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| View of the sprawling campus at Fort Valley State University |
Gamma Pi Chapter is one of the most diverse chapters
in all of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. It enjoys the makeup of Brothers from different
generations and from so many walks of professional life, from leaders in medicine,
law and business to military veterans, government executives, nonprofit chiefs
and of course, education. In fact, the chapter is home to at least two college
presidents. One of those pioneers in education, Brother Luther Burse, Sr.,
PhD., got the tribute of a lifetime recently for his service and commitment to
higher education when Fort Valley State
University in Georgia unveiled a fountain in his honor.
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| Bro. Dr, Burse visits fountain named in his honor |
Bro. Dr.
Burse served as the fifth president at Fort Valley from 1983-88. The new
edifice on the campus was unveiled on May 1. It is a continuously flowing water
fountain, beautifully engraved with his name and an excerpt from one of his
many inspiring addresses. The fountain is erected on Fort Valley’s main campus.
Students, alumni, friends and supporters, along with faculty and staff, have
been invited by the University to visit the “Future Fountain” that now stands forever
in Bro. Dr. Burse’s honor. Bro. Prior to coming to Fort Valley, Bro. Dr. Burse served as interim president at
Cheyney University in Pennsylvania.
As many in central Georgia know, Fort Valley is affectionately
called “The Fountain City”, hence the “fountain” on campus and of course, the annual
Fountain City Classic football “war” between Fort Valley State and nearby Albany State.
Bro. Dr. Burse is one of a handful of 60-year Omega
Psi Phi members in the Gamma Pi Chapter, and among just a few in the entire
five-state Second District, which encompasses Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New
York and Pennsylvania. He has received numerous awards for his service to the
Fraternity (including the Second District Founders Award) and for his
contributions to higher education and especially in the support of Historically
Black Colleges and Universities.
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| Another view of the fountain |
In Gamma Pi, Brother Burse is known for his smooth
demeanor and his sage advice about Omega, education and about life in general,
and for neither looking nor acting his age, as he is in his early 80s. With
pride, among the Brothers, he always lets it be known loudly that he crossed
The Burning Sands at “Psi Psi” Chapter in the Bluegrass State in 1955, before
many Gamma Pi members were even born. He and his late wife and life partner.
Dr. Mamie Burse (July 2017), were consistent fixtures
Bro. Mickey Burnim, Ph.D., who retired last year as
Bowie State University’s president after 10 years, is the other former college
president who is a member of Gamma Pi Chapter. Another former Gamma Pi member
became president of a college in Indiana after relocating from the area many
years ago.
What a great tribute! Send Bro. