Omega's
Most Honorable Founders |
| Mu Lambda Chapter was conceived
on November 19, 1977 at the campus of Northeast Louisiana
University by 5 undergrad men. Through the efforts of these
5 scholarly undergrad men, who felt the need for a lifelong
challenge of brotherhood and friendship,Omega was sought.
These men brought forth a great legacy that has endured the
blood gent of chance and kept their heads held high. Below
are the great men of the Mighty Mu Lambda Chapter "Da
Animal Chapter" starting with our charter member collectively
known as the MAGNIFICENT 5. |
MU LAMBDA'S
LINAGE
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70's
QUES
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80's
QUES
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90's
QUES
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2000's
QUES
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- MAGNIFICENT 5
- SOUL FOUNDATION
- SECOND GENERATION
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- BOYS OF BACCHUS
- CATASTROPHE
- DEAVENS HEAVEN
- RE-ENFORCEMENT
- GONE WITH THE WIND
- REJUVINATION
- 2 VOLTS FROM HELL
- DEATHWISH III
- 10 CRUCHES OF PAIN
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- REGENERATION
- 2 HEADED MONSTER
- ME, MYSELF, AND I
- AGAINST ALL ODDS
- 6 PATHS OF DESTRUCTION
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- PRIVATE PARTS
- DISORDERLIES
- KINGS OF CRUNΩ
- BY MY GOT DAM SELF
- DA SCREWED UP ΩLICK
- 3 SONS OF C.H.A.O.S.
- LAST MAN STANDING
- WHEN ANIMALZ ATTAΩ
- DA TAEΩOVER
- RESURWREΩTION
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Famous
Omega Men
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 From
Left to Right:
- Langston Hughes - The Black poet
laureate, excelled as a poet, playwright, novelist, lyricist,
and humorist.
- Sterling Brown- Teacher, poet,
writer, Professor Emeritus of Literature at Howard University,
has a special foundation for folk culture and jazz music.
- Roland Hayes- Internationally known
tenor of the 1920's; sang in five different languages.
- Max Roach - Internationally known
drummer.
- William H. "Bill" Cosby
- Comedian, author, and actor.
- William (Count) Basie- Internationally
known pianist, composer, arranger, and band leader.
Not Pictured:
- Carl Rowan - Syndicated columnist.
- Joe Torry - Comedian, author, actor,
and producer.
- Steve Harvey - Comedian and actor.
- Rickey Smiley - Comedian and actor.
- Tom Joyner - Radio show host.
From Left to Right:
- William DeHart Hubbard - University
of Michigan sprinter; first black person to represent the
United States in the Olympic Games in 1924.
- Joe Black - All-time great Brooklyn
Dodger baseball pitcher. Lowest ERA in the Major Leagues
in 1952.
- Ed "Too Tall" Jones -
Former Outstanding player with the Dallas Cowboys.
- Michael Jordan - Outstanding former
player with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. Voted
to NBA Hall of Fame in 2009.
- Mo Vaughn - Former outstanding
baseball player with the Boston Red Sox.
- Steve McNair - Outstanding former
NFL player with the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens.
Not Pictured:
- Jerry Ball - 3 time Pro Bowler
and former NFL defensive lineman.
- Vince Carter - 8-time All-Star.
2-time All-NBA guard for the New Jersey Nets. 1999 NBA Rookie
of the Year.
- Mark Duper - 3 time Pro Bowler
and 2-time All-Pro former wide receiver with Miami Dolphins.
- Clarence E. "Big House"
Gaines - Hall of Fame Basketball coach. Coached at Winston-Salem
State University from 1946 - 1993. Also, 4-year All-CIAA
lineman in football.
- Dr. Edwin Bancroft (E.B.) Henderson
- Captain and outstanding player on the Washington 12th
Streeters (1906-1910). He is known as the "Father of
Black Sport History". First Black male to become certified
to teach Physical Education in public schools.
