don’t remember them asking whether or not we needed help with anything. I have heard of and read of similar examples OC: How did you feel when of this over the years. Once upon a time your son told you he wanted I would hear a lot of comments about to become a member of the the lack of important publications which Fraternity? caused undergraduate chapters to resort DM: I don’t remember recruiting to reproduced or copied documents to “Ward” (he is named after me and conduct their business. I think that situation we’ve always used our middle lead to too much autonomy and resulted in name when addressing him to avoid an organization that the immortals Taylor, confusion) to become a Sigma Man. Morse and Brown would hardly recognize. After I returned from my second tour It appears that that is no longer the case. If in Korea in 1980, I reinstated my Founder Morse circa 1916 so, that is a great change for the better! The financial standing with the Fraternity changes I’ve seen over the years may very and do remember taking Ward to a Father/Son function well have been omissions when I was learning how to where I had been invited to talk about Daddy. I was be a Sigma. There are more slogans, modifications to more than proud when I got the news of Ward crossing. original designs and gestures that seem to be treated as I vividly remember accepting an invitation to give if they were authorized. an informal talk to Phi Beta Sigma Sigma Chapter OC: What would you like to see from in Atlanta which turned out to be almost an Eastern Sigma as we move towards our Centennial Region gathering. By that time I had also built a portable Celebration in 2014? display case to house Daddy’s jewelry and other family DM: Growth and continued improvement in Sigma memorabilia. Whenever I could I would travel with the display to give brothers a chance to get a close communication. up viewing of the items. If you’ve seen any photos of OC: In your opinion, what would be your daddy more than likely you have seen the jewelry that Father’s thoughts on Sigma today and its role I am speaking of. in the community? high school until I left to go into the Army.
OC: How has Sigma changed for you since the days when you first became a member?
DM: I am sure that every Sigma brother who came in thru an undergraduate chapter experienced an awakening of sorts when they joined a graduate chapter. My opinion is that in a lot of areas we still suffer the consequences of too little coordination between the two levels. When I was president of Eta Chapter there was only one joint function between us and Gamma Beta Sigma Chapter (Greensboro, NC) that stands out in my mind. Of course, when Daddy came to speak in 1957 the grad brothers were all over the place! I
DM: Our family members and close friends and associates could always see Daddy’s pride and approval burst through whenever Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was in the news and living up to its motto in our communities. I am sure he is smiling down upon all of this Blue and White now with the same pride! He was never reluctant to call to your attention a mistake, and then teach you how to do something correctly. Now, he is expecting us to be intelligent enough to carry on in that same spirit whether under the auspices of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. or out of individual initiative. “BROTHERHOOD” is more than just a word. Images courtesy of the Morse Family private collection
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