophic event left many people with no hope, peers and residents of Louisiana played their part in being each other’s help for aid. The brethren made donations, urged others to donate, and carried out the cardinal principle of Uplift embedded in our fraternity.

back to school backpack giveaway

By Brothers Derrick Young and Eli Nelson

On August 14, 2021, the brothers of Omicron Lambda Lambda Chapter partnered with Tau Sigma and Pi Omicron Chapters to give away backpacks and school supplies to the public. This event was extremely successful! We were able to give away over 500 backpacks with school supplies and also provided free hotdogs, hamburgers, grilled chicken, and drinks. The giveaway was a huge success.

The brothers served our communities with compassion and dedication that is directly reflective of one of our cardinal principles, Uplift. The brothers of Omega upheld their duty by extending themselves and focusing on the needs of others in a selfless act.

City of Houston Department Of Neighborhood’s “good

neighbors” program

Nu Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. volunteered for the City of Houston “Good Neighbor” project which occurred on Saturday, August 21, and August 28, 2021. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner kicked off the Houston Department of Neighborhoods (DON) Good Neighbor event in Independence Heights. The inaugural lawn maintenance service was carried out by members of Nu Phi Chapter beginning at the home of longtime resident Ms. Warzell Upshaw with Fraternity members volunteering to mow the lawns of 12 senior citizens in the Houston community.

“This project is about neighbors helping neighbors, especially our seniors who are not able to maintain the upkeep of their lawns,” said

Mayor Turner. “I want to thank the Omega Psi Phi brothers for partnering with the Department of Neighborhoods to serve our seniors and for their work on this hot summer day. They have been with me on several events over the last, (well), since I’ve been in office. They set a fine example for us, inspiring us all to be good neighbors.”

Administered by the City of Houston’s Volunteer Initiatives Program (VIP), the project provides free lawn maintenance services to 20 pre-selected seniors in several neighborhoods during the months of August and September. This effort is sponsored in partnership with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. “The Depart-

ment of Neighborhoods is pleased to partner with the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity to provide this service for seniors over these summer months when grass and weeds flourish,” said DON director TaKasha Francis. “We’re not only helping senior residents maintain safe and sanitary yards in compliance with city codes, but we’re also encouraging others to do the same. We thank them for their community service and for helping us kick off this vital undertaking for our seniors.”

Bro. Keoni Josiah, Social Action Committee Chairman, who coordinated the event stated, “Omega Psi Phi’s four cardinal principles are Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift. Our watch word is Service which we are committed to.” The Houston Area Coalition of Omega Psi Phi in conjunction with Nu Phi Chapter will continue to work with the City of Houston to determine other ways where Omega Men can provide service to the Houston community.

water and sanitizer

to maddux elementary

By Brother Jeremy Pierre, West Memphis, AK

Students in West Memphis, Arkansas are returning to in-person learning this morning for the second half of the school year. Many schools across the MidSouth moved to virtual learning last year amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Bottled water and hand sanitizer have become much-needed essentials for schools where in-person learning is happening.

Four black Greek-letter organizations helped students and staff at one school stay safe from the spread of the virus. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority delivered nearly 5,000 bottles of water and 2,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to Maddux Elementary.

The school is facing what one educator called a “year of adjustments.

“We have definitely been faced with challenges as far as our rotation schedule with classes,” She said that challenges include stretching the supplies of water and hand sanitizer the school received from the District.

“This was tremendous and extremely important,” Pitts said. “Our students

aren’t able to use the water fountain like they normally would.”

Bro. Brian Didlake said the organizations wanted to give the kids water to drink throughout the day because hydration is critical. Financial gifts used to purchase supplies also came from Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta sororities.

rho omega donates fans

Rho Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Rho Omega and Friends, Incorporated recently held their Annual Summer Fan Drive. With the assistance of Shreveport-Bossier City Junior Lamplighters, a total of 115 fans were collected and donated to the Caddo Council on Aging. Through their effort to uplift the community, many people will be able to “beat the heat” this summer. Bro. James D. Rhodes is the Fan Drive Chairman, Bro. Fred Moss IV is the Executive Director of Rho Omega and Friends, Incorporated, and Bro. James F. Hawkins is Basileus of Rho Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

omega gents spring 2021 mentoring

program

By Brother lamon Smith, Arlington, TX

Our mentoring program has four primary building blocks that we use to help our Gents become men. The four building blocks are: Manhood, Scholarship, Health and Wellness, and Community and Social Involvement. For our spring semester we assigned our mentees two different projects which focused on two building blocks, Scholarship and Community and Social Involvement.

The first project, which focused on the Scholarship building block, tasked them with creating a business plan to develop a business that would serve their community. While working on this project they had to use their peers who were fellow mentees and their mentors. Since several of our mentees have small businesses that they currently operate, entrepreneurship resulted in

the final focus of the Scholarship building block. Needless to say, they presented a very thorough PowerPoint presentation.

The second project focused on Community and Social Involvement. In this building block our mentees decided on a canned food drive to benefit the Mission of Arlington, Texas. This organization assists low income families with basic living needs such as food, job training, furniture, and toys. Our mentees’ hard work and dedication collected over 950 canned goods which were donated to the Mission of Arlington.

We are very proud of our mentees and mentors’ very successful Spring semester and look forward to the Fall semester.

four founders, four cardinal principals, and four years in a row

iota chapter awards $10,000 in scholarships to five black young men

By Brother Melvin M. Slater, Sr. Chicago, IL

On Thursday, June 17, 2021, Iota Chapter recognized and honored five outstanding black young men as their 2021 scholarship recipients during their annual scholarship presentation. The chapter has provided scholarships to deserving black students annually ($10,000 in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021) since being re-chartered as a graduate chapter in 1995. Each student will utilize their scholarship to continue their educational journey to uplift black communities in Chicago and abroad. Determined to persevere through the impacts of COVID-19, Iota Chapter continued with an abbreviated 2021 Scholarship Awards program outside on the front steps of the historic DuSable Museum of African American History on Chicago’s southside.

The Iota Chapter Scholarship Committee (Brothers Melvin M. Slater, Sr. - Chairman, Byron Legardy, Joe Lewis, Jr., and Rick Williams) selected the following five black Chicago high school seniors to receive $10,000 in scholarships based on their academic achievements and aspirations for higher education:

Albert Addo: Payton HS graduate; attending Stanford University in the Fall of 2021 to major in Mechanical/ Aerospace Engineering

Trinton Moore: Young HS graduate; attending the University of Illinois in the Fall of 2021 to major in Animal Science

Zayquan Franklin: Douglass HS graduate; attending Jackson State University in the Fall of 2021 to major in Business

Ronald Wright, Jr.: Chicago Ag HS graduate; attending Tennessee State University in the Fall of 2021 to major in Mechanical Engineering Kevin Magee, Jr.: Lindblom HS graduate; attending Columbia College in the Fall of 2021 to major in Acting

The scholarship awards program included prayer, introductions, presentations of scholarships, words of wisdom and support, and photos. Bro. Slater stated that “our investment in planting seeds today will yield

the fruit to feed us in the future.” Brothers provided their college(s), degree(s), career(s), and contact information to better position our recipients for success. Each recipient was asked to contact the chapter periodically with their progress or if they find themselves in need. The chapter will also follow up with each recipient. Iota’s scholarships are primarily supported by the chapter’s major fundraising event, the “Taste of Omega.” Again this year, due to COVID-19, the “Taste of Omega” was canceled, and brothers turned inward to support the cause. Bro. Dr. Melvin Hargrett, Ed.D. (Basileus) requested that the Men of Iota Chapter dig deep in their own pockets again to provide $10,000 for the scholarships and added, “What could be a more worthy cause than this to donate to in order to restore hope and ensure a brighter tomorrow?”

omega career day

By Brother Darren Meaders II, Pontiac, MI

roseville memorial day parade

omega psi phi participates in annual parade to support the first black council member kurmmell knox

By Brother Matthew E. Mills, Roseville, MI

Our youth need to have exposure to opportunities outside of their communities and identify with individuals who look like them. Therefore, on June 16, 2021, the brothers of Omicron Alpha Alpha Chapter, in coordination with the Pontiac (Michigan) School Board, led a Career Day for 6th thru 8th graders at the Pontiac Middle School.

The brothers of Omicron Alpha Alpha Chapter spent time with the students exposing them to careers in various industries, such as graphic design, engineering, politics, and entrepreneurship. Speakers at the Career Day shared their background, industry, and education required in their field. Brother Stanley El-Amin expressed the importance of continuous education and adaptation to change. The students found it helpful as their school experience has changed drastically within the last year and a half. Students were engaged and shared their dreams and aspirations. The brothers of Omicron Alpha Alpha Chapter will continue to partner with the Pontiac School Board to uplift the students of the Pontiac community.

On Monday, May 31, 2021, Tau Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. participated in the Roseville, Michigan Memorial Day Parade. 2021 is the first year the Macomb County Omegas participated in the Roseville Memorial Day Parade. It was an honor to represent our illustrious fraternity in such an honorable event. We embraced the opportunity to honor the fallen who laid down their lives so we could enjoy our freedom and opportunity to live fruitful lives. Representatives from many Roseville entities, including Roseville Police Honor Guard, DPW, Roseville High School Marching Band, and the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Division participated.

We had an opportunity to support our own and the newest member of the Roseville City Council, Brother Kurmmell Knox. He has served Omega honorably for

over 35 years. He now has the distinction of being the first African American to serve on the Roseville City Council. It was an honor and a privilege to participate in the annual event and represent Tau Mu Nu Chapter. Although this was the first year the Macomb County Chapter participated in the event, the men of Tau Mu Nu Chapter look forward to supporting the event and the community for years to come.

Project Manhood mentors of Nu Chi Foundation and Nu Chi Chapter in East St. Louis, Illinois celebrated five 2021 high school graduates. We are proud to say that as scholar-athletes, our graduating mentees demonstrated the highest standards of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift. Mentors

Nu Chi Chapter and Foundation

celebrates project manhood 2021 high school graduates

By Brother Mel Holland, East St. Louis, IL

visited each mentee at their home to recognize their achievements, where joyful family members met them.

Mentors shared words of praise and memorable stories about the mentees’ time in the program. Mentors presented excellent gifts, including a Project Manhood certificate of achievement, a dress suit, shirts, belts, and shoes. To help with their transitions, mentors gave each graduate a footlocker filled with items useful in college dorm life. All will attend college this Fall.

Gerad Bruce, Jr. is the son of Gerad Sr., nephew of Bro. Charles Bruce (Rho Sigma 1969), the 27th Tenth District Representative, and grandson of Bro. Donald Bruce (Tau Gamma 1979). Gerad Jr. graduated from Alton High School in Alton, Illinois with a 2.9 GPA. He lettered in cross country, soccer, and track & field. He’ll attend Missouri State University, majoring in psychology.

Barry E. Evans is the son of Bro. Barry (Nu Chi 2015) and Lisa Evans. Barry graduated from Mascoutah High School in Mascoutah, Illinois with a 3.5 GPA. He was captain of the Class 2A Champion Track & Field team and won the Illinois High School Class 2A Discus competition. Barry recently received an Associate Degree in business administration at Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC). He’s attending the University of Alabama, majoring in kinesiology.

Tydus Stevenson is the son of Andea Stevenson. He graduated from Cardinal Ritter High School in St. Louis with a 2.8 GPA. Tydus lettered as a baseball outfielder. He will attend Lincoln University in Jefferson City, majoring in business.

Jeremy Strickland is the son of James and Catrese Strickland. He graduated from Belleville West High School in Belleville, Illinois. Jeremy lettered as a soccer winger. He will be attending Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, majoring in business administration-entrepreneurship.

HeMory Wilson is the son of Tameka Wilson. He graduated from Belleville West High School with a 3.0 GPA. HeMory played basketball at Cahokia High School in Cahokia, Illinois. He’s attending SWIC and plans to attend the University of Kentucky in 2023 to major in business. Brothers of the Nu Chi Foundation and Nu Chi Chapter are excited about their mentees. Each has shown character and strength. Congratulations and God’s speed on their paths to future success.

Brother idris rashid

excellence in business and entrepreneurship

By Brother Theodore Sanders, Kalamazoo, MI

Bro. Idris Rashid joined the Fraternity through Nu Gamma Chapter in 1998. His journey has been filled with challenges, achievements, some disappointments, and plenty of contributions that exemplify his Faith in God, love of family, and commitment to upholding the cardinal principles of the fraternity. Bro. Rashid was born in Pontiac, Michigan and graduated from Pontiac Northern High School. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a B.A. degree in Business 2001 and an M.A. degree in Organizational Leadership in 2002.

His Omega resume is impressive, to say the least. He served as the Basileus of Omicron Alpha Alpha (OAA) Chapter in Pontiac, Michigan from 2014-2016. OAA Chapter was recognized as the 2016 Tenth District Social Action Chapter of the Year during his tenure in Leadership. He was also recognized as the Omega Man of the Year for OAA Chapter in 2016.