- Keith Jackson - 5 time Pro Bowler
and 5 time All Pro former NFL Tight end.He was inducted
to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
- Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell
- Outstanding former professional basketball player with
the Boston Celtics and other teams. 1981 NBA Finals MVP.
- Shaquille O'Neal - Star center
with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and
Cleveland Cavaliers is a 14 time NBA All-star. He is 3 time
NBA Final MVP and 2000 NBA MVP.
- Brice Taylor - University of Southern
California football legend. Guard on mid 1920’s team. Schools
first All-American.
- Terrence Trammell - 2-time (2000,
2004) Olympic silver medalist in 110m hurdles.
- Charlie Ward - 1993 Heisman Trophy
winner and former NBA guard with the NY Knicks.
 From
Left to Right:
- Jessie Hill - President of Atlanta
Life Insurance Company.
- Earl Graves - Chairman and CEO
of Black Enterprise Magazine.
- Therman McKenzie - Former Co-Owner
of M & M Products (Sta Soft Fro).
- Nathaniel Bronner - Co-Owner of
Bronner Brothers Beauty.
From Left to Right:
- Grant Reynolds - Played a major
role in President Truman's 1948 decision to desegregate
the United States Armed Forces.
- James Nabrit - Former Dean of the
Howard University Law School and former president of Howard
University. A leader in the training of the early Civil
Rights lawyers.
- Roy Wilkins - Long-time Executive
Director of the NAACP.
- Jesse Jackson- Former Director
of Operation PUSH; Founder, National Rainbow Coalition.
- Vernon Jordan - Noted Attorney
and Former Executive Director of the National Urban League.Not
Pictured:
- Wiley Branton - Attorney of the
"Little Rock Nine" and former Dean of Howard University
School of Law.
- Oliver Hill - Civil Rights attorney
whose work against racial discrimination helped end the
doctrine of Òseparate but equalÓ. 1999 Presidential Medal
of Freedom recipient.
- Benjamin Hooks - Succeeded Roy
Wilkins as Executive Director of the NAACP, the most effective
of all civil rights organizations.
From Left to Right:
- Dr. Carter G. Woodson - The earliest
and most outspoken proponent for the study of Black History.
- Benjamin E. Mays - President Emeritus
of Morehouse College, writer and lecturer.
- Professor Frank Coleman - Professor
and head of the Physics Department, Howard University.Not
Pictured:
- Herman Dreer - Teacher, minister,
writer, and author of The History of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,
Inc., 1911-1961.
From Left to Right:
- Wiliam Hastie - First Governer
of the Virgin Islands.
- Robert C. Weaver - Former U.S.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- Clifford L. Alexander, Jr. - Secretary,
Department of the Army.
- Lawrence Douglas Wilder - Former
Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Togo West - Secretary of the Army.Not
Pictured:
- James E. "Jim" Clyburn
- The House Majority Whip in the 110th Congress. (2nd Black
to hold that position).
- Rev. Jesse Jackson - Founder of
both entities that merged to form Rainbow/PUSH. Candidate
for the United States Presidency in 1984 and 1988. Served
as ÒShadow SenatorÓ for DC from 1991 to 1997.
- Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. - 2001 Springarn
Medal recipient. Executive Director of United Negro College
Fund and a former president of the National Urban League.
He also served as a close adviser to President Bill Clinton.
- Clarence Lightner - 1st Black Mayor
of Raleigh, NC. Held the posts of the Director of the CDC
and the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry from 1993 to 1998.
- Walter E. Washington - 1st Home-Rule
mayor of the District of Columbia. Former Executive Director
of the National Capital Housing Authority.
- George L.P. Weaver - Former U.S.
Secretary of Labor.
- Kendrick B. Meek - Congressman
serving the 17th Congressional District of Florida since
2003. A former trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol where
he became Florida's 1st African-American to promoted to
the rank of Captain.
From Left to Right:
- Dr. Ernest Everett Just - Internationally
known biologist and professor at Howard University.
