Happy Founders’ Day to the men of Omega Psi Phi.
Ten fast facts about Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
- Omega Psi Phi was the first black Greek fraternity to be founded on the campus of a historically black college or university. It is also the only black Greek organization whose name is derived from an actual Greek phrase – “Friendship is Essential to the Soul.”
- During the onset of World War I, Omega men met with President Woodrow Wilson regarding the need for officer training for African-Americans, which resulted in the eventual creation of the military officer training facility located in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Carter G. Woodson inspired the establishment of National Achievement Week to promote the study of Negro life and history.
- Omega Psi Phi is one of five founding members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council with Grand Basileus Matthew W. Bullock elected as its first permanent chairman.
- Omega men trained as Army pilots at Tuskegee Air Field during World War II; and their honorable service and sacrifice created a rich legacy celebrated worldwide.
- Omega men served as senior leaders of the NAACP including Roy Wilkins and Benjamin Hooks; the Urban League (Vernon Jordan); and played vital roles in the civil rights movement (Z. Alexander Lobby, Spottswood Robinson, Grant Reynolds, Oliver Hill, and Wiley Branton).
- L. Douglas Wilder became Virginia’s 66th governor and became the first elected African American governor in United States history following Reconstruction.
- Astronauts: Robert Lawrence, Ronald McNair, Fred Drew Gregory, and Charles Bolden, became the first African-American men to lead the NASA organization.
- Congressman James Clyburn served as House Majority Whip, the third highest member of the Democratic Caucus from 2007 to 2011
- Omega Psi Phi is the first black Greek organization to charter an undergraduate chapter in Great Britain. Go here for more: http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-education/ten-fast-facts-about-omega-psi-phi-fraternity-inc/npPkd/