In the world of Business, Bro. Rashid has distinguished himself as a successful business owner opening his second Chick-fil-A restaurant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in January of 2021. He has a fascinating story that embodies the cardinal principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift. He demonstrated Manhood when he became a father and then decided to become a foster parent for two and eventually an adoptive Dad for the two wonderful boys. He committed to Scholarship after overcoming a rough start and academic failure during his senior

year of high school. Bro. Rashid graduated from Western Michigan University with a 3.0-grade point average, with a B.A. in Computer Information Systems. He also received recognition as a Thurgood Marshall Scholar, earning an M.A. degree in Leadership. He embodied Perseverance when making the difficult decision to walk away from a comfortable position with a major Fortune 500 company, to fight to become a Chick-fil-A operator. When he first applied, he was told “no” in 2014. But that did not dampen his resolve. Through his faith in God and Perseverance, he applied again and was selected for his first store in 2016. Following this success, Bro. Rashid was soon chosen for his 2nd store in 2019. With his firm conviction to help others and give back to those in need, he inspires and demonstrates Uplift by using his story to touch the lives of many from the inner city. He genuinely believes that with belief in God, self, and by maintaining a good name, young people like him can overcome adversity and achieve anything they put their minds to.

Bro. Rashid had the heart of a true entrepreneur from an early age. At the age of 10, he cut grass in his neighborhood, and at 13 years old, he learned to cut hair. He ran a barbershop from the basement of his father’s home for more than ten years. In 2005 he met his wife Marcia, and they married in 2007. Idris and Marcia birthed daughter Laila, 7, and adopted Henry and Arnold, both 7.

Idris spent most of his career working for DaimlerChrysler and PepsiCo in the areas of manufacturing and distribution. His last role was Zone Operations Manager with PepsiCo, Frito Lay division, overseeing eight locations throughout central Texas. He knew he would be his own boss one day and is truly honored to have been selected to own and operate a Chick-fil-A franchise.

Bro. Rashid credits his determination to his father’s example, a Purple Heart Medal recipient from the Korean war that retired from Consumers Energy with 36 years of perfect attendance. He loves spending time with his

family, serving the community, and playing competitive sports. He notes four things as his greatest accomplishments: Serving Jesus Christ after getting saved while in college, marrying the right woman, maintaining a positive mindset by remaining uncompromised by his environment, and maintaining a good name throughout his entire journey. Galilee Church, Kalamazoo, MI, recently recognized Brother Rashid as their Mabry Gardner Community Service Award winner for his dedicated work to uplifting the community. Bro. Rashid is currently a member of Upsilon Pi and Omicron Alpha Alpha Chapters.

phi chapter

celebrates 100 years

By Brother Raymond Byrd-Smith, Ann Arbor, MI

Phi Chapter is the oldest and most historic undergraduate chapter in the Tenth District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. In 2021, Phi Chapter celebrates 100 years of excellence, scholarship, and friendship. On May 2nd, 1921, Bro. Raymond G. Robinson, 7th Grand Basileus, and Bro. Eugene E. Alston, Beta Chapter 1917 initiate, organized Phi Chapter on the campus of the University of Michigan. Phi Chapter was organized with 6 charter members: Bro. John R. Cottin, Bro. Dewey R. Jones, Bro. William H. Rodgers, Jr., Bro. Howard D. Shaw, Brother Floyd H. Skinner, and Bro. Carroll B. Williams. Indeed a shining light of Omega, Phi Chapter has produced men of high character and high attainments that have made positive contributions to society.

A few of Phi Chapter’s most notable initiates include: Bro. William DeHart Hubbard (1st African-American to win an individual Olympic gold medal); Bro. Donald F. White (1st African-American to earn Architectural Registration in the State of Michigan);

Bro. Jabrill Peppers (NFL Strong Safety and College

Football Heisman Finalist); Bro. Clifford Wilson, Sr. (Research physiologist and inventive genius for Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical); Bro. James Blanks (National Wrestling Hall of Fame); Bro. Len Ford, Jr. (NFL Hall of Fame Defensive End); Bro. John Burgess (1st African-American to head an Episcopal Diocese & Howard University Chaplain); and Bro. Maurice Gross (Anesthesiologist & Phi Historian). Phi Chapter continues to be a beacon of light on the University of Michigan campus, within the Tenth District, and throughout the fraternity.

Phi has held the highest GPA in the Tenth District for six consecutive years (2015-2021) and produced the International Omega Man of the Year for four straight years (2016-2020). The chapter is also home to several winners of the Tenth District and International Scholar of the Year. Pivotal events that the chapter hosts annually include Suicide Prevention Awareness, Freshmen MoveIn, Miss Omega Psi Phi Pageant, and Achievement Week.

Phi Chapter plans to celebrate its 100th Centennial Anniversary the weekend of April 8th - 10th, 2022. The Centennial Banquet will be held on the University of Michigan campus in the Michigan Union Ballroom on April 9th. On April 10th, Phi will hold a Commemorative Memorial Dedication in honor of its chapter organizers and charter members. Brothers are encouraged to attend the historic weekend celebration. Details regarding banquet tickets and hotel reservations will soon be announced. Follow the Phi Chapter website, PhiQues.com, for further centennial announcements.

On September 24th through 26th, 2021, the Minnesota Ques (Xi and Epsilon Rho Chapters) commemorated Xi Chapter’s historic 100th Centennial Anniversary with a celebration in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The weekend event followed the virtual centennial celebration hosted via Zoom on May 8th, 2021, Xi Chapter’s charter date. The Xi Centennial Celebration coincided with the University of Minnesota’s Homecoming, which resulted in a massive celebration as alumni brothers were able to engage in the Golden Gopher school spirit during the festive weekend.

On Friday, September 24th, Xi hosted the Omega Psi Phi Professional Development & Career Fair workshop on the campus of the University of Minnesota in partnership with the Black Student Union (BSU). The BSU was founded with the support of Xi Chapter undergraduate Bro. Horace Huntley as a response to the historic 1969 Morrill Hall takeover. Bro. Dr. Thomas Adams hosted the Friday kickoff at his home with an outdoor BBQ pig roast consisting of food and fellowship with well over 100 brothers in attendance. Xi brothers began Saturday with a tailgate celebration on campus. The event attracted other NPHC guests and community members who joined the brothers of Omega Psi Phi for the tailgate before the game.

xi chapter celebrates 100 years

By Brother Raymond Byrd-Smith, Minneapolis, MN

After the homecoming football game, the Minnesota Ques conducted one of Xi Chapter’s largest blood drives to date in partnership with the American Red Cross and Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. The American Red Cross parked two vans on-site and filled all donation slots. The Xi Centennial Celebration was closed out with a Sunday morning church service at New Salem Baptist Church in Minneapolis which was open to all brothers.

Bro. Derrick Ivory, 37th Tenth District Representative, and Bro. Sean Long, 1st Vice Tenth District Representative, both traveled to Minneapolis to join the monumental weekend celebration of Xi Chapter. Tenth District leadership was genuinely impressed with the quality of programming, event organization, and authentic fellowship. The Minnesota Ques intend to carry the momentum of the centennial celebration into November in preparation for Achievement Week programming. Xi wants to showcase 100 years of Omega in Minnesota with an exhibit at the Minnesota Historical Society. With the Spring 2021 reactivation of Xi Chapter, new lifeblood and enthusiasm are flowing through Omega in Minnesota. Long Live the Minnesota Ques!

phi iota brothers bring

books and gloves to at-risk students

By Brother Joshua Benjamin

Under the hot desert sun in Mesa, Arizona, hundreds of students are being inspired to achieve greatness thanks to the brothers of Phi Iota Chapter (Phoenix). Bro. Joshua Benjamin II (Phi Delta 1990) operates the Gene Lewis Boxing Club and Youth Center, which helps students with academic, athletic, and social development. Founded in 1954, Gene Lewis Boxing Club and Youth Center has grown to prominence training some of Arizona’s best boxers and tutoring some of its top students.

Bro. Benjamin has received assistance from undergraduates brothers in helping the youth achieve their goals. Bro. Omrao Emudianughe (1-2021-Alpha Theta) and Bro. Shannon Foreman (2-2021-Alpha Theta) have made time in their schedules as students at Arizona State to assist with preschool through sixth grade with literacy, English as a second language, and other homework assignments. Bro. Joshua Benjamin III (4-2019-Gamma) was back home from Harvard due to the COVID-19 pandemic allowing him to assist students with S.T.E.M. subjects and computer literacy.

The Gene Lewis team has achieved the pinnacle of amateur boxing in the state of Arizona by winning the Team Golden Gloves Championships. Not only does the

program keep students in fighting trim, the Gene Lewis Youth Center also offers award-winning tutoring and mentorship programs. Weekdays from 4:30-7:00 pm, anyone ages five and older may go to the Center and receive tutoring in a number of subjects. The Center has a dedicated S.T.E.M. program as well as courses in Language Arts, English as a Second Language, Social Sciences, and college application preparedness. This, along with the mentoring program, has given countless students the confidence and knowledge to succeed.

Last year over 800 students received amateur boxing and fitness lessons, academic tutoring, and/or mentoring through the Center. Students who participate in the program beat the odds. The program has maintained a 100 percent high school graduation rate since 2004. With an average GPA of 3.16, students have gone on to institutions near and far such as Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Tuskegee University, Florida A&M, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Harvard University.

The brothers of Phi Iota, under the leadership of Bro. Benjamin, are making a huge difference in the lives of deserving kids and best of all, the students receive all of this free of charge.

operation

omega relief

When Omega Men see a need in the community, they do what is needed to fill the void.

For the second year, Ernest E. Just Youth & Community Services, Inc. and the 12th District have partnered to provide materials to help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the school year starting in August, the 12th District was able to donate 12,000 face shields to elementary and middle schools across five states in the District.

The donations were part of the District’s Operation Omega Relief Program, aimed at supporting those in need during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Students in Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and Washington received face shields.

“The Delta variant continues to push COVID-19 numbers up across the country and we want to make sure that our kids have everything they need to go back to school safely this fall,” said District Representative Kwame Dow. “We need to do everything we possibly can to protect students from the virus.”

The decision to go forward with distribution face shields was made prior to a spike in COVID-19 cases because the District had the foresight to see the potential need. And as cases began to rise, the District was honored to help the community.

Chapters that participated includ-

ed: Alpha Nu Nu (Reno), Beta Mu Mu (Las Vegas), Delta Alpha Alpha (Tucson, Ariz.), Delta Pi (Tacoma, Wash.), Epsilon Xi (Sacramento), Gamma Alpha Alpha (Anchorage), Iota Iota Iota (Salt Lake City), Kappa Xi (Las Vegas), Lambda Omicron (Los Angeles), Phi Beta Beta (Inglewood), Phi Iota (Phoenix), Phi Lambda (Cal State Fullerton), Rho Iota Iota (Long Beach), Tau Tau (Compton), Zeta Rho (Los Angeles), and Zeta Upsilon (Seattle).

This is the second consecutive year of Operation Omega Relief. The District also distributed PPE (personal protective equipment) to frontline workers across the region in 2020.

phi iota chapter hosts the 2nd annual

omega history weekend and celebrates 75 years in the land of the burning sands

By Brother Jeffrey Birthwright

Phoenix, AZ- The Brothers of Phi Iota Chapter, also known as the Desert Ques, hosted their 2nd Annual Charles C. Peevy Omega History Weekend, August 2728, 2021. Named after the 29th Twelfth District Representative, Bro. Charles C. Peevy (Omega Chapter), the Omega History weekend included a workshop at the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park, which provided a detailed history and ritualistic information about Omega as well as informative nuggets about the establishment of the 12th District and key Brothers who played a part in it. The workshop included multiple presenters. Brothers Johnny Matthews and David Carl presented overall fraternity history and Bro. Alphonso Morrell focused on ritualistic information. Bro. Mike Dean shared critical Phi Iota history in conjunction with Bro. Darroll Love who presented an interview with the Founder Bishop Love and additional 12th District history.

Brothers from all over the district and country participated in the weekend, including the current 34th Twelfth District Representative Bro. Kwame Dow, along with

several other District dignitaries. Overall, it was a fantastic weekend for Phi Iota and the history committee led by Bro. Past 1st Vice Grand Basileus, Dr. Carl A. Blunt.

In addition to the History Weekend, Phi Iota celebrated its 75th year in the Valley of the Sun on October 1, 2021. This Diamond event was celebrated with a virtual zoom session led by Bro. Dean who again shared an insightful history of Phi Iota Chapter. He also enlisted the aid of Phi Iota’s past Basilei to reflect on key activities or events that occurred during their time leading the chapter. The timeline gave the brothers in the session, especially the newer members, a clearer and broader perspective of Phi Iota’s role in the community in the past and the future. The Brothers commemorated the 75th anniversary by taking a Chapter picture at South Mountain Park and Preserve, the site where Phi Iota’s charter members took the first Desert Ques picture.

a young patient

known as “seven”

By Brother Byron W. Biscoe, MD

Well maybe it couldn’t, but he’s one who wouldn’t say so until he had tried. When the diagnosis that Seven, one of Brother Briscoe’s patients, would never be able to see his mother or anything else again, Brother Byron Biscoe M.D., 3th District Representative for the Caribbean Region and Fellow of the International College of Surgeons, responded with action.

Brother DDR Biscoe performed surgery on both of Seven’s eyes during the same operation, restoring Seven’s sight. Seven’s mother could see the wonder in his eyes as he awoke from anesthesia and was elated.

“When Seven arrived he was combative and could not be examined. I had no idea at the time of surgery the dangers that waited to assail me. The anatomy was so abnormal I had to be prepared for anything,” said Brother Briscoe.

“When a child never sees from birth, the brain will ignore all sight by the age of 12 even if the eye is made whole again,” he elaborated. “I knew from the first moment I saw him that I had to act decisively and without error because the follow up care for this child would be impossible.”

Brother DDR Biscoe’s surgical team reports that every possibility for success reaching deep into Seven’s future was seen in a dazzling display of technology and skill. There would be no second chances.