- Dr. Charles Drew - Perfected the
use of blood plasma; Professor of Surgery at Howard University.
- Percy Julian - Discovered the use
of foam to extinguish fires and discovered a method of producing
cortisone synthetically.
- Charles Bolden - Astronaut, graduate
of the United States Naval Academy (pilot). NASA Administrator
(July 17, 2009 - present).
- Dr. Ronald E. McNair - Astronaut,
graduate of M.I.T., Ph.D. in Physics (civilian).Not Pictured:
- Dr. Fred Drew Gregory - Astronaut,
graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (pilot).
- Dr. Hildrus Poindexter - Bacteriologist
who studied the epidemiology of tropical diseases.
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Omega's
Most Honorable Founders
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Founders are
listed from right to left
- Bishop Edgar A. Love (1891-1974)
- Dr. Oscar J. Cooper (1888-1972)
- Professor Frank Coleman (1890-1967)
- Dr. Ernest E. Just (1883-1941)
Read
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Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the
first international fraternal organization to be founded on
the campus of a historically black college.
Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard
University in Washington, D.C. The founders were three Howard
University undergraduates, -- Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James
Cooper and Frank Coleman. Joining them was their faculty adviser,
Dr. Ernest Everett Just.
From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning, "friendship
is essential to the soul," the name Omega Psi Phi was
derived. That phrase was selected as the motto.
Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift were adopted
as Cardinal Principles.
On November 23, 1911 in Thirkield Hall, Love became the first
Grand Basileus (National President). Cooper and Coleman were
selected to be the Grand Keeper of the Records (National Secretary)
and Grand Keeper of Seals (National Treasurer), respectively.
Eleven Howard University undergraduate men were selected to
be the charter members.
Alpha Chapter was organized with fourteen charter members
on December 15, 1911. Love, Cooper and Coleman were elected
the chapter’s first Basileus, Keeper of Records, and Keeper
of Seals, respectively.
Cooper became the fraternity’s second Grand Basileus in 1912
and authorized the investigation of a proposed second chapter
at Lincoln University, Penn.
Love was elected as the third Grand Basileus in 1912 and served
until 1915.
In 1912, Howard University officials did not initially recognize
the fraternity as a national organization and Omega Psi Phi’s
leadership refused to only accept local recognition. As a
result, the fraternity operated without official sanction,
until the university withdrew its opposition in 1914, the
same year that the Beta Chapter was chartered at Lincoln University.
Omega Psi Phi was incorporated under the laws of the District
of Columbia on October 28, 1914.
George E. Hall, the fourth Grand Basileus, authorized the
establishment of Gamma Chapter in Boston.
Clarence F. Holmes served as Omega’s sixth Grand Basileus.
It was under his leadership that the Fraternity’s first official
hymn, "Omega Men Draw Nigh," was written by Otto
Bohannon.
Stanley Douglas served as editor to the first Oracle published
in the spring of 1919.
Raymond G. Robinson, the seventh Grand Basileus, established
Delta Chapter in Nashville, Tennessee in 1919.
Stanley Douglas served as Editor of the first Oracle published
in the spring of 1919. Robinson left office in 1920 with a
total of ten chapters in operation.
Harold K. Thomas, the eighth Grand Basileus, was elected at
the Nashville Grand Conclave in 1920.
It was at this Conclave that Carter G. Woodson inspired the
establishment of National Achievement Week to promote the
study of Negro life and history.
The Atlanta Grand Conclave in 1921 brought to an end the Fraternity’s
first decade.
Omega built a strong and effective force of men dedicated
to its cardinal principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance,
and uplift.
INTERNAL
GROWTH
In 1922, Grand Basileus J. Alston
Atkins appointed the first District Representatives. Today,
there are eleven such officers who are elected annually at district
meetings.
Also in 1922, the office of Vice Grand Basileus was created.
The Grand Keeper of Records became the Grand Keeper of the Records
and Seal. The first Omega Bulletin was published in 1928 and
Campbell C. Johnson was the editor.
"Omega Dear," was adopted as the official hymn in
1931. Charles R. Drew, professor of surgery, and Mercer Cook,
professor of languages, both members of the Howard faculty,
were the composers. Cook wrote the music and first stanza; Drew
wrote the last two stanzas.
Each of the founders graduated and went on to have distinguished
careers in their chosen fields: Edgar Love became a Methodist
bishop; Oscar Cooper practiced medicine in Philadelphia for
over 50 years; Frank Coleman became the chairman of the Department
of Physics at Howard University and Dr. Ernest E. Just became
a world-renowned biologist and a recipient of the prestige NAACP
Spingarn Medal.
THE
FORTIES
The Omega "Sweetheart Song,"
with words and music by Don Q. Pullen, was adopted as the official
sweetheart song by the 1940 Nashville Grand Conclave.
Founder Ernest E. Just entered Omega Chapter in 1941.
In 1941, Charles Drew perfected the use of blood plasma as a
life-saving tool. William Hastie resigned as Civilian Aide to
the Secretary of War in protest against discrimination in the
armed forces. He was later appointed Governor of the Virgin
Islands by President Harry S. Truman.
Since 1945, the fraternity has undertaken a National Social
Action program to meet the needs of African Americans in the
areas of health, housing, civil rights, and education.
In 1949, the first National Headquarters Building at 107 Rhode
Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. was purchased.
H. Carl Moultrie I, was selected to serve as the first National
Executive Secretary. That same year, the scholarship fund was
renamed in honor of Charles R. Drew.
THE
FIFTIES
During this era, social action
became Omega’s primary programmatic thrust. Thousands of Omega
men became actively involved in the fight to eliminate racial
discrimination.
The Los Angeles Grand Conclave in 1955 initiated a program whereby
each graduate chapter would purchase a Life Membership from
the NAACP.
Between 1955 and 1959, chapters contributed nearly $40,000 to
the NAACP.
THE
SIXTIES
The struggle for social
justice shifted into high gear. Brothers were active participants
in the "sit-ins" and other civil rights demonstrations.
Moreover, undergraduate brothers especially were involved in
the demonstrative aspect of the civil rights struggle.
In 1961, the Washington, D.C. Grand Conclave highlighted Omega’s
first 50 years of accomplishments. Founders -- Love, Cooper,
and Coleman were present. Thirteen of 23 former Grand Basilei
also attended this historic gathering.
It was a once-in-a-life-time opportunity for young brothers
to mingle with some of the greatest black men that America had
produced.
The Golden Anniversary Conclave authorized a $150,000 investment
towards the construction of a new national headquarters building
in Washington, D.C.
In 1964, the new national headquarters was dedicated. It was
a dream come true and was the first building of its type to
be built by a black fraternity.
Founders -- Love, Cooper and Coleman participated in the ceremonies.
The name was later changed to the International Headquarters
and was located at 2714 Georgia Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
Founder Frank Coleman entered Omega Chapter in 1967.
The Charlotte Grand Conclave in 1968 mandated a constitutional
convention for the revision of the Fraternity’s constitution
and by-laws as well as the Ritual. That convention was held
in Atlanta in 1969.
THE
SEVENTIES
The newly revised
Constitution and By-Laws and the Ritual went into effective
at the close of the 1970 Pittsburgh Grand Conclave.
H. Carl Moultrie I, Omega’s only National Executive Secretary,
was appointed a judge to the Superior Court of Washington, D.C.,
in 1972. Moultrie’s resignation was accepted with regrets.
Omega conferred upon Moultrie the title of National Executive
Secretary Emeritus which was later changed to Executive Secretary
Emeritus.
The Seventies brought more unpleasant news.
Founder Oscar J. Cooper entered Omega Chapter in 1972. Two years
later in 1974, Edgar A. Love, the last surviving founder, entered
Omega Chapter.
