Gamma Pi Chapter Celebrates 45 Years in True Omega Fashion

Chapter Founders Williams, Herring, McIntosh, Edwards and Robinson

March 5, 2018 - The very core reason for why Omega Psi Phi Fraternity', Inc. has survived and thrived for more than a century was epitomized at Gamma Pi Chapter on Monday, March 5, when Brothers from The Super Chapter got together across generations, initiation lines, geographic backgrounds and experience in the Fraternity to celebrate 45 years in Omega for Gamma Pi.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc history was alive and well at The Super Chapter Fraternity Center on this special night!

On the exact date of the chapter's founding -- 45 years after the charter was granted -- more than 100 Brothers gathered for an exciting and insightful program and Omega fellowship at The Super Chapter Fraternity Center. What resulted was an Omega style celebration of 45 years, 21 lines and hundreds of Omega men made at The Super Chapter in almost half a century. Several of the Founders were present and spoke at the program. All are still active in the chapter today. In attendance and at the podium were these esteemed Brothers: Timothy McIntosh (the first Basileus), George Edwards, Don Herring, Sr., Joseph Williams, and John Robinson. Seeing and hearing from these Brothers was inspiring and a real testament to why the Founders organized Omega Psi Phi as a Fraternity for life.

The Super Chapter: A Part of Omega History

Through the years, Gamma Pi has left an indelible mark on Omega Psi Phi. The chapter has won numerous awards at the District level and has had numerous members serve the Fraternity at the International and District level, including Bro Kenneth Rodgers, the current two-term Grand Keeper of Records and Seal, who was in attendance. Gamma Pi has won the Large Chapter of the Year award for the Second District four times, including in 2015.

Brothers are all eyes and ears during the program

Brothers took the opportunity of the event to recall the earliest beginnings of the chapter, including  when it was meeting in Brother Tim McIntosh's basement and later at the First Baptist Church of Highland Park. Some of the earliest Mardi Gras events were even held at the old church in the basement.  The idea to conceive the chapter was triggered by several graduate Brothers in 1972 and from the germination of that idea, a total of 21 Brothers applied to the Supreme Council of the Fraternity on January 31, 1973 through then-Second District Representative Bro. Milton Johnson.

At the time Gamma PI Chapter was just an idea, many graduate Brothers in Prince George's County -- mostly in education and business careers -- were driving north to Montgomery County or into Washington, D.C. to remain active in the Fraternity.

An historic night

Anniversary Ties Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The 45th Anniversary celebration afforded newer initiates into Gamma Pi the occasion to swap stories with some of the earlier Sons of Gamma Pi. It was a tie to see how many Past Basilei you could recall. Or how many lines have crossed over (the answer is 21). And for many, the challenge was to see if they come up with the right number of Founders and how man could you name?

It was an exciting and symbolic moment for the Brothers who bridged the very beginning with the current -- from first Basileus McIntosh to current Basileus Tony Lee, and from the first line in the Spring of 1979 xxxx to the most recent line to enter the Fraternity through Gamma Pi: the two-man Que-cified II, on April 29, 2017, of Bros. Ben Greene and Andrew Clarke.

Congratulations to Bro. Maurice Calhoun (Gamma Pi '90) for leading the planning and execution of an outstanding program, along with committee members Bros. Sheku Alieu, Steve Coles, Kevin Ford, Jr., Marlin Godfrey, Damien Goins (who serve as emcee), Eddie High, Keith Keemer, Brian King, Charles Mays, Michael Mitchell, Thad Turner, Darryl Ward and Milton Ware, Jr.

Check out the video clip below and also visit the link below to see a collection of 45th Anniversary photos from Bro. Raphael Terrell, chapter photographer.

 CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO ALBUM

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