Now that a child with numerous physical, mental and emotional challenges has the blindfold removed, he can see the beauty of his Mom and has one less challenge to face moving forward in this life.

uplifting those in need brother hasan johnson leading the way

By Brother Carl Bampoe

Brother Hasan Johnson was initiated into the fraternity through Tau Zeta Chapter at Rutgers University in the Spring of 1989. After moving to the United Arab Emirates in January 2018, Bro. Johnson worked with other men of Omega who were living in the Middle East to charter Delta Nu Nu Chapter, home of the “Middle East Ques”.

As a result of his part in chartering Delta Nu Nu Chapter, Bro. Johnson had made a commitment to do what he

can to make the chapter successful. During this recent election year, he was asked by Basileus Bro. Brandon Morton to come up with something that would help with voter registration. As a result, he created and led Delta Nu Nu’s “Cast Your Vote Initiative”, the chapter’s Voter Registration, Education and Mobilization effort. Bro. Johnson reached out to the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and other Pan-Hellenic organizations in the region to make voter registration a collaborative effort. The “Cast Your Vote Initiative” offered separate public forums and

Uplifting those in Need, continued

discussions from embassy officials and members of Democrats Abroad, that assisted expats with registering and casting their votes in the recent election.

Bro. Johnson currently serves as CoChair of Delta Nu Nu’s Social Action Committee. Despite the current COVID 19 pandemic, Delta Nu Nu’s social action committee has been busy under Bro. Johnson’s leadership. It created the Zimbabwe Rural Water Project and has successfully raised the funds and built three wells in Tanasi Village in Zimbabwe. The committee plans to expand their service activities in the near future to include educational support as well. The committee also developed and is currently implementing an online literacy program where volunteers upload videos of themselves reading and discussing books for elementary school aged children. The committee

along with Bro. Johnson has also developed an online male mentoring program. The male mentoring program will meet with young men online to discuss a number of topics aimed at promoting their personal growth and development into manhood.

Bro. Johnson has also developed and is seeking to implement the BUILD Project (Brothers, Uplifting, Inspiring, Learning & Developing) through the social action committee. The BUILD Project is a framework chapters can use to conduct regularly scheduled activities aimed at promoting the personal and professional growth of chapter and local community members, in a variety of targeted areas such as financial literacy, social relationships, and parenting. At a recent meeting, the members of Delta Nu Nu Chapter saw fit to honor Bro. Hasan Johnson for his dedication and hard work, by nominating and selecting him as the chapter’s “Omega Man of the Year.” Despite the challenges and restrictions posed by the pandemic, Bro. Johnson plans to continue to do what he can to make a positive difference on behalf of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in the Middle East and internationally.

brother gregory h. lewis

50th year celebration

By Brother Bruce Jones

On 22 May 2021, the Brothers of Theta Rho International Chapter honored Bro. Gregory H. “Tasmanian” Lewis, more affectionately known as “71” on the occasion of his 50 years of service to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Bro. Lewis crossed the burning sands through Gamma Beta Chapter, Paine College, on May 21, 1971. His celebration was held at Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany with his family, friends, and brothers of Omega from all around the world via FaceBook Live and Zoom.

After an opening recital by Vice Basileus Antoine Reed of the poem “Live Your Creed” and the opening prayer by Bro. Robert Bragg, Theta Rho Chapter’s Basileus Freddie Thompson spoke from the heart on 71’s impact on the Chapter. Brothers provided multiple tributes to

honor this historic event, one being a video compilation of friends providing words of affection experienced from knowing Brother Lewis during his decades of service to Omega. All were humbled to be a part of his life and most importantly, to be his friend. This tribute was followed by the presentation of his 50-year pin by the District Deputy Representative for Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Bro. Darryle Albert, and the Basileus. A slide show depicting his life and service was shared with the hundreds of in-person and virtual attendees. Additional presentations were provided including a basketball indicative of his love of this sport, an Omega shield, a plaque from Kaiserslautern’s Phi Gamma Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and a gift from his current Chapter. The 13th District Representative Dr. Trevor Hodge gave touching remarks as well.

Bro. Lewis was an Army veteran of 22 years retiring as a Sergeant First Class. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Phoenix. Over his 50 years in Omega, he held numerous positions including: Area Coordinator, Lambda Xi (North) S. Korea, 1970 –1979; Area Coordinator, Lambda Xi (South) S. Korea, 1980 – 1981; Vice Basileus, Mu Iota Iota, Fort Drum, NY, 2007 – 2009; Area Coordinator, Theta Rho, Germany, 2019. His fraternal awards include Founders’ Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016 & 2019; Superior Service Award, 2012, 2013, & 2017; Omega Man of the Year Award, 2014 & 2019.

Throughout the ceremony, Bro. Lewis was overcome with the outpouring of love and affection but maintained his composure and gave small gestures to show his appreciation to all those assembled.

Bro.

Greg Lewis

was a legend, professional, and a father, and thanked those who assembled to make his 50th year anniversary a memorable event. Though he was physically not his best, Bro. Lewis gave a speech that was impactful to all that heard him speak, reminding us to make your dash count!

Two and a half weeks after the celebration, Bro. Lewis transitioned to the Omega Chapter on Thursday, June 10, 2021. His legacy will always be remembered as the ultimate International member of the Fraternity, Brother, and Friend and will forever be missed.

Brother Gregory H. Lewis , continued

rho alpha chapter

and omega lamplighters of mobile, AL

The Brothers of Rho Alpha Chapter, along with the members of the Omega Lamplighters of Mobile, AL, recently embarked on an excursion that could only be described as EPIC. The journey began when a group of approximately 120 individuals made up of fraternity members of Rho Alpha Chapter, nearly 60 mentees, and “Da Village” (a contingent of family and friends), departed Mobile, AL on the night of July 4th. The purpose of this trek was an “all in” effort to expose these young men to educational opportunities at HBCU campuses on our way to visit the nation’s capital of Washington D.C.

This monumental voyage was facilitated along the way by members of the Fraternity and other College Dignitaries and Officials who were eager to show these young men the rich heritage associated with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The

Lamplighters were first exposed to the historical North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. After touring the campus, they were able to receive words of wisdom and encouragement from Bro. Franklin McCain, II, the son of “Greensboro Four’’ member Franklin McCain. Upon arrival to the Washington, D.C. area, Morgan State University provided a walking tour of their

beautiful and historic campus. The Lamplighters and the Brothers were afforded the opportunity to meet Bro. John Edgar Love, the son of our Honorable Founder Bishop Edgar Amos Love. Dr. Walter A. Gill, the son of Omega Psi Phi Historian Bro. Walter A.H. Gill also honored the Lamplighters with his presence. The Lamplighters were also able to visit the Mecca of HBCUs, Howard

University. They were greeted by two very special guests: Sis. Artis Hampshire Cowan, a member of the Howard University Board of Trustees, along with Kennedy Center of Performing Arts musician Bro. Dr. Fredrick Irby, III, both of whom have roots in Mobile, Al.

The trip also included a tour of the Baltimore Ravens stadium and attending a Major League Baseball game between the Toronto Bluejays and the Baltimore Orioles. The series was capped off with everyone enjoying the excitement of the Universoul Circus at the National Harbor. The Omega Brotherhood network was clicking on all cylinders during this grand adventure as Mu Psi, Tau

Omega, Pi, Pi Omega, Alpha Omega, and Alpha Chapters provided much needed hospitality and guidance. Bro. Conrado Morgan, Third District Representative, provided greetings to the group as well. The success of this educational voyage was made possible with the support and guidance along the way of Seventh District Representative Bro. Reginald Harris, as well as Bro. Arnold Gaines, our Seventh District Council.

The Mobile Omega Lamplighters is an organization dedicated to helping local area young men of high school age grow and develop their leadership and talents in every phase of human endeavor. The organization models the fraternity whereas active

leaders and achievers in the community are sought out. The common bond between young men in the program mirrors the aim of the fraternity, to produce the greatest thinking males in the community. Through partnerships with City of Mobile, Marriott; Mobile Airport Authority; and Mobile Chamber of Commerce, Rho Alpha Mentors and Community Leaders are able to facilitate programs that will develop good leadership characteristics and raise their aspiration levels. All activities and programs are modeled around the following four facets of enrichment: Leadership, Academics, Maturity, and Perseverance.

the importance of supporting black businesses

By Brother Sylvester Wilkins

COVID-19 has been treacherous for Blackowned Businesses, but we have an opportunity to come to the rescue as America opens back up, by spending our dollars with Black-owned Businesses.

Based on my professional experience and as mentor to small business owners, the main reason most small businesses go out of business is the lack of capital. Let’s put your money where your mouth is and let’s support our Black-Owned Businesses! We must step up to the plate and show our support of Black Businesses. We need to lead by example and impress upon our children the importance of supporting Black Businesses.

I have listed 5 reasons to support Black-owned Businesses:

1. Closes the Racial Wealth Gap

Today, the median wealth for white families is about 12 times that for Black families, which is around $140,000. Even more concerning is that by 2053, the median wealth for Black families is projected to fall to zero. Small businesses and entrepreneurs have been longtime wealth builders in our society. By supporting more Black-owned businesses, we can create more opportunities for saving, property ownership, credit building, and generational wealth.

2. Strengthens Local Economies

When small businesses flourish, so do their communities. Supporting Black-Owned Businesses in turn supports families, employees, and other business owners, as well as attracts community investors who provide banking services and loans and promote financial literacy -- all things that build economic strength.

3. Fosters Job Creation

Many Black business owners fund their own businesses due to the lack of capital mentioned earlier. Since Blackowned small businesses are likely to hire from the local community, supporting them can foster the job opportunities people need to achieve financial stability.

4. Celebrate Black Culture and Serve Communities

Many Black entrepreneurs start businesses inspired by the richness of Black culture itself. Some Black-owned businesses are created to bring access to services specific to the community’s needs. When you support Blackowned businesses, you get products and services that are valuable for the unique character they bring.

5. Holds other Companies Accountable

African Americans and other minorities often bear the brunt of corporate discrimination. When you choose a Black-owned business, you vote with your dollar by divesting from companies that perpetuate those kinds of practices. And further down the road, you empower successful Black-owned businesses to implement equitable policies.

We truly need to provide more support to our Blackowned businesses, therefore I would like to offer a challenge to all

That challenge is to increase our spend with Black Businesses by 30-40%.

On June 11, 2021, Brother Genard “Blu” Medley stepped up to the podium exhibiting that same confidence when he stepped up to the starting line… as he was inducted into the 26th Annual Arkansas Track & Field Hall of Fame (HoF).

This was truly epochal for Brother Blu, his wife Beverly, siblings, adult children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, and several Brothers who were jubilant and thrilled to fly into Arkansas and see this unique banquet and ceremony. Additionally, Brother Blu was deeply moved by his achievements being recognized, even though as he joyfully says, ‘it’s been 51 years in the making.’

“For the HoF to have found me after 51 years and honor me… is a blessing. It is a dream come true type of thing. Being an old track athlete… and knowing what I had put into the sport. At the time, it wasn’t anyone in the state of Arkansas who had reached the heights which I had reached,” says Brother Blu.

He reached high heights in track and field at both Little Rock Central High School and Arkansas State University (ASU). Brother Blu’s Central High performance was highlighted by his sophomore National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Age Group Record time of 19.5 in the 180-yard Low Hurdles. He also finished with a 1st Place State of Arkansas ranking in the 180-yard Low Hurdles & 120-yard High Hurdles in his senior year. All was topped off by his high point production in the Golden West All-American Invitational Meet.

“I was the only nationally ranked athlete - individual or team - to be invited to the Golden West which

KAA chapter track star

inducted into his university’s hall of fame

“It’s Been 51 Years In the Making”

was the All-American League for “Top 8” athletes in each event. I flew out and competed without my coach, Clyde Horton, who was considered the ‘Guru of track hurdles’ in America. Horton was called to active duty in response to the USS Pueblo Incident, so I was without my coach,” says Brother Blu.

However, Brother Blu says he was taken ‘under the wings’ of several important people there, including being picked up at the airport by a state legislator and his wife who opened their home to him for the night. The following day, the legislator, who was a Golden West committee member, took Brother Blu to the Athletes’ dor-

mitory. He met and received invaluable guidance from the track coach of Reynaud Syverne “Rey” Robinson, who was one of the world’s top sprinters and eventually head track coach at Florida A&M University. At the Golden West Parade, the Grand Marshal was “Bullet Bob” Hayes, an Olympic gold medalist and an NFL wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, who shared prized track information with Brother Blu. Additionally, Brother Blu gave tv interviews, radio spots, and was one of the judges at the Golden West Beauty Pageant.

“We ran on cinders and crushed bricks in high school when everyone

else was running on GrassTex synthetic turf. Also, we ran Low Hurdles with only straightaways; however, at Golden West, I was introduced to starting a race in the “curves” before entering the straightaways,” said Brother Blu. I had only 2 precious days to figure out how to run and negotiate the curves. But I was able to lean on a reference which Coach Horton would often allude to, ‘be 1st to the 1st hurdle’ and you’ll win.” Brother Blu did not start hurdling until junior high because it was not available in his elementary school’s track program.

When he started, Brother Blu described how he alternated with both of his legs in the lead leg position for he had yet to learn the proper step patterns; however, his speed and knowledge of the overall form led to his early success. He stated he was the only 7th grader to hurdle with upperclassmen at that time because the hurdles were constructed of metal like mailbox posts… so that took a little courage to endure.

When Brother Blu entered Central High, he joined about ten other hurdlers and the coach taught key hurdling points, including ‘trail leg action’. In other words, the coach believed that there should not be any daylight between the trail leg and the chest. The hurdler must make sure that when the lead leg was crossing over the hurdle, the trail leg was bent into the chest. This posture enables the hurdler to be in a ready position to run after he hurdles.

“I was practicing on and off the field, including tearing up ironing boards and dining room chairs at home. When doing homework, I would always go down into the ‘hurdler seat’. “In the mornings before school my grandmother, who was 79 years old,

would get down on the floor beside me and take the hurdler seat posture and do flexibility exercises with me,” Brother Blu said.

His high school achievements resulted in Brother Blu being rated as ‘Best Hurdler in Arkansas’ and when he accepted a full scholarship to ASU, he would train with ‘Best Hurdler in the World’ who ran the 1st sub 13 seconds’ time. He would train under Guy Kochel and Thad Talley who were two of the most preeminent coaches in ASU history. Brother Blu posted the 1st sub 14 seconds’ time on High Hurdles and set the school record in 440 Hurdles that stood for 8 years. As a senior, he ranked #1 in Arkansas in both 120 High Hurdles & 440 Hurdles and achieved the ASU Track Team High Point Scorer Award.

“I ran on relays; I did whatever needed to be done… I was a ‘points producer’. And I would feel safe to say that if ASU kept statistics from those years up until now, I would probably be the #1 scorer in the history of ASU Track because of the number of events I participated in. I ran in 5 or 6 events at a

meet, whereas now, athletes specialize in events. For example, if you’re a hurdler you only run hurdles, if you run High Hurdles, you don’t run Intermediate Hurdles,” Brother Blu said.

He also attributes success to reading lots of books and magazines on track and field. Brother Blu recalls one week reading an article about “Wee Willie Wisp” Davenport, an Olympian who garnered international recognition for his explosive speed and exquisite form in the High Hurdles. “Well, in my very first ASU competition, I’m in the starting lane and look around and Davenport is in another lane. On another occasion, I met and interacted with Jesse Owens, a multiple gold medalist and a ‘Giant’ in track and field history. He was retired from track and even though he told me he was a proud Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity member, he also said that the ‘trail leg’ was most crucial to successful hurdlers,”

said Brother Blu. Additionally, Brother Blu wished he learned earlier about ‘antagonistic motion’ when running fast and hurdling. At the Golden West, he believed his lack of knowledge of running and hurdling in the curves resulted in not achieving the best success.

Brother Blu explained that the use of his right lead leg instead of his other, took his motion to the outside of the lane on a curve and resulted in him falling in one of his races. However, he said he stood back up and finished the race to score points. At the Golden West, Brother Blu also had several interviews and one reporter tagged him ‘braggadocious’ because he would make unique remarks. But he says he did not make many remarks, but he did admit to the use of catchphrases, including his favorite, “If you want to know who came in 2nd, ask him what size shoe I wear.” (Brother Blu’s remark refers to the

2nd place hurdler who reads the sole of his shoes as he hurdles into 1st.)

“Since the 2nd Grade I wanted to be a hurdler. At that time, I watched this hurdler named Willie Maxwell who was nicknamed ‘Coffee’ because he looked so smooth and sweet. To be able to run fast, then airborne, hit the ground again and continue running … It was amazing. It was like he was flying. I just fell in love with hurdles. To run and go airborne gives you a feeling like you’re flying,” said Brother Blu, who was a Torch bearer in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.

Brother Blu says, “‘DNA is real in the Medley Family and I’ve been the ‘bridge builder’. I have a 9th grade nephew who’s the high scorer with his basketball team of 11th graders. My 13-yr-old grandson set a Texas State record in a 200-meter race. My daughter was a two-time state of Georgia Basketball Free Throw Champion. Also, I have nephews who were recently awarded scholarships for baseball and track, including one who will be attending ASU. So, it’s truly trickle-down economics for us.”

Why did Brother Blu feel his HoF selection take so long?

Well, he believes it is maybe due to younger members being on the HoF Board who are not familiar with his achievements or members who were his competitors.

However, as he properly prepared for competition, Brother Blu mentally prepared and sharply dressed for his Banquet & Induction Ceremony. He wore a high-quality tailor-made royal purple and old gold colored suit, perfectly designed for his body. It was highlighted with escutcheon embroidered suit buttons, including Gold shoes with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Shield on top of each. Brother Blu topped it all off wearing a wide brim purple jazz Fedora Hat.

Standing at the podium, he paused to listen to his introduction song “Atomic Dog”. Then Brother Blu, who was initiated in Alpha Zeta Chapter in Spring 1973, first praised God, before giving inspirational celebratory remarks reflecting 51 years… in record setting time.

Bro. ROD West selected TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF COMMITTEE

By Brother Kyle S. Yeldell

Bro. Rod West was appointed to the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee in June. The committee is responsible for selecting the country’s top 25 college football teams throughout the season and assigning the top four teams to the semifinal games for the national championship.

“I’ve spent the lion’s share of my adult life serving college football,” said West. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, he lettered three seasons as a linebacker and tight end at the University of Notre Dame, winning the national championship in 1988. He has stayed connected to the sport and college administration overall since his playing days.

In 1996, West became the first black, and youngest-ever, president of the Notre Dame Alumni Association. He currently serves as a Hesburgh Trustee at Notre Dame after serving on the board of trustees from 2009 to 2019. He has served on the committee for the Allstate Sugar Bowl for 27 years, serving as president in 2019. (He recently stepped down from this committee due to his new role with the CFP.) He is also a member of the board of directors for the National Football Foundation, which oversees the support, administration, and operation of the College Football Hall of Fame. His work with the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which is held annually at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, has been a merger of his professional and personal life as a hometown corporate leader with a vested interest

in the economic development of the Crescent City. As President and CEO of Entergy New Orleans from 2007 to 2010, West led Entergy New Orleans from its bankruptcy after Hurricane Katrina and back to profitability.

In 2013, he was the front man for the New Orleans Super Bowl bid. “I was leading the pitch team and speaking to the owners on why New Orleans should be selected for the Super Bowl, discussing the economic impact and benefits of having it there,” said West. “It was a play of economic benefits for the region.”

The pitch worked as Super Bowl XLVII was held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, becoming the first Super Bowl to be played in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. According to a University of New Orleans study, Super Bowl XLVII brought $480 million to the New Orleans economy.

“The significance to my background is that I’ve seen amateur sports through just about every lens,” said West. “When I played, I had only a cursory understanding of the business of amateur sports. Football for me through college was taking advantage of athletic opportunities to achieve academic excellence.”

After graduating from Notre Dame, he earned his J.D. from the Tulane University School of Law and his MBA from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business. As a young attorney, West represented professional athletes. “That experience furthered his understand-

ing of the commercial relevance of sports as an entertainment entity,” said West. “Notre Dame was an introduction to the value chain of sports. I was an input to a business model, and I didn’t understand that then. Athletes know that now and I appreciate that.”

Professionally, West, who was named executive vice president and chief administrative office for Entergy in 2010, has been the company’s group president for utility operations since 2017. In this role, he is responsible for the operational and financial performance of Entergy’s five operating companies. He has been with the company since 1999.

West has been on the leadership boards on the New Orleans Convention Center, the New Orleans Business Council, and First Bank and Trust. He served 12 years on the Louisiana State University System Board of Supervisors, serving as chairperson from 2006-07, and has served for three years on the board of trustees of Xavier University of Louisiana.

His selection to the CFP is an amalgamation of years of service as a former college athlete who has ascended through the ranks as a successful businessman, active alumnus and civically engaged citizen. “My professional role is the front story (to why I was selected),” states West, “but the back story is my affiliation with and affinity for college administration and governance, which led to my service as a trustee at Notre Dame and Xavier.”

In addition to his work in the business community, West is an active member of Rho Phi Chapter. “Omega has been one of the joys of my life,” exclaimed West. “It’s been work, but it’s truly been a labor of love.”

While this position on the CFP committee garners a lot of attention, West does not see this as a feather in his cap. “I’ve been blessed to serve in several leadership positions in my career,” said West. “This is less for me an accomplishment than an opportunity to serve.”

With his resume, dedication, insight, humility, love for his community, and spirit of giving back, the College Football Playoff Committee selected the right man for the job.

“Of Passage to Journeys End”

By Bro. Rome Mubarak

The compass that spins

To journeys end

Whether by Dolly or Sailing seas; 100 years gone by We Still defy Our enemies trajectory.

Of noble men 4 did come alas of legions we’ve come to be; Our sword and shield hand ‘n glove concealed our most sacred held creed.

A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in Only soldiers do rely; Onward march til death do us part Never to leave nor try.

The light reveals It’s essence so real remaining bloodied but unbowed;

The chains that bind while standing in line forever fraternally bound;

To rid ourselves of those vices held hence why we were even founded; To purge the weak given a word never to speak to utterance, no way around it;

What’s done is done still we move on

In sight the shimmering purple did glow; Casted shadows of night Safe houses delight

Still found on fraternity’s row;

Thirkield’s steps

Counts the number kept Oh how significant is our aim; To change our condition

Universal man’s position

Omega will remain. We walk with God

In this new year of life, anniversaries ring through; From cheers to chants

My brothers advance despite struggles aknew. Nothing on earth

I know to be could stand this test of time; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

This great fraternity Of mine”.

hampton roads youth foundation

(HRYF)

Bros. vernon lee, jr & carl francis, jr

By Brother Mike Parker

Twenty-five years ago, Carl Francis, Jr. (Sigma Mu Mu 2013) and Vernon Lee, Jr. (Nu Nu 1992) talked about creating a free football camp for youth in their hometown of Hampton, Virginia. Carl, who is the Director of Communications with the NFL Players Association, wanted to invite players from the Hampton Roads area which over the years has included NFL Hall of Famers (Dwight Stephenson and Kenny Easley), Michael Vick, DeAngelo Hall, Bruce Smith, Tyrod Taylor, Antoine Bethea, Aaron Rouse, Don Carey, Derrick Nnadi, 2021 2nd round draft pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah as well as Omega Psi Phi brothers Reggie Langhorne (Lambda Gamma 1983), B.W. Webb (Alpha Delta Sigma 2010), Elton Brown (Zeta Mu Mu 2014), and over 45 other current and retired players to participate.

Since 1997, they have held a free football camp for over 9,000 youth from the area under their non-profit

the Hampton Roads Youth Foundation (HRYF). The camp weekend has offered the fundamentals of football, nutrition, academics, college attainment, and the opportunity to engage with professional athletes and gain valuable insight into goal setting as a student-athlete. Pittsburgh Steelers Head Football Coach Mike Tomlin, a Newport News, Virginia native, has also been an integral part of the camp weekend by providing support and attending the camp each year to mentor youth from the area.

The camp weekend has also been

attended by NFL Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell, actor John Amos, Washington Football Team General Manager Martin Mayhew (Chi Theta 1986), ESPN Host Stephen A Smith (Grand Chapter 2012), former Super Bowl Champion Raleigh McKenzie (Iota Beta 1984), Indianapolis Colts Director of College Scouting Morocco Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers College Scout Donovan Cotton, Cleveland Browns Pro Scout Branden Francis (Son of Brother Francis), former ESPN Host Michael Smith, Boxing Champ & Olympic Gold Medalist Sweet Pea Whitaker, Olympic Gold Medalist Francena McCoroy, Congressman Bobby Scott, Mayor Donnie Tuck, NFL referee Maia Chaka, NBA referee Tony Brothers, and the 3rd place all time winningest High School football Coach Mike Smith. The NFL Network, ESPN, and numerous national and local media outlets have covered the camp over the years.

This year marked the 25th Anniversary of the foundation and the free

annual football camp which was held on the campus of Hampton University. As part of their foundation initiatives, they have empowered young people to dream big, develop a plan for their success, and persevere through adversity. In addition to the camp, their foundation has hosted golf tournaments, career symposiums, Meet and Greets with Mike Tomlin, Leadership summits, college recruiting forums, and provided scholarships for high school students.

HRYF has awarded over $15,000 worth of scholarships to deserving youth from the Hampton Roads area. “The foundation was created to create awareness and opportunities for young people to engage with their heroes, gain academic confidence and develop leadership skills beyond athletics. We have seen many athletes from our area do phenomenal things in sports, but there are so many people from our area doing incredible things in society. It is important to share those stories and

give them options beyond sports”, said Bro. Francis. “With this being our 25 year Anniversary, it’s been truly an honor to make this event a reality with my best friend and Fraternity brother, Vernon Lee, Jr.”

For the past 3 years, they have partnered with the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank to provide free meals to low income communities in the local area during their weekend event. Each year, the foundation has added another layer of activities to support the local area and give back to the youth in Hampton Roads. The Hampton Roads Youth Foundation wants to make sure every young person has an opportunity to develop as a productive citizen, achieve academic excellence, and maximize their athletic gifts. They create an ongoing cycle of learning and applying knowledge given by mentors, NFL players, college students, and business leaders in the community.

“When Bro Francis called me 25 years ago with his vision, the first

person that I called was my father Coach Vernon Lee, Sr. (Nu Psi 1970) who thought that we could really make an impact on the youth in the community. The ironic thing is that at the time, Bro Francis was living in Northern Virginia and I was stationed at Los Angeles Air Force Base but we were both drawn to the need to provide uplift to the young Black men in the area in which we were raised. We wanted to provide a platform to inspire them to reach whatever goals they had for themselves. Our foundation has been fortunate to have great community, corporate, and individual donor support but it has been especially meaningful to have support from our Omega brothers who have volunteered as coaches, staff, mentors, and advocates.”