On November 16, 1975, an impressive granite monument was dedicated
to the memory of the four founders. The monument is located
near Thirkield Hall, the site of Omega’s birth place on the
Howard University campus.
A revived Life Membership program resulted in a very large number
of new Life Members.
The Atlanta Grand Conclave in 1976 became the largest attended
up to that point. Many new undergraduate chapters were chartered,
because of the increased enrollment of black students at previously
all-white colleges and universities.
"Operation Big Vote," was successful in getting thousands
of African-Americans to vote in the 1976 election.
The Denver Grand Conclave in 1979 made a commitment to contribute
$250,000 to the United Negro College Fund over the next five
years.
THE
EIGHTIES, NINETIES AND TODAY
In 1981, the Omega
Psi Phi Fraternity endowed its first endowed Omega faculty chair
at Rust College, Holly Springs, Miss. President W.A. McMillan
stated that the chair would be used to promote the humanities.
The 75th Anniversary Grand Conclave celebration was held July
25-Aug. 1, 1986 in Washington, D.C., the city of Omega’s birth.
It surpassed the previous attendance record.
Grand Basileus Moses C. Norman, Sr., elected at the 1984 Louisville
Grand Conclave, appointed a committee to review the structure
and operations of the fraternity as a means of future focus.
In 1984, John S. Epps was selected as only the fifth Omega man
to serve as Executive Secretary. H. Carl Moultrie I, Executive
Secretary Emeritus and Ronald E. McNair, noted Astronaut, entered
Omega Chapter.
Don Q. Pullen and W. Mercer Cook also entered Omega Chapter.
C. Tyrone Gilmore Sr. became the 34th Grand Basileus in June
1990. Under his leadership, a site for a new World Center and
International Headquarters in Decatur Ga. was identified. Also,
complete structure was revamped and the international chapters
were transformed into the 13th District.
Dorsey C. Miller Jr., was chosen as the 35th Grand Basileus
at the Cleveland Grand Conclave in 1994. Miller’s administration
closed the sale of the property at 3951 Snapfinger Parkway,
which the new international headquarters. The property at 2714
Georgia Ave. N.W. was disposed. The Georgia Avenue location
had served as the Fraternity’s headquarter for 31 years.
Lloyd J. Jordan, Esq., who had previously served as Grand Counselor,
was elected the 36th Grand Basileus at the 70th Grand Conclave
in 1998 in New Orleans. S. Earl Wilson executive director in
June 2000.
George Grace was elected Grand Basileus in 2002 at the 72nd
Grand Conclave in Charlotte, N.C. Grace’s administration helped
the Fraternity realize financial solvency.
Warren G. Lee Jr., who had once served as the Second Grand Vice
Basileus, was elected Grand Basileus in during Little Rock Grand
Conclave in 2008. During Lee’s tenure, Omega fortitifed its
mission and brought aid and comfort to those in need. Omega
men across the United States mentored to the youth, organized
various social action programs and donated millions to worthy
causes.
In 2010, Dr. Andrew A. Ray was elected the 39th Grand Basileus
during the 76th Grand Conclave held in Raliegh, N.C. During
his administration, Omega will celebrate it’s 100th anniversary
with a grand celebration to be held in July 2011 in Washington
D.C.
Today, Omega Psi Phi now has over 700 chapters throughout the
United States, Bermuda, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Korea, Japan,
Liberia, Germany, and Kuwait.
There are many notable Omega Men recognized as leaders in the
arts, the sciences, academics, athletics, business, civil rights,
education, government, and science sectors at the local, national
and international level.
Omega continues to flourish, largely because founders -- Love,
Cooper, Coleman and Just -- were men of the very highest ideals
and intellect.
The Founders selected and attracted men of similar ideals and
characteristics. It is not by accident that many of America’s
great black men are or were Omega Men.
There are very few Americans whose lives have not been touched
by a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. |
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