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The Omega Psi Phi (ΩΨΦ) Fraternity was founded on Friday, November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The founders of the fraternity were three students: Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper, and Frank Coleman and their first faculty advisor Ernest Everett Just. The Fraternity's motto is "Friendship is Essential to the Soul." Omega Psi Phi was the first black fraternal organization founded at a black university or college.
From its inception, the fraternity has worked to build a strong and effective force of men dedicated to 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. 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 1927, the fraternity made National Negro Achievement Week an annual observance, and it continues today as Achievement Week. In its continuing support of African-American education, the fraternity gives an annual gift of $50,000 to the United Negro College Fund. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., has supported the UNCF since 1955.
Famous Omega Men
The Arts
- Bro. William "Count" Basie - Internationally known pianist, composer, arranger, and band leader.
- Bro. Sterling Brown - Teacher, poet, writer, Professor Emeritus of Literature at Howard University, has a special foundation for folk culture and jazz music.
- Bro. Carl Rowan - Syndicated columnist.
- Bro. Joe Torry - Comedian, actor
Athletics
- Bro. DeHart Hubbart - A University of Michigan sprinter; was the first Black person to represent the United States in the Olympic Games (1924).
- Bro. Ed "Too Tall" Jones - Outstanding player with the Dallas Cowboys
- Bro. Joe Black - An all-time great Brooklyn Dodger baseball pitcher. In 1952, he had the lowest earned-run average in the Major Leagues.
- Bro. Charlie Ward - Heisman Trohy winner and NY Knicks gaurd.
- Bro. Steve "Air" McNair - Outstanding quarterback with the Tennessee Titans.
- Bro. Hank Aaron - Home-run King who broke Babe Ruth's record.
- Bro. Shaquille O'Neal - Star center with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Bro. Jerry Ball - Player with the Oakland Raiders.
- Bro. Cedric Maxwell - Outstanding professional basketball player with the Boston Celtics and other teams.
- Bro. Leroy Walker - A U.S. Olympic coach (sprinters) for many years.
- Bro. John Salley - Won NBA Championships with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls
- Bro. Keith Jackson - Outstanding football player with the iami Dolphins.
- Bro. Mark Duper - Another fantastic Miami Dolphins player.
- Bro. William Floyd - Fullback for the Charlotte Panthers
- Bro. Earl "The Pearl" Monroe - Former Outstanding NBA Guard
- Bro. Errict Rhett - Strong, trash talking running back with the Baltimore Ravens
Business
- Bro. Gillard S. Glover - President, Afro-American Life Insurance Company.
- Bro. Thurman McKenzie - Co-owner of M and M Products (Sta Soft Fro).
- Bro. Otis M. Smith - General Counsel, General Motors Corporation.
- Bro. Nathaniel Bronner - Co-owner of Bronner Brothers Beauty Supplies.
- Bro. Jesse Hill - President of Atlanta Life Insurance Company.
- Bro. William Kennedy III - President of North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company.
Civil Rights
- Bro. Grant Reynolds - Played a major role in President Truman's 1948 decision to desegregate the United States Armed Forces.
- Bro. James Nabrit - Former Dean of Howard University Law School and former president of Howard University. A leader in the training of the early Civil Rights lawyers.
- Bro. Wiley Branton - Attorney of the "Little Rock Nine" and former Dean of Howard University School of Law.
- Bro. Roy Wilkins - Long-time Executive Director of the NAACP.
- Bro. Benjamin Hooks - Succeeded Bro. Roy Wilkins as Executive Director of the NAACP, the most effective of all civil rights organizations.
- Bro. Khalid Muhammad
Education
- Bro. Benjamin E. Mays - President Emeritus of Morehouse College, writer and lecturer.
- Bro. Herman Dreer - Teacher, minister, and writer.
Politics
Science
- Bro. Dr. Ernest Everett Just - Internationally known biologist and professor at Howard University.
- Bro. Dr. Charles Drew - Perfected the use of blood plasma; Professor of Surgery at Howard University.
- Bro. Percy Julian - Discovered the use of foam to extinguish fires and discovered a method of producing cortisone synthetically.
- Bro. Dr. Fred Drew Gregory - Astronaut, graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (pilot).
- Bro. Charles Bolden - Astronaut, graduate of the United States Naval Academy (pilot).
- Bro. Dr. Ronald E. McNair - Astronaut, graduate of M.I.T., Ph.D. in Physics (civilian).
- Bro. Lt. Colonel Guion Bluford - First African-American in Space. He boarded the Space Shuttle "Challenger" in 1983 and performed the first "spacelab mission" on the Orbiter Challenger.
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