Bro. Lee and Bro. Francis estimate that well over 50 former camp participants have gone on to become members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. To learn more about the Hampton Roads Youth Foundation visit www.hryf.org

God and godliness are at the core of all that Omega is and does. The real Omega Man submits to the will of God and commits to living a moral life. There is a branch of theology (study of the nature of God) called Moral Theology, a multi-faceted ethical system that focuses on building moral character. Moral theology posits that it is the very nature of humans – created in the image of God and capable of morality, cooperation, rationality, discernment, and discretion and so on –that informs how life should be lived, and that the awareness of ungodliness or sin does not require special revelation.

Moral theology derives its metaphysical core from the Bible, seeing God as the supreme and ultimate source of all power. The founders of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., believed in the supremacy and efficacy of godly character and made Christian manhood the premier principle.

The founders were not apologetic in advancing the Bible as the guiding light for all of Omega’s adherents. God and godliness mattered greatly to Founders Just, Love, Coleman, and Cooper!

The Scriptures are replete with expressions regarding godliness. One of the best expressions on the idea of godliness is “to fear the Lord,” which is almost a synonym of the concept of “believer” under the Old Covenant. In other words, to fear the Lord made one a believer. To fear God does not mean that one lives in terror of God, but rather has a healthy respect for God and seeks in both “heart and mind” as well as in action to “love God” and not be offensive to God.

As members of our beloved Omega, our respect for God shows not only in the way we speak, but by how we live. Godly people live in such a way as to please God. Ungodly people don’t really consider or care what God thinks about their way of life. But godly men strive to behave appropriately and pray regularly for the courage to live nobly.

While the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is not a religious organization, it is a social organization based on Christian Principles. Incidentally, Christian principles are consistent with Jewish and Muslim principles, especially with respect to character and behavior. The Founders of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., however, were Christians and sought to attract and select men whose lives would reflect the character of Christ. Like our founders, the majority of the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. today are Christians.

Our beloved founder, Brother Bishop Edgar A. Love said “In considering members in Omega, the first consideration is for MANHOOD. This, of course, is character. First and foremost, a Que must be a man of sterling worth, with unsullied character.”

Warren Buffett in a contemporary setting spoke of organizational character when he proffered this statement which I paraphrase, “In looking for people to connect to your organization, look for three qualities: integrity (character), intelligence and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.”

My friends, there is nothing in Omega that interferes or conflicts with its members’ religious practices. As stated earlier, the three monotheistic religions are aligned with respect to char-

acter. There are commandments or rules of behavior in Islam (Serah 5:151-153) that are very similar to the commandments referenced by Jews and Christians alike (Exodus 20:2-17).

There is no inconsistency in Holy Scripture with membership in a God-loving church and membership in an “oath-bound” fraternity or society. Whereas the dogma of some religious sects may have as one if its tenets the preclusion of such, there is no scriptural imperative that demands that a member decide one or the other. One can fully abide in God’s word (John 8: 31-32) while at the same time seeking community with “men of like attainment.”

The life of Jesus of Nazareth is the best example of broad social reach. He clearly made every effort to be inclusive in his social network, incurring the wrath of scribes and Pharisees, so that He might cross national, cultural, and ethnic walls of division, so that He might bond with the broad human family. Yet, He took the time to consort with His “closed group” of disciples and followers. A heart akin to the heart of Jesus can have room enough and love enough for those like him, and those not like him.

There is never a bifurcated loyalty demanded of an Omega man. As a matter of fact, the expectation is quite the opposite. It is expected that an Omega man be resolute, just in his dealings, compassionate in his outreach, noble in demeanor, yet humble in manner. A true Omega man sees himself as equal to anybody but better than nobody. The conduct of men of Omega as outlined in our sacred writings is to some degree a “scissors and paste” effort to contour the character of the Omega ideal. Whereas discretion should be the hallmark of the character of any wise and mature man, it is discretion and not secrecy that defines the spirit of Omega. Our essential truths guide us in how we interface with and uphold each other, but the encouragement for Omega men to go out of themselves to render assistance to another’s need is quite evident in stated principle. Such is life in the fellowship of the church (koinonia), participation in community betterment (“lifting as we climb”), and “duty.”

Bro. Rev. Roi Johnson, the Seventh District Chaplain, shared with me that his mentor in Omega was Brother Charles Emmett Price, Esq., a ranking lay leader in the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church in Charleston, WV from the 1970s until his death in 1991. He came into Omega as a young undergraduate through the Theta Psi Chapter circa 1940. As a veteran

of the United States Navy, he entered and completed law school in 1949.

Because of his legal acumen and dedication to the cause of Christ all of his adult life, and his membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) in his early adulthood years, of which Founder Edgar Amos Love was Presiding Bishop in the region of Maryland and West Virginia at the time that the ecclesiastical merger took place, inviting his church into what evolved into the United Methodist Church. In 1968, the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church, and they welcomed into their fold the African American members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Bishop Love was assisted by not only seasoned clergymen in the effort, but also tapped into service from the MEC laity attorneys who could guide and assist in the due diligence required for the legal aspects of successful merger. Brother Charles E. Price was one of those attorneys.

Brother Price often told stories of working in close association with Bishop Love, and on more than one occasion, Founding Brother Love shared with him that in the founding of Omega, he envisioned that which was much like the founding of a church. Sitting at the elbow of Love, Price was able to ask questions about what it was like, and what the challenges to Omega were 50 years earlier.

When Love conferred with fellow young founders (Coleman and Cooper) in the early years of the fraternity, his vision was to tap into the potential of Godly men who had a heart for service to the Lord and to humanity, and to mold them into a cohesive fraternal unit that epitomized selfless service and sacrifice for others. In his head and heart, the proposition was never either/or, but both/ and.

To live a life in Omega was to live a life consistent with the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as found in the gospels. Brother Price often lamented his regret that the initial cardinal principle ceased to be Christian Manhood, to be reflected as just Manhood. However, many of the early writings of Omega allude to an expectation of a higher ideal manifested in the comportment of Omega men as they moved about publicly and professionally. God and godliness are at the core of all that Omega is and does!

When we wear the gloves

A Brother has gone from our midst And sailed to golden shores.

When we wear the gloves

A Friend has passed the final test And walks through purple doors.

The circle has an empty place

A Voice will raise no more The song of fellowship and love Uplift forevermore

When we wear the gloves

When we wear the gloves

A Light goes from this earthly life

The visor closed again Yet all the heavens open wide To let a new star in.

When we wear the gloves

A Brother leaves the chapter rolls And moves to other worlds

For when we say our last goodbye He walks on streets of Pearl.

When we wear the gloves by Brother Dr.

Carver A. Portlock

BROTHER FRANK M. STALEY, JR.

Combat Infantryman’s Badge). He was also a graduate of the Air War College, National War College, and Command and General Staff College.

Bro. Staley has been inducted into South Carolina Basketball Officials Hall of Fame, SC State University Athletics Hall of Fame, and South Carolina State University

ROTC Hall of Fame. He served as an Official (basketball), Referee (football), and Umpire (baseball) in the Orangeburg, SC City Recreation Department, South Carolina High School Association, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC), Southeastern Conference (SEC), and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

He was also a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion. Throughout his life he received numerous local civic awards and honors.

BROTHER MICHAEL JEROD JACKSON

A member of Epsilon Omega Chapter, Brother Frank M. Staley, Jr., transitioned to Omega Chapter on December 25, 2020. A graduate of Staley High (Americus, GA) and South Carolina State College (B.S. Mathematics), he was initiated via Xi Psi Chapter at South Carolina State in the Spring of 1949.

Bro. Staley served as a chapter advisor at Fort Valley State University, Virginia State University, and South Carolina State. While at Fort Valley, he was credited with founding their Army ROTC program. He furthered his education, earning a Masters Degree from Columbia University with subsequent Post Graduate studies at Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers University, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of South Carolina.

He served as a mentor and advisor for several activities and organizations and had numerous affiliations. Some of them include, but are not limited to, a Mason and Shriner, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout, Scout Master, Silver Beaver, and Order of the Arrow (Vigil Honor)), Lieutenant Colonel (retired), United States Army (Korean War veteran: Infantry Platoon Leader, Purple Heart, and

Brother Michael Jerod Jackson transitioned to Omega Chapter on February 24, 2021. He was born on December 4, 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri and attended Catholic School in Pittsburgh, PA. At some point, his family relocated to Omaha, Nebraska where he graduated from Boys Town High School. Upon high school graduation, Bro. Jackson sought to further his academic education at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. While at Drake he was a standout track star on the Drake University track and field team. He received numerous awards and medals and holds the indoor track record for the 440yard dash at Drake.

Initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity through Mu Omicron Chapter on March 5, 1970, Bro. Jackson lived a life that was exemplary of the Fraternity’s four cardinal principles: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift. Throughout his 50 years of service to the fraternity, he served in various leadership positions including Vice Basileus from 1984-1988, 12th District Keeper of Records and Seal, and 12th District State Representative for Washington and Oregon. Bro. Jackson’s leadership and dedication to connect with Brothers was encapsulated in his appointment as the International Prostate Cancer Subcommittee Chairman by the 40th Grand Basileus, Antonio Knox, Sr. in 2014. Prior to his appointment, in 2012 Brother Jackson was selected for one of the fraternity’s highest recognitions, the International Citizen of the Year!

Brother Jackson held positions in education/administration for over 45 years, serving in the capacity of principal, vice principal, and teacher in large inner-city schools Seattle, Washington; Cleveland, Ohio; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Beaufort, South Carolina; and Washington, DC.

In 2008, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had to undergo radiation treatment in 2009. After his treatment, he never grumbled about having cancer, he simply prayed for peace; the peace that surpasses all understanding. Bro. Jackson made it clear that God had given him a second chance and that he would use it to help other Brothers navigate through their emotional medical journeys and fears dealing with cancer. He took the time to talk with brothers all over the country at chapter meetings, district meetings, and Grand Conclaves regarding life’s challenges and hurdles. He served as a keynote speaker at the Fraternity’s Centennial Celebration in 2011 in Washington, DC. Bro. Jackson believed and lived the Fraternity’s Moto, “Friendship is Essential to the Soul.”

BROTHER REV. ANTHONY M. “TONY” LEE

Brother Rev. Anthony M. “Tony” Lee, the Immediate Past Basileus of Gamma Pi Chapter, entered Omega Chapter on January 4, 2021 due to complications from COVID-19. Bro. Lee was Life Member #6492, initiated into the Fraternity on November 20, 1989 through Beta Gamma Chapter at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Bro. Lee never let us forget that Cheyney University was the first Historically Black Institution. Bro. Lee was very active during his tenure within Gamma Pi Chapter, having served on the Executive Council, Basilei Council, Fundraising, Membership Selection,

Reclamation & Retention, Social Action, and Achievement Week committees, as well as in the following positions and offices: Board Member, Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Foundation; Chaplain (2020); Vice Basileus (2013-2016); and, most notably, as a threeterm Basileus.

Bro. Lee was awarded both Religious Leader of the Year and Omega Man of the Year. In 2013, he served as the Chairman of the 64th Second District Conference Security, Logistics, and Conference Support committee, the Master of Ceremony and judge for the 64th and 65th Second District Conference March Down, respectively, and Assistant to the District Chaplain. He also served as a Delegate for both District Conferences and Conclaves.

In the greater community, Bro. Lee was Pastor of Pillar of Truth Bible Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland. He had also become known for his special role as the Public Announcer for Howard University sports. He was the “the Voice of the Bison” for football, basketball, and women’s volleyball games for two years. He was selected as the lead announcer for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 2019 women’s volleyball tournament.

Also, Bro. Lee, a native Washingtonian, led young men as a coach at various high schools in the Greater Washington, DC area over the years. He played football in high school and for his Cheyney University Wolves. In 2002, he was inducted into the Cheyney University Athletics Hall of Fame.

BROTHER ROBERT i. FIELDS

Brother Robert I. Fields entered Omega Chapter on Thursday, June 10, 2021. Brother Fields was initiated on December 4, 1958 through Phi Phi Chapter in Richmond, VA. Brother Fields served as the Keeper of Records and Seal for Phi Phi Chapter. Brother Fields was one of the charter members for the Psi Nu Chapter chartered on April 7, 1972. During his time in the chapter, Brother Fields was instrumental in community involvement on a local and national level. “If there was a black-owned business that was about to start up, Brother Fields knew beforehand. Brother Fields was a member of the Ebony Society of Philatelic Events (A Black stamp organization) and would spend many sections in the “Moment of History” section of the chapter meeting telling brothers about the people on the stamps and the fight to get them on the stamp. Brother Fields was instrumental in the preservation and writing of the history of the chapter.

After developing a love of diction from a study abroad trip in France, Brother Fields would help create woodbound scribes detailing the chapter history displayed at the Achievement Galas. Brother Fields legacy will carry on for his Melodic voice. Brothers would look for him to lead in the singing of Omega Dear at any formal service or ceremony.

BROTHER JULIUS FISHER

Brother Julius Fisher entered Omega Chapter on July 5th, 2021. He was a beloved and dedicated member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Brother Julius Fisher was initiated into the Upsilon Psi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. in 1947 and later claimed membership in the Chi Omega Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Brother Fisher was a World War II Veteran, and retired Gadsen County Schools Educator. The Historic District of Smokey Hollow in Tallahassee, Florida was his birthplace on July 17th, 1922. Brother Fisher grew to be a God-Fearing man leading by example as the oldest of three children. Ninety-eight years of dedication as a Father, husband, educator, Omega Man, and World War II Veteran are reflected in the memories of Brother Fishers life.

