GAMMA ZETA

On Friday evening, November 17, 1911, three Howard University undergraduate students, with the assistance of their faculty adviser, gave birth to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. This event occurred in the office of biology Professor Ernest E. Just, the faculty advisor, in the Science Hall (now known as Thirkield Hall). The three liberal arts students were Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper and Frank Coleman. From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning " friendship is essential to the soul," the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. The phrase was selected as the motto. Manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift were adopted as cardinal principles. A decision was made regarding the design for the pin and emblem, and thus ended the first meeting of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

The next meeting was conducted on November 23, 1911. Edgar Love became the first Grand Basileus (National President). Cooper and Coleman were selected Grandkeeper of the Records (National Secretary) and Grandkeeper of Seals (National Treasurer), respectively. Eleven Howard University undergraduate men were selected as charter members.
 
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/were Omega Men. To this date, there are very few Americans whose lives have not been touched by a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

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Bishop Edgar A. Love (1891-1974)   Edgar A. Love was born in Virginia
Graduated from the Academy of Morgan College
Bachelor of Arts Degree, Howard University, 1913
Bachelor of Sacred Theology Degree, Howard University, 1916
Bachelor of Divinity Degree, Boston University, 1918
Doctor of Divinity Degree (Honorary), Morgan College, 1935
U.S. Army Chaplain, World War II
Bishop, Methodist Church
     

Dr. Oscar J. Cooper (1888-1972)
Oscar J. Cooper was born in Washington, D.C.
Graduated from the M Street High School, Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Science Degree, Howard University, 1913
Doctor of Medicine Degree, Howard University, 1917
Practiced medicine in Philadelphia, PA for 50 years
      

 Professor Frank Coleman (1890-1967)   Frank Coleman was born in Washington D.C.
Graduated from the M Street High School, Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Science Degree, Howard University, 1913
Master of Science Degree, University of Chicago
Advanced Training, University of Pennsylvania
Professor and head of the Physics Department, Howard University
U.S. Army Officer, World War I
 

Dr. Ernest E. Just (1883-1941)
Ernest E. Just was born in Charleston, South Carolina.
Graduated from the Industrial School of the State College, Orangeburg, South Carolina.
Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire
Bachelor of Arts Degree, Dartmouth College (Phi Beta Kappa)
Doctor of Philosophy Degree, University of Chicago Awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP, 1915
Black Heritage Stamp Series honoree, February 1, 1996

“And they said, the ques gonna be - and WE WERE!”     

In the Fall of 1972, Bro. Charlie Dixon, initiated at Rho Psi Chapter (Tennessee State University) gathered several young men of similar ideals and goals to discuss the plight of African American men on a predominately white college campus. The need to bond together for academic support, to increase cultural awareness on campus, and promote community involvement was the start of the process for organizing the first black fraternity on Mercer University’s campus. On September 19, 1972, the Gamma Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded by Brother Dixon with the assistance of the Lambda Phi Chapter (Macon, GA Graduate Chapter).  Through their cooperative spirit – and some Blood, Sweat, and Tears – Gamma Zeta Chapter received its charter on May 2, 1973.

The members of the Charter Line were Bro. Charlie Dixon (Chapter Founder), Bro. Monnie Brabham, Bro. Leonard Hardin, Bro. Rick Massey, Bro. Roderick English, Bro. Billy Smith (Omega Chapter), Bro. Harold Brown, Bro. Lonnie Askew and Bro. Marvin Bailey.

Since that time, God has blessed Gamma Zeta to produce quality brothers with excellence as our standard and service to man as our purpose. The Supreme Basileus, in His wise providence, has also selected four of our beloved brothers – Bro. Monnie Brabham (Spr. 1972), Bro. Billy Smith (Spr. 1972), Bro. Sylvester “Sly” Bailey (Spr. 1975), and Bro. Curtis Armstrong (Spr. 2001) – for Omega Chapter. We remember and honor them forever; for we are and will be because they were.

1970's

 Spring 1972 - Charter Line
Charlie Dixon (Chapter Founder)
Monnie Brabham (Omega Chapter)
Leonard Hardin
Rick Massey
Roderick English
Billy Smith (Omega Chapter)
Harold Brown
Lonnie Askew
Marvin Bailey   

Spring 1973
James Lindsay
Larry Burney
Patrick Manor
Ronald Ash
Ronald Walters
Nathaniel Middleton, Esq.
Richard Diuguid

Lindsey Orr   

Spring 1974
 Solomon Jones
Michael Hutchinson
Dr. Kevin Greenaugh

Winter 1975
James Scott
Willie Cooper  

Spring 1975
Winfred Dukes
Dr. Army Lester
Roosevelt Lester
Jerry Hicks
Bill Ford
Edward Terry
Roy Bennett
Sylvester Bailey (Omega Chapter)  

Fall 1975
Darrell Robinson  

Spring 1976
Clifford Hopkins
Thaddeus West

Winter 1977
 Michael Forsum
 Freeman Lester
Ruddell Richardson
Calvin McMullen, Esq.
Rob Williams
Rodney Mingginal  

Spring 1977
 Clarence Thomas
 Zach Mitchum
Reggie Stinson  

Spring 1978
 Arnold Hardin
 Allen Abraham  

Fall 1978
 Everett Gay

1980's

Spring 1980
William Shifflette
 

Spring 1981
William Penson
Gary Douglas
William Alls
Phillip Shifflette
Arthur Brooks   

Spring 1982
Wayne Clyde
 Walter Hill
Leroy Miller, Esq.

Fall 1982
Sheldon Allen
 Mike Thomas
Greg Odom
Darrell Hill

Spring 1983
Elston Harris
 Harry Green
Keith Thompson   

Winter 1985
Mike Matthews
 Bobby Danielly
Frank McLaughlin   

Spring 1986
Ellis Godbee
 Derek Mitchell
Everett Calloway
Bobby Harris  

Spring 1987
Phaion Bell
 Terrance McClattie

1990's

Fall 1992
Gregory McCray
Jonathan Watkins
Marcus Brinson
Norman Encarnacion

Spring 1994
James McClary
Garvin Stubbs
Marvin Stubbs
Kent Nolan
Daryl Stover
Tahrea Grant

2000's

Spring 2001
Foly Texson
Curtis Armstong (Omega Chapter)  

Fall 2001
Jamar White
T.J. Nixon

Spring 2004
Wesley Duke

Fall 2008
Antoine Stubbs
Jerry Latimer
Miguel Maxwell
Jordan Wilks
Willie Beavers, III
James Thornton
Barry Pierce

Spring 2009
Tyler Jenkins

2010's

Summer 2010
Jakyll Henry
Shedrick Martin

Fall 2010
Nick James

Fall 2011
Javon Denson-Blackmon

Spring 2012
Stephen Boyer
Shaquille Harris

Spring 2013
Miles Johnson
Dontavius Jones

Spring 2014
James Boxton
Cameron Mobley

Fall 2014
Benjamin LeSane
Derwin Eackles

Spring 2015
Marcus Wilson
Darius Tenney
Lendell Arnold
Nick Collins

Fall 2016
Chris Elizondo
James Ruffin
Douglas Richardson
Stanley Smith

Spring 2017
Kamren Lott
Nassim Ashford
D'vante Penamon

Lee Bennett
Justin Sarabia 

Spring 2019
Greg Render-Butler 
Kendall Downer
Malique Fleming

Spring 2020

Phillip Middleton  

Shawn Hampton 

Harrison Poole