Top County Officials Honor Gamma Pi for 40 Years of Dedicated Service to the Local Community

Gamma Pi with Brother Councilman Derrick L. Davis

The 40th birthday is usually a special one. It is one of those milestones that calls for special gifts and special recognition. For some individuals, reaching 40 can be somewhat traumatic -- you are moving into a new age bracket and a new phase of life. For the Brothers of Gamma Pi chapter in Prince George's County, Maryland, turning 40 was anything but traumatic, but was, instead, "sweet" as members of the chapter were honored yesterday by the Prince George's County Council, led by Brother Councilman Derrick L. Davis, for four decades of exemplary service to the local community. Both Brother Councilman Davis and Brother County Executive Rushern Baker co-sponsored the Proclamation. Both are members of the chapter.

Close to 40 Brothers turned out for the recognition ceremony at 10 a.m. on March 26 at County Council Chambers in Upper Marlboro. The event included a Proclamation presented by Bother Councilman Davis and his fellow council members in honor of Gamma Pi's stellar and steady community service. It was an event to experience and will go down as one of the proudest days in Gamma Pi history. The chapter, which surged to more than 200 dues-paying members in 2011,  was chartered on March 5, 1973. This past March 5, Gamma Pi  held a ''reunion" program to commemorate the occasion and kickoff a yearlong slate of activities honoring the 40th anniversary. More than 100 Brothers past and present attended that program at the Super Chapter Fraternity Center in Capital Heights, Maryland.

At County Council chambers on Tuesday, the venue was turned into a "sea of purple" as Omega men from Gamma Pi donned their trademark purple sport jackets to show unity. In many ways, it was a day of "Purple Reign," which is a theme the chapter has chosen for the 40th anniversary year activities. The Council also sponsored a continental breakfast reception for the Gamma Pi Brothers prior to the ceremony.

Brothers Ikey Staton, McIntosh and Everett

"Having the county government recognize our 40 years of service to the citizens is outstanding," said Gamma Pi Basileus, Brother Gordon Everett, Sr. "To have some of our charter members still active with the chapter is a blessing. They have taught us well the meaning of Omega Man."  

Brother Tim McIntosh, one of the chapter's founders, served as the first Basileus. He addressed the County Council during the recognition ceremony, saying:"Forty years seems like a short period of time... The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is over 100 years old, and we hold four Cardinal Principles very dear. They are Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift. They guide us and enable us to make an impact wherever we are: Manhood….standing up and being the man that we are called to be; Scholarship….excelling in whatever we undertake; Perseverance….hanging in there to see things through, regardless of the cause; and Uplift….reaching down to lift someone up. It is because of our adherence to these Principles that we are here today."

"We are grateful that County Councilman Derrick Davis and County Executive Rushern Baker are among our Brotherhood," Brother McIntosh added. "Thank you Brother Davis for this Proclamation ….and Long Live the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity." Brother McIntosh is one of several charter members who are also 50-year members of the Fraternity.

Click here for a link to the Council agenda. Gamma Pi was front and center at the March 26 meeting: 

Above and below are some photos from the event provided by Brother David Sierra. Additional photos from Brother Sierra's collection are also located on the Gamma Pi web site. Some video clips from the Tuesday event  will also be made available soon.

Brothers listen in Council Chambers

Brother Councilman Davis (right) briefs chapter

Brothers Hines, Wyatt and Branch discuss the event