Seventy plus years as a member of our beloved Fraternity, Brother Fisher will forever be remembered as a pillar that help break down barriers. The Chi Omega Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., pays respects to the late Brother Fisher with an annual scholarship in his name and an Unsung Hero award.

BROTHER DR. DOUTHARD ROOSEVELT BUTLER

Brother Dr. Douthard Roosevelt “DR” Butler (Col., U.S. Army Retired) transitioned Saturday, July 10, 2021. Brother Butler was initiated into the Psi Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated on December 19, 1981, on the line “Three Dog Two.” Brother Butler spent many years as the Achievement Week chair. He created a protocol and procedure that the committee used for many years. Brother Butler also served as the Graduate Advisors during the early years of the Eta Delta Delta Chapter at George Mason University. Dr. Butler was an Adjunct Professor and served as the Associate Athletic Director for Community Relations at George Mason University. Brother Butler served as the President of the Mount Vernon Rotary Club. Brother Butler was often selected as the MC for many of the Psi Nu Chapter events. One example was that he would speak at the joint Psi Nu and Psi Alpha Alpha Memorial Service held annually in March. One of Brother Butler’s other accomplishments is his Butler Report. The report was based on OERS (officer evaluation reports from 1956-1971. The report exposed racial bias in the officer promotion system and impacted their careers in gaining promotions. More information can be found in his chapter within the book titled: The Black Officer Corps: A History of Black Military Advancement from Integration through Vietnam.

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BROTHER Warren S. harris

Brother Warren S. Harris entered Omega Chapter on August 21, 2021. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Warren was the younger of two sons born to the union of the late Cute and Beatrice Harris. Brother Harris was educated in the public school system of Brooklyn, New York and high school in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. He earned a BS Degree in mathematics from North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro North Carolina and a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia. After a short teaching career in Accomack County, Virginia, Warren entered military service as a Second Lieutenant and proudly served his country for over 20 years, and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He concluded his military service at Ft Monroe, Virginia in February 1974. His decorations include Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

In October 1974, Warren began a second career with the Federal Government and returned to Ft Monroe as a Military Operations Specialist. After serving in various capacities for over 22 additional years, Warren retired from the work force in February 1994 as a GS14 supervisor. His Civil Service awards included the Meritorious Civil Service Award and the Commanders Award for Civilian Service. Throughout his lifetime, he was very actively involved with numerous organizations and activities. He served on special boards and commissions for the city.

He was initiated into Omega Psi Phi through Mu Psi Chapter at North Carolina A&T State University. He was a member of the Zeta Iota Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. where he served as Basileus and Keeper of Records and Seals. He also served as chairman of the Scholarship and Quette affair committees. ’Warren was also a member of the Eureka Club, serving in many capacities to include President for three separate terms. His major contribution was serving as the chairman of the prestigious Eureka Debutante Cotillion for over 22 years where he worked to present hundreds of young ladies to society.

BROTHER Earl w. wilbourn, sr.

Brother Earl. W. Wilbourn Sr., born January 21, 1954, transitioned to Omega Chapter on September 23, 2021. He graduated from Edward W. Bok Technical High School in 1971, and moved on to attend Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pa. where he became the first Black baseball player in the history of Edinboro University. His excellence as a baseball player would later earn him a tryout with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 1978, he was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. at Zeta Pi Chapter in Erie, Pennsylvania. He exemplified the fraternities four Cardinal Principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift. It was also at Edinboro where he would meet Glenda Ware and the two were wed in 1979. The couple would have two sons, Earl Jr. and Bro. Delonne Wilbourn. In his free time, Bro. Wilbourn sang lead in the band known as The Sensation of the H.E.R.D who opened up shows for notable acts such as Kool & the Gang and Rick James. After graduating from Edinboro with a bachelor’s degree in English and master’s degree in Education, he moved to Harrisburg, PA. Professionally, he served as a Human Resource Manager in the Medical Insurance Profession and later became a middle school language arts teacher in the Susquehanna Township School District, even serving on their school board. He was active in his church helping to establish the East Shore Church of Christ where he served as an elder and song leader. He often officiated athletic events including football, track and field, and soccer

Upon arriving in Harrisburg, he joined the Kappa Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. where he was instrumental in the chapter’s acquisition of its fraternity house.

BROTHER james a. yancey, sr.

Brother James A. Yancey, Sr., entered Omega Chapter on May 24, 2021, He was born in Oxford, NC, on February 2, 1932, to the late Clemon and Lucy Yancey. Brother Yancey was initiated into Rho Chapter on December 14, 1951. He later later served Omega at Pi Phi Chapter in Charlotte, N.C. Brother Yancey was a shining example of a stellar Omega man. His presence will be greatly missed.

BROTHER anthony severin

Brother Anthony Severin entered Omega Chapter on February 26, 2021. He was born on September 11, 1974. He was initiated in the Spring of 2008 through Rho Lambda Lambda Chapter as the Ace of his three-man line named “Day 226: Last Men Standing.” Because of his cool, calm, and laid-back demeanor, he was affectionately known as “Sleepy Brown” by his chapter brothers. His work ethic was second-to-none even from his first days as a member of his chapter. He truly lived up to the Fraternity’s cardinal principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift and was a true leader and mentor for younger members of his chapter.

Brother Severin was smart, wise, and well versed in what seemed like all things. He had deep Haitian roots and he proudly displayed them everywhere he went. A graduate of Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Anthony worked in the field of Education as well as at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey for many years.

BROTHER Barry eugene rucker

Brother Barry Eugene Rucker entered Omega Chapter on August 19, 2021. He was born in Anderson County (South Carolina) to the son of the late Alberta Chapman Rucker and Harry Rucker, Sr. He attended the public schools of Anderson School District 2 and graduated from Belton-Honea Path High School as a member of the Class of 1987.

After high school, Barry enrolled at South Carolina State College and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. On March 6, 1989 he crossed the burning sands into Omega Psi Phi via Xi Psi Chapter.

BROTHER jeremiah C. gaffney III

Brother Dr. Jeremiah C. Gaffney III entered Omega Chapter on May 6th, 2020. He was initiated into the Fraternity through the Nu Omicron Chapter on January 6th, 1979. Brother Gaffney was born May 12, 1954 and spent most of his childhood in the community of St. Albans in Queens, New York. He graduated from Martin Luther High School in the Maspeth section of Queens. He earned a degree in biochemistry at the renowned historically black college Morehouse in Atlanta 1977 and obtained a doctorate in economics from Oxford University.

Bro. Dr. Gaffney was an active and respected member in the Queens Community. Throughout his career, Dr. Gaffney had a wide range of professional experience, including being a licensed biostatistician and licensed stockbroker. He went on to graduate from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service at New York University. He joined his father in the creation of the Jeremiah C. Gaffney Funeral Home, Inc., and began a legacy of service with special affection for the Far Rockaway Queens community. Dr. Gaffney spent his life dedicated to enriching Far Rockaway and surrounding communities through his philanthropic initiatives as well as programs focusing on community, education, and religion.

Our dearly departed Bro. Dr. Jeremiah C. Gaffney III will be best remembered as a man who lived his creed by serving the people he loved.

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BROTHER bryant keith jenkins

Brother Bryant Keith Jenkins transitioned to Omega Chapter on December 1, 2020. He was born on November 15, 1958. As a member of a military family, his family lived and traveled to various army bases throughout the United States and Germany. He attended and graduated from Morgan State University in 1980 with a Bachelors of Arts degree majoring in Accounting. In 1979, while attending Morgan, he was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. through Pi Chapter. Upon graduation he soon obtained a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) license and began his career with Ernest and Young.

He proudly served Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for over 41 years as a member of Pi Omega Chapter in Baltimore, Maryland. His pastimes and passions included racquetball, cycling, golf, and tennis.

For almost 40 years Brother Jenkins suffered from pulmonary sarcoidosis, a mysterious disease that remained dormant until becoming active in his late 50’s, substantially compromising his ability to breathe without the use of supplemental oxygen. Despite his condition, Bryant did not let this disease define or confine him. He volunteered with the Life and Breath Foundation, a Maryland based foundation devoted to research, treatment, and the support of people living with sarcoidosis. Bryant served as a spokesperson for the organization’s outreach and awareness efforts and demonstrated how to live a full life with the disease. A special memorial fund was established at the Life and Breath Foundation in his honor.

BROTHER Dr. robert lawrence hylton, sr.

Brother Dr. Robert Lawrence Hylton, Sr., entered Omega Chapter on March 9, 2021 after complications sustained from a head injury after a fall. He was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia where he completed his early education. He attended Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Dr. Hylton crossed the burning sands on the Charter line of Eta Gamma Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 1952 and served as Keeper of Records & Seal. He had an early interest in the fraternity because his dentist in Roanoke was Dr. Harry T. Penn, a former Grand Basileus of the fraternity. Dr. Hylton graduated from Central State in 1954 with a major in Psychology. He did graduate work in Guidance at Columbia University and received his M.A. degree in Clinical Psychology and a Ph.D. in Professional Child Psychology from St. John’s University. He also did some post graduate studies at the William Allison White Institute for Psychotherapy.

Brother Hylton worked professionally for the New York City school system for a total of 32 years, first as an attendance teacher and then as a school psychologist. Later, he served as Director of Counseling & Career Planning at the State University of New York at Old Westbury. He was a Consultant Psychologist for the following organizations, Parents-In-Action, Nassau County Department of Drugs & Alcohol, South Jamaica Center for Children & Parents, and Abundant Life. He also maintained a private psychotherapy practice for a number of years.

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Brother Hylton was very active in various organizations, including several youth programs. He served as a board member of the North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center and the National Central State University Alumni Club. He is a past president of the Central State University Alumni Club. He was elected to Central State University’s Achievement Hall of Fame. Most recently, he served as the Board Chairman of A-1 Universal Care, Inc., for twenty years and sat on the Board as Vice Chairman until he transitioned. He also currently serves on the board of AAGS Genealogy and the Genealogy Federation. Dr. Hylton was an Advisor for the Long Island Branch of the National Urban League. Brother Hylton has been honored by North Shore Child & Family

Guidance Center, the NAACP, the former Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta, and the Central State University Alumni Club. He received President Barack Obama’s Volunteer Service Award in 2011.

During his 67 years of membership in the fraternity, Brother Hylton has been a member of Eta Gamma Chapter, Nu Omicron Chapter, Epsilon Chapter, Iota Xi Chapter, and Chi Rho Chapter. He is a charter member of Sigma Beta Beta Chapter. In his over thirty years in Sigma Beta Beta Chapter, he served as Basileus, Vice Basileus, KRS, and Parliamentarian. He also chaired a number of committees and was very active in voting registration programs and fundraising activities. He received the Second District Reclamation Service Award, served as Deputy Corridor Representative for four years in Corridor V, and was selected as a Founder-Stand-In for Brother Just at the 55th Second District Conference. Brother Hylton received his 60-year Service Pin at the 78th Grand Conclave in 2012. He was also selected as Frater of The Year by the Nassau and Suffolk Pan-Hellenic Council.

Brother Hylton retired from 28 years of senior track & field activities during which time he was New York State and the National Race Walking champion. His other activities include bowling, astronomy, and genealogy. Brother Hylton was married to Dr. Irene Betty Hylton, a retired educator. They have three adult children and three adult grandchildren.

BROTHER melvin Jerome wells

Brother Melvin Jerome Wells entered Omega Chapter on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. Brother Wells received his formal education in the Charleston, SC school district. He matriculated at South Carolina State College, graduating in 1953 with a degree in Chemistry. During Brother Wells’ time at South Carolina State, he was initiated into the Xi Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and later served as the Chapter’s Basileus. Over the years, Brother Wells was very active in the Nu Nu Chapter in Willingboro, NJ.

During his years in Nu Nu, he received various chapter awards including the Basileus award (4 times), the Superior Service Award, and several other certificates of recognition and achievement. Brother Wells was also recognized as Nu Nu Omega Man of the year in 2002.

BROTHER richard cleveland flanagan, jr.

Brother Richard Cleveland Flanagan, Jr., entered Omega Chapter on Sunday, May 9 2021 in Laurel, Maryland. He was born September 13, 1970 in Washington, DC. Bro. Flanagan was initiated into the Fraternity in 2012 through Tau Pi Chapter in Columbia, Maryland.

Educationally, he attended parochial and public schools in Washington, DC. He earned a B.A. in Communications from Howard University in 1994. In 2014, he received his Master of Science in Education from Wilkes University. Early in his career, he was a disc jockey at WHUR-FM and WRBS-FM radio stations.

Professionally, Bro. Flanagan became a 6th grade teacher in 1996 at Templeton Elementary School in Riverdale, Maryland. In 2011, he joined the staff of Mary Harris “Mother” Jones Elementary School in Adelphi, Maryland as a Technical Resource Teacher. In 2018, he transitioned to the role of Assistant Principal at Port Towns Elementary School in Bladensburg, Maryland. In 2018, he was a member of the Just Friends Band that played at the New Orleans Grand Conclave.

BROTHER timothy berry

Brother Timothy Berry transitioned into Omega Chapter on June 25, 2021. He was born on September 12, 1970. Brother Berry was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity through Epsilon Eta Chapter at Chicago State University on Tuesday, April 7, 1992 and was a faithful and loyal member.

