of sharing resources. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to represent Iota at an Alpha Kappa Alpha Regional Meeting and these Sorors honored an AKA who owned a bank in California with over 200 million dollars in assets. What if we were offered a BGLO discount rate for mortgages, automobile loans, etc.? This could be mutually beneficial to all involved. There are additional opportunities available to us through shared resources and promoting each other’s businesses. This is food for thought. I have been blessed to have experienced the dream of twelve men. Two of these men were older, nontraditional students. Four Iota Founders had served in the military and returned to school under the G.I. Bill; the remaining six were traditional students who knew each other since childhood. The above was an asset in the success of Iota’s Founding; it provided us with a diversity of experiences and an understanding of the tasks before us. I have a picture of my elementary school graduating class (1954 / see image); there are two Founders and two members of Iota’s First Line (1964), “The
IOTAS PICTURED: 2nd row, 4th from right Charles Watts* - First Line 3rd row, 3rd from right Founder Spruill 5th from right Ronald Wheatley - First Line 4th row 4th from right Founder Coakley
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Fifteen Centaurs”. As with the Founders of the other NPHC organizations, we were friends with similar experiences and goals. Five Iotas were in our Junior High School Graduation Class of 1957, and Five Iotas were in our High School Graduation Class at Baltimore City College (1960); Founders Coakley and Spruill; First Line Members Freeland*, Watson* and Wheatley. Founders Webster Lewis* and Louis Hudnell; First Centaur Line Members Jeff Johnson, Jerry Cullings* and Wesley Jennings who is the son of Iota’s Eternal Sweetheart and Mother - Our Beloved Audrey Brooks*- also attended Baltimore City College. Baltimore City College is the second oldest public high school in the USA; integrated in 1956. It should be noted that Lt. James “Tony” Watson was the first Morgan graduate killed in Vietnam, on December 4th, 1965. It is interesting that Four Founders and Six First Line Members attended Baltimore City College. Many future Iotas went on to attend the school, including four International Grand Polars(i). I would like to pay homage to the three outstanding men who founded Sigma. Founder A. Langston Taylor; “Culture For Service and Service For Humanity”, Founder Charles I. Brown; “No Legacy Is So Rich As Honesty” and Founder Leonard F. Morse who displayed Sigma’s sadness; “We Live In Daily Hope That We Shall One Day Learn The Fate Of Our Beloved Founder Charles I. Brown”. I had the pleasure of speaking with Sigma President, Brother Jimmy Hammock, at the Eightieth Anniversary of the NPHC. . We discussed the opportunities and problems facing our organizations. Brother Hammock and I plan to continue our conversation in the future. I was honored to be invited to administer the ReDedication Ceremony to the Divine Nine Presidents. I thought of Iota’s deceased Founders and Brothers and I remembered the various trials and tribulations we had
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