July 16, 2015

History

founderaboutgamma

Gamma Chapter, the third chapter established by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., was chartered in 1916  to serve the New England region.  Hubbed  in Boston, its membership comprises college-educated men from many of the greatest educational institutions including, Tufts, Harvar, MIT, Boston University, Boston College, and Northeastern University. Both undergraduate and Graduate school programs are represented. Members of this prestigious organization have been influential internationally. They have had a major impact and received widespread recognition across various industries and sectors of our society. “Gamma Brothers” are revered and respected for leadership in their chosen fields of endeavor and professions.

For example, one of Omega’s founders, Bishop Edgar A. Love, received his Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Boston University here in 1918. Benjamin E. Mays who was a lecturer, wrtiter, and president of Morehouse College was made at Gamma chapter June 5th 1919. The late Grand Basileus (President) Herbert E. Tucker who hailed from Martha’s Vineyard was revered Circuit Court Judge. George S. Lima (Gamma’46) was a Tuskegee Airman whose (military) roommate was Coleman Young (Ex-Mayor of Detroit), was a sparring partner to Joe Louis, and founder of The Black Air Foundation; he later established a Chapter at Brown University in Rhode Island in 1947. Bro. Marvin Gilmore, Jr. (Gamma ’51) another stalworth in the community is President and CEO Community Development Corporation (CDC) of Boston and one of the founders of the first minority bank in Boston.. Since its inception in 1969, the Community Development Corporation has been at the forefront of urban economic development. Wayne A. Budd (Gamma’60) was a former Federal District Attorney, Senior Corporate Executive, and Boston College Trustee. Richard L. Taylor (Gamma’68), a Boston University alum was also an Oxford educated Rhodes Scholar, a former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation, and now a successful real estate developer and entrepreneur. As a chapter established for “undergraduate students and recent College graduates”, Gamma Chapter has often become a “pipeline of leadership talent” which have migrated into the formal membership of Iota Chi or Eta Phi Graduate Chapters.

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated was founded on Friday, November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. by three students; Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman. At that time, they were Howard University juniors. The first faculty advisor of the fraternity was Dr. Ernest Everett Just. Early on, he was accorded the status of founder by the three undergraduates. Each of the founders had distinguished careers in their chosen fields. Edgar Love became a bishop in the United Methodist Church; Oscar Cooper, was a prominent physician who practiced in Philadelphia over 50 years; Frank Coleman was the chairman of the Department of Physics at Howard University for many years; and Ernest E. Just was a world-renowned biologist.Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated is the first black national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. From its inception, the fraternity has worked to build a strong and effective force of men dedicated to its Cardinal Principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, Uplift, and capable of giving expression to the hopes and aspirations of an unfree people in the land of the free. In 1927, at the urging of fraternity member Carter G. Woodson, the fraternity made National Negro Achievement Week an annual observance, and it continues today as Black History Month. 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. Omega Psi Phi has been a patron of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) since 1955, provides an annual gift of $50,000 to the UNCF, and is a National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) member.

Today, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has over 700 chapters throughout the United States, Bermuda, Bahamas, U.S. 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. Some of these men include Executive Directors of the NAACP Roy Wilkins and Benjamin Hooks, former President of the National Urban League, Vernon Jordan, and President and CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Jesse Jackson. In addition, Jerold Herbert Parrott, Owner and President of Parrott Engineering, two former governors (William H. Hastie (U.S. Virgin Islands) and L. Douglas Wilder (Virginia)) and numerous presidents of historically black colleges and universities grace the roster of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

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6 thoughts on “History

  • Bro. Carl – your research is fantastic and your writing gifts abound. Some “new” history to add to the last page. Be it known that Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. contributed ONE MILLION DOLLARS to the establishment of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American history and Culture which was dedicated and opened to the public on September 24, 2016. Omega Brothers from the Third district and beyond assembled at 6:00AM on the Washington Mall to participate in this historic event.

  • There is an individual name William Harris who lives in south Florida claiming Spring 1989 Gamma. Can you confirm or refute?

    Shaun N. Perry
    03-Spr 2003
    Zeta Chi

    954-805-2863

  • My good Brother’s of Gamma Chapter I have access to a picture of one of your chapter Brother from 1917 Bro. Fredrick Allen Parker who resided in Milwaukee, Wisconsin until he enter into Omega Chapter.

  • Gamma Brothers, thank you for the OWTstanding history. Just by glancing at your home page I learned where the namesake of my Masonic lodge (Edward Dugger, Jr.) in Ohio was initiated into Omega. I was also stationed with an outstanding officer, brother and friend who was ushered into Omega via Gamma in 1978, Bro. Arthur “Randy” Davenport.

    Much Love,

    Bro. Rick Williams, Basileus
    Iota Chapter
    4-80-TK
    LM#8019

  • My pride being an Omega has never left the forefront of my awareness. It has been one of the keystones of my personal identity. Now that the clouds are gathering on us, my Gamma recollections are becoming bittersweet as one after another of my brothers from 1958 have crossed the golden sands. The beast has me now and my Gamma recollections are becoming bittersweet. I fear that I will not see Boston again.

    rjuphd@gmail.com
    (415)264-6096

  • My pride being an Omega has never left the forefront of my awareness. It has been one of the keystones of my personal identity. Now that the clouds are gathering on us, my Gamma recollections are becoming bittersweet as one after another of my brothers from 1958 have crossed the golden sands. The beast has me now and my Gamma recollections are becoming bittersweet. I fear that I will not see Boston again.

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