Upon joining Omicron Mu Mu Chapter, he was very influential in reclaiming many brothers with his character, personality, and zeal for Omega. He exemplified our cardinal principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift. Omega was Brother Berry’s chosen way of life; he was a model for all Omega men, who will always be remembered but can never be replaced.

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BROTHER joseph r. oden, jr.

Brother Joseph “Joey” R. Oden, Jr. entered Omega Chapter on September 16, 2021. Brother Oden was initiated into Xi Alpha Chapter on August 30, 2003. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from West Virginia State University in 1989 and his Master of Science in Leadership Studies from Marshall University in 1999.

Brother Oden was a solid brother, serving the West Virginia State University community for nearly 30 years in numerous positions of Student Activities and Student Affairs & Enrollment. The Board of Directors posthumously awarded him the title Dean of Students, a role which he essentially operated in for years, even without the title.

BROTHER joseph holden wilkerson

Brother Joseph Holden Wilkerson, born July 28, 1948 transitioned to Omega Chapter on April 8, 2021 after a long illness. Upon graduation from Edmondson High School in Baltimore, Maryland, he continued his education attending and graduating from Maryland State College (now University of Maryland Eastern ShoreUMES) with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree. In 1968, while attending UMES, he was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Brother Wilkerson was a proud member of Pi Omega Chapter in Baltimore and a Life Member of the fraternity.

He served his country, enlisting in the Army National Guard of Maryland, where he received the rank of 2nd Lieutenant before being honorably discharged to resume his career in teaching.

An educator in the Baltimore City and Baltimore County Public School Systems in Workshop, Technology, and Industrial Arts, Brother Wilkerson retired after 30 years of service to spend more time with family and friends.

BROTHER russell dubois stansbury

Brother Russell Dubois Stansbury transitioned to Omega Chapter on February 26, 2021. He was born on December 3, 1924. He was initiated into the Fraternity on May 3, 1947 via Pi Epsilon Chapter at Maryland State College (now University of Maryland Eastern Shore) in Princess Anne, Maryland and was the last living Charter Member of Pi Epsilon Chapter. He was also a Charter Member of Iota Nu Chapter in Aberdeen, Maryland, which received its Charter on January 28, 1970. He served two terms as Basileus of Iota Nu Chapter and was the recipient of many chapter awards. The Omega shields made by him are still displayed by many chapters.

Brother Stansbury received his elementary and secondary high school education at Havre de Grace Colored School graduating in 1943 during World War II. He then earned the B.S. degree in Education at Maryland State College in 1947 and a Master of Arts degree from New York University in 1956. He completed additional studies at West Virginia State College and North Carolina A&T State University.

Professionally, he returned to the site of his public school education as its first industrial arts teacher. Brother Stansbury wrote the entire curriculum and purchased all the necessary shop equipment. Additionally, he was the track and basketball coach. Two of his students in athletics were Earl Christy of the New York Jets Super Bowl championship team and baseball’s “iron man” Cal Ripken, Jr.

Brother Stansbury spent his entire thirty-nine-year professional career as a teacher in Harford County, Maryland as follows: Havre de Grace Colored High School (1947-1954); Havre de Grace Consolidated School (1954-1964); Aberdeen Junior High School (1964-1974); Aberdeen Middle School (1974-1985); and Fallston High School (1987-1988).

His awards and recognitions were many. In 2007 a scholarship and Hazel Hall Lobby at UMES was named and dedicated in honor of Brother Stansbury at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, respectively. He was named a Harford Living Treasure in 2002 and inducted into the Harford County Education Hall of Fame in 2004. He was a member of St. James AME Church in Havre de Grace for almost 80 years.

BROTHER thomas evans, jr.

Brother Thomas Evans, Jr., transitioned to Omega Chapter on February 11, 2021. Born February 7, 1947 in Portsmouth, Virginia. He was a 1964 graduate of Central High School in Cross, South Carolina, where as an honor student he excelled in academics as well as athletics resulting in an early graduation one year ahead of his class. His athletic skills in football and track earned him a full football and track scholarship at Elizabeth City State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and Health. Brother Evans earned a Master of Arts Degree in Education from Western Maryland College in 1977. In 1968, Tom married the former Blannie Futrell. There were two daughters born to this union, Wanda (Shawn) Johnson of Columbia, Maryland and Barbara (Noe) Vasquez of Germantown, Maryland.

Brother Evans was initiated on December 9, 1967 through Lambda Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., at Elizabeth City State University and was number 4 of 14 on his line. He was a long serving dedicated and beloved member of Mu Nu Chapter.

Brother Evans had a long and successful career as an educator in the Montgomery County Maryland Public Schools (MCPS) where he served as an Assistant Principal and Teacher during his career. During his distinguished career with MCPS, he was a role model and mentor to many young students. Additionally, he was known for securing jobs in the community for challenged teens and coordination of a work study program to help satisfy graduation requirements as well as assistance in obtaining government and private sector jobs. Upon retirement from MCPS in 2001, he continued to serve students in the metropolitan area by working as an administrator in the District of Columbia Public Schools, Washington DC.

He was a faithful member of the Rockville, Maryland based Mt. Calvary Baptist Church serving as a member of the Deacon Board, The Spiritual Ensemble, the Mass Choir, and the Male Chorus.

Brother Evans was active in many organizations such as the NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) Foundation Board.

BROTHER stanley R. may

Brother Stanley R. May transitioned to Omega Chapter on June 11, 2021. He was born January 1, 1958 in Anderson, Indiana. Brother May was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., through Chi Sigma Chapter at Indiana State University in 1977. He was an active member of Zeta Phi Chapter and served as a key member of the Reclamation and Retention Committee.

Brother May earned a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Indiana State University and also obtained his degree and licensing in Mortuary Science from New England School of Mortuary Science in 1991. His accomplishments included his years of leadership as General Manager and Lead Funeral Director at L. C. May Funeral Services, Inc. Brother May was a hard working mentor to many young people and a great Omega man.

BROTHER willie t. smith, jr.

Brother Willie T. Smith, Jr. transitioned to Omega Chapter on June 23, 2021. He was born January 13, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan. Bro. Smith was initiated through Nu Omega Chapter on June 23, 2012 and faithfully served the community in a variety of roles. He was a devout man of God and served as the Pastor of Children’s Hope Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan from 1987 until 2008. Later, he was called to pastor the Greater Progressive Missionary Baptist Church by unanimous consent in 2019 and held this post until his passing. He also served as the Vice-President of the Grandmont Community Neighborhood Watch Patrol. Bro. Smith was a calming force within Nu Omega Chapter and always shared words of encouragement throughout the Brotherhood. His presence and his spirit will be sorely missed.

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BROTHER james h. rowland, jr. ESQ.

Brother James H. Rowland, Jr., Esq., transitioned into eternal life and Omega Chapter on Sunday, July 4, 2021 at the age of 83. He was born March 12, 1938 in Bluefield, West Virginia to James H. Rowland, Sr., Esq. and Clara (Braswell) Rowland. He received his early education in West Virginia graduating from Stratton High School in Beckley, West Virginia. Bro. Rowland matriculated at The Ohio State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in 1960. While at The Ohio State University, he met his future wife, Juliet (Coles) Rowland. He was a member of the 1957 National Championship football team and was initiated into the fraternity at Iota Psi Chapter in 1958 and was active in Kappa Omega Chapter.

Bro. Rowland earned his Juris Doctorate at Howard University in 1963 where he was managing editor of the Howard Law Review from 1962-1963. He began his career with a law clerkship at the United States Department of Justice with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, followed by a role as Assistant Attorney General and Chief Counsel at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. He began his legal practice by joining his father in partnership in 1964.

Bro. Rowland broke several barriers by becoming the first African American from West Virginia to play in the Big 10. Additionally, he served as the first African American Assistant Attorney General and Chief Counsel of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, first African American President of the Board of Directors of the Boys Club of Harrisburg, first African American Vice Chair Board of Directors Harrisburg Area Community College, and first African American Chair of Dauphin County Court of Civil Arbitration Panel. Bro. Rowland was an avid sports fan and golf enthusiast.

Brother Boret “Bo” Decarlow Rose transitioned to Omega Chapter on August 9, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. He was born on December 12, 1962. Initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., through Pi Omega Chapter on May 15, 2009, he was Number 8 on the Line known as Thirteen Degrees of Devotion. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

An outstanding 3-star athlete in high school (baseball, basketball, and football), Brother Rose earned an athletic scholarship to attend Morgan State University, where he played varsity football for 4 years. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Science Systems in 1989. Brother Rose went on to complete a business certificate in the exemplary program of 10,000 small businesses in the State of Maryland in 2018.

Professionally, in 1999, Brother Rose began working for Georgetown University as an Information Systems Analysis, retiring after 20 years of service. Additionally, in 2001, Brother Bo and his wife Wendy, opened Up in Smoke Caterers, which quickly became a BBQ staple in the State of Maryland. While building their lives with Christian values and guidance, the Rose family always expressed the need to give back to others and help the community. Over the years he probably gave away more than he sold.

Fraternally, upon initiation in 2009, Brother Bo went to work immediately, serving as Keeper of Property, Asst. Keeper of Finance, and Keeper of Finance. Brother Rose also served on various committees including Mardi Gras and Homecoming. He was Chair of the Constitution and Bylaws committee. He was dedicated to serving the Brotherhood and his commitment, kind spirit, generosity, and good nature will truly be missed by the Pi Omega Chapter Brotherhood and the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan Area. The Bo Rose Legacy Endowment Fund has been created in his honor with donations specifically earmarked for Morgan State University Athletes.

BROTHER boret “bo” decarlo rose

BROTHER arthur sean ward

Brother Arthur Sean Ward entered Omega Chapter on June 29, 2021. He furthered his education by attending Fayetteville State University where he majored in mathematics and in 1996 he was inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. Now facing the task of providing for a wife and three children, Arthur put his college degree to work and entered education as a middle school math teacher. What started as a way to navigate his newfound responsibility of providing for his family turned into a legacy of relationship building and quickly helped Arthur establish himself as a pillar in the education community.

Arthur, or “Coach Ward” as he’s known by so many, began his teaching career at Fayetteville’s Westover Middle School in 2001, where he also began his coaching career with boys basketball and football. He was known for his gentle, yet firm, coaching style - loving his athletes and students but setting them straight when they needed it. Coach Ward wouldn’t accept anything less than his students’ best and would not hesitate to let them know when they weren’t living up to their potential. The relationships he built extended far beyond any classroom, court, or field. If you called, he came. When asked about his “why” for teaching, Arthur said, “I want to be that relatable teacher students see in public and run up to instead of running away from.” And that is exactly the life he lived. Hundreds of students, athletes, staff, and members in the Westover community got to experience the impact of Coach Ward. Arthur became a member of Omega Psi Phi via Beta Chi Chapter on June 25, 2009 serving in numerous roles within the chapter. He was an outstanding mentor to new members that followed and will be greatly missed by all.

BROTHER richard Thomas gardner

Brother Richard Thomas Gardner entered Omega Chapter on June 8, 2021. He was born on May 4, 1944 in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

He attended the Union County (New Jersey) Public Schools where he graduated from Union High School in 1963. He then enrolled at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio majoring in Education.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in Education from Kean College (Newark State Teachers’ College), Richard entered the teaching profession in the Orange, New Jersey Public Schools. Soon afterwards, he received his master’s degree from Rutgers University in 1979. He served as Vice-Principal at Park Avenue and Cleveland Street Elementary schools, and as principal of both Orange High and Schorr Middle Schools. He served as an Adjunct Professor at Jersey City State College, a Board Member of the New Jersey State Teachers Association, and a member of The Alliance of Concerned Citizens. Brother Gardner spent 38 years in public education and gave countless hours to the children of each school and school districts where he served.

Brother Richard Thomas Gardner was initiated into Omega Psi Phi through Eta Pi Chapter on May 24,1986. He was elected to the office of Keeper of Records and Seal which he proudly held and commendably served the chapter. Upon moving to Union County, North Carolina, he quickly affiliated with the Kappa Alpha Chapter in Rock Hill, South Carolina where he served as the Keeper of Peace from 2013-2019. As a result of his dedicated service to the Kappa Alpha Chapter, he was the recipient of the 2013 Members versus Men Award.

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BROTHER james edward clemmons, jr.

Brother Sheriff James Edward Clemmons, Jr. entered Omega Chapter on August 5, 2021. He was born on January 19,1961 in Southport, North Carolina. Educated in the public schools of Brunswick County (North Carolina), Sheriff Clemmons was a 1979 Graduate of South Brunswick High School. His thirst for education led him to continue his education at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina and Mount Olive College obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.

He began his public career in 1981 as a correctional officer for the North Carolina Division of Prisons. He became a patrol officer in 1989 with the Richmond County Sheriff Department and was later promoted to sergeant and assigned to the detective division in 1991. His continued commitment to law enforcement allowed him the opportunity to move up the ranks to become a Lieutenant in 1997 and a Captain in 1998. He is noted as being a former commander of the Richmond County Sheriff Department Special Response Team and the Community Policing Coordinator for the Town of Dobbins Heights. He also provided oversight in the Civil, Patrol, Jail, and Court Divisions.

Clemmons was elected Sheriff of Richmond County on November 2, 2010. He was sworn in on December 6th of the same year becoming the first African American elected into that position. Sheriff Clemmons continued to serve the citizens of Richmond County until his untimely death.

Sheriff Clemmons was a proud Life Member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, serving as the 6th District’s (North Carolina & South Carolina) Keeper of Peace. He was initiated into Omega Psi Phi via Tau Alpha Chapter in 2004. He later served Lambda Iota Iota Chapter as Keeper of Records and Seal and chapter delegate to district meetings and the grand conclave.

BROTHER Dexter lewis Boykin

Dexter Lewis Boykin entered Omega Chapter on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

In 1999, he attended Fayetteville State University, where he majored in Business Administration and graduated in 2004. While at Fayetteville State, he played the bass drum as an active member of the MBX (Marching Band Xpress). He coached Pop Warner, volunteered at several shelters in the Fayetteville community, served as a Spring Lake Middle School volunteer, and lead assistant basketball coach. He also mentored students facing challenging circumstances by guiding them to walk into their promise. His life’s work transitioned into his professional work as a Multi-Systemic Senior Therapist at Amethyst Consulting Treatment Solutions.

On June 25, 2009, Dexter became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity via Beta Chi Chapter. He was the Chairperson of the Mardi Gras Committee. He served on the Membership Intake Committee, the Social Action Committee, and assisted with several other committees, including Adopt-a-Highway. He lived a full circle life. He was extremely dedicated to family. He was full of the joy of the Lord. He was faithful and he was a builder of networks. Dexter went out of his way to develop memorable relationships with ALL of his nieces and nephews. He invested in all youth. He was a leader and he was trustworthy. He would give ALL he had to anyone in need. People just felt safe with him. This is Dexter’s legacy. What will yours be?

BROTHER ALAN farley WHITE

Brother Alan Farley White entered eternal rest July 11, 2021. He was born August 12, 1964, to Willie Lee White and Ester Deann Smith in Portsmouth, Virginia. He was a graduate of Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Virginia and Saint Paul Lawrenceville, Virginia where he played football for both schools.

Brother White was a Marine Corp veteran. He served as

Brother Alan White, continued

pastor of the Campbell’s Chapel A.M.E. Church, Virginia Beach, VA and was a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church Portsmouth, VA.

Brother White was initiated April 1985 into Epsilon Gamma Chapter, St. Paul’s College. He was a member of Zeta Iota Chapter, where served as KRS, Basileus and served as Eastern Area II Supervisor. He was a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Inc.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving spouse Debra and three daughters LaChanda Bennett (Tim); Tiffani White (Raquan) and Alexis Boone (Maurice). Five grandchildren Alan, Jackson, Madeline, Alanah and Mia. His parents Rev. Willie L. White, Sr., and Mrs. Esther D. White. His Mother in Love Mary Diggs. Brother Willie L. White, Jr., (Corlis), sister Cassandra Andrews (Roderick) and a host of many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

A homegoing service was held for Brother White, Friday, July 16 at 12 noon at Mount Hermon Baptist Temple 2901 London Blvd Portsmouth, VA. Interment was in Albert G. Horton, Jr Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

BROTHER Milton R. long

Brother Milton R. Long entered Omega Chapter on May 6, 2021. He attended school in the Roanoke City School system, graduating from William Fleming High School in 1971. Milton and his two older sisters had the distinguished honor of being part of the first group of 9 Black Students to integrate public schools in Roanoke and the second group in the state of Virginia.

Upon graduating from high school, he attended Virginia State College (University) where he was a walk-on basketball player. After realizing the importance of his degree, he focused his energy on his books which led to his graduating cum laude with a degree in Business Administration.

He was initiated into Omega through Nu Psi Chapter in 1973. He continued to serve Omega until the day he died.

Brother Milton R. Long, continued

Over his 47+ years of service, Milton earned several Omega Man of the Year and Distinguished Service awards. Milton worked for Caterpillar, Inc., in its Treasury and Finance Department for 38 years, ascending to senior management levels until his retirement in 2013.

BROTHER Nelson Gregory cuffey

Nelson Gregory Cuffey was born July 18, 1969, in Norfolk, Virginia, to Amanda Nelson Cuffey and the late Sonnie Greene Cuffey. Brother Cuffey entered Omega Chapter on September 12, 2021.

After graduating from high school, Greg attended Virginia State University, where he majored in Biology. He always had a passion for and excelled in Math and the Sciences. After graduating, Greg began his career at the Swedish company, Alfa Laval Thermal in Richmond, Virginia. He was a resolute employee for ten years and enjoyed several trips to Sweden as part of his duties. Greg had a lifelong love of learning and teaching. Therefore, he decided to follow his true passion and acquired his teaching certification. His first teaching position was at Petersburg High School, where he jumped in head-first on a mission to ensure that his students benefited both in education and by having their spirits uplifted. Greg also taught at Peabody Middle School for a short time before coming full circle back to Petersburg High School.

Greg’s service to his community continued as a loyal member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated when he was initiated into the fraternity in Fall 2005 through Delta Omega Chapter, Petersburg, Virginia.

Greg was baptized into the Church of Christ and became a committed member of the Arlington Road Church of Christ in Hopewell, Virginia. He worked diligently from the beginning, serving in many capacities, including ministry leader, bible class teacher, prison ministry, church event organizer, youth mentor, tutor, and later as a Deacon. When he had the opportunity to preach, he always said, “I have a joke, a sermon, and a poem.” He laughed so hard telling the joke that he could barely get the punchline out. He exemplified true servanthood in the kingdom & community.

BROTHER BennY frank Bonner, jr.

Brother Benny Frank Bonner, Jr. transitioned into Omega Chapter on May 4, 2021. His sunrise and entrance into the world was on April 15, 1962 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity by way of Tau Theta Chapter located on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois in 1981.

Brother Bonner served his country in the United States Army Reserve and was a Commissioned Officer. Equally important, he was an avid sportsman and participated in baseball, basketball, and football in high school as well as being a member of a State Championship Football Team that won 40 games over a 4-year time period. Brother Bonner would go on to meet and join Cheryl Bellamy in holy matrimony celebrating 31 years of marriage. The couple was blessed with a daughter, Paige Nicole, as well as being survived by a host of family members that consists of extended family members. Brother Bonner was an active participant and financial member of Rho Gamma Gamma Chapter of Chicago, Illinois.

BROTHER jonathan westfield

Brother Jonathan Westfield transitioned to Omega Chapter on June 5, 2021. He was born October 27, 1966 in Champaign, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Bro. Westfield was initiated into the Fraternity through Sigma Xi Chapter on November 9, 2003. He was an active member of Sigma Xi Chapter in Champaign, having held the offices of Basileus, Vice Basileus, and Keeper of Records and Seal (KRS). He served as Undergraduate Advisor and later, was elevated to the position of State Representative. He served on numerous committees as well as being a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Bro Westfield served 20 years with the Champaign Police Department. He was a former Champaign school board member, past Parkland College Trustee, and Youth Assessment Center Coordinator with Champaign County Regional Planning Commission. His leadership and mentorship to the Fraternity was unparalleled.

BROTHER dr. clarence b. vaughn

Brother Dr. Clarence B. Vaughn transitioned to Omega Chapter on May 21, 2021. He was born on December 14, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Vaughn was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity through Epsilon Epsilon Chapter on the campus of Benedict College in 1949. He received a BS degree with a dual major in Chemistry and Mathematics from Benedict College in 1951. He then received a MS degree in Chemistry in 1955 and a MD degree from Howard University in 1957.

Dr. Vaughn was also a Veteran, serving in the United States Air Force. There were many military accomplishments such as commanding the first medical reserve unit to deploy overseas and commanding the first medical reserve unit to be designated as combat ready during the Cold War.

Dr. Vaughn was a co-founder of the first cancer research and treatment units in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In addition, he established cancer research and treatment units in Providence and Mercy Hospitals in Detroit.

He was a world renowned cancer specialist (oncologist) who helped to introduce new medicines and state of the art technology to the field of Oncology. He authored or co-authored 76 scientific articles which appeared in peer reviewed medical journals and made 79 oral and poster presentations in national and international meetings.

Dr. Vaughn was an active member of Tau Kappa Kappa Chapter in Southfield, Michigan. He regularly attended chapter meetings, district meetings, and Grand Conclaves. He is a former recipient of the coveted Tenth District Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Vaughn loved to fellowship with his brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Brother Reverend Paul A. McDonald entered Omega Chapter on August 22, 2021. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College and was initiated there via Psi Chapter on December 7, 1948. He then went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School and a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Rochester in New York. He also was honored by Friendship College in Rock Hill, South Carolina with the Doctor of Divinity degree. Reverend McDonald served on various civic boards and held membership and Chairman in a variety of civic and civil rights groups. He was elected to serve as a delegate to the 1977 Tennessee Constitutional Convention, which involved a lawsuit in reference to clergy persons serving in the Constitutional Convention. He finally won in the United States Supreme Court.

He served five four-year terms on the Hamilton County (New York) Board of Commissioners, serving as chairman for five one-year terms. Reverend McDonald was recognized as a civil rights advocate through his work with the Unity Group and student protests at Brainerd High School (Chattanooga, Tennessee). He served as the East Tennessee representative on the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Supervisor of the New Testament Division of the National Baptist Convention, and Chairman of the Church Koinonia Credit Union, Second Missionary Services, Inc., and the Unity Group.

BROTHER william james carver, jr.

Brother William James Carver, Jr., affectionately known to most as “Coach Carver,” entered Omega Chapter on April 13, 2021.

His scholastic and athletic achievements earned him an opportunity to further his education at Hampton University (formerly Hampton Institute). He attended Hampton on an athletic scholarship and played both baseball and football during his time there before graduating in 1962. William accepted his dream job offer to teach and coach at his

high school alma mater, E.E. Smith Senior High School and he never looked back. Over the next eighteen years, he blazed a trail of helping students and athletes reach their full potential.

William taught biology and physical education while also coaching football, basketball, baseball, and track. He took pride in the success of his teams on the field, but was even more proud of the character created and the values he instilled in the lives of all the young men and women he coached.

The next years of his career would lead him into the field of school administration. He spent another ten years at E.E. Smith, serving as both Athletic Director and Assistant Principal. He then transitioned to work as the Director of Student Activities for Cumberland County Schools from 1991 to 1999. His prior coaching days prepared him for his new role as an administrator. He was passionate about working with coaches to help their athletic programs excel.

William’s commitment and success as an administrator was quickly recognized throughout the state of North Carolina. He achieved numerous awards during his career which included the Region 4 Athletic Director of the Year (1994); the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Distinguished Service Award (1995); the NCHSAA State Award of Merit (1996); the North Carolina Athletic Director of the Year (1997); and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Distinguished Service Award (1999).

William retired from Cumberland County Schools in 1999 and accepted the role of Athletic Director for Fayetteville State University in 2000. In just a four-year span, his teams won a combined total of twelve championshi. He was honored as the Athletic Director of the Year in 2002 and 2003.

Colonel Charles Young

“To read of him inspired admiration; to see him inspired respect; to know him was to love him.”

Photo/Caption: The Oracle, February 1922

Enhanced: IHQ @officialoppf

OMEGA GLEE CLUB FEATURED IN 1938 ORACLE

#Next Level Captions

1. Brother Byron Cherry – honored with the 2020 Alumni Award by Norfolk State University for demonstrating exemplary leadership and community service

2. Brother Dr. Jim Harper, II - NC Central University Distinguished Award recipient, Chair and Professor of History

3. Brother Ellis Agee, Jr. -Chief Warrant Officer 2 in the US Marine Corps and currently serves as the Postal Operations Officer for Marine Corps Installations-East, Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune, NC

4. Brother Ernest J. Wright, Esq. - 1st Black person elected to the Onslow Board of Commissioners, Owner of Wright Law Firm, received the Fabric of Our Community Awards in Jacksonville, NC.

5. Brother E. Driko Parsons - Retired US Marine, highly decorated combat veteran to include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star

6. Brother Clifford Bush III - Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the US Army Reserve JAG Corps. Serves as Chief Judge of the Municipal Court and founded the Law Office of Clifford Bush III in Bluffton, SC.

7. Brother Drake Dillard - Architect, Recipient of the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles Chapter, Presidential Honoree Robert Kennard, FAIA Award for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

8. Brother Inman Telly – Won the Social Impact Film Award, “The White Bruh”, which explores the reasons why a white person would want to join a Black Greek-letter organization.

9. Brother Johnny M. Sellers – Executive Director of the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition (UFC), US Army Veteran, Board-certified practitioner in Human Resources

10. Brother Jerry Mackey - AIF(R) Vice President-Senior Wealth Advisor for Citi Personal Wealth Management located at Citi Global IHQ

388 Greenwich St, NY, NY was invited to the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

11. Brother Marcus Singleton - Named Chair of the Cabarrus County Democratic Party

12. Brother Chief Kevin R. Goodman - Chief of Police of Newberry City Police Department, Newberry, SC

13. Brother Nicholas Perkins - Founder of Perkins Management Company (PMC), He recently acquired several Fuddruckers restaurant store chains

14. Brother Quintavis Cureton - Appointed as Assistant Dean of Students and Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Newberry College

15. Brother Brigadier General Voris W. McBurnette – Brigade Commander of the US Army Pacific-Support Unit

16. Brother Kwame Dow - 12th District Representative – pulls double duty while attending Phi Iota’s annual golf tournament and gives greetings at the 28th Omega Educational Foundation in partnership with Tau Tau Chapter.

17. Brother DR Kenneth A. Brown and Brother DR Gary C. Clark –Received their 50 Year Service Awards

We are always seeking Brothers with an opinionated view to submit an editorial, a story idea, an article from the history & archives, a poem, or a photo.

If you have those desires, please email Bro. Norm Senior at EditorToTheOracle@oppf.org

your Editor

Volume 91 \ No. 42 \ SUMMER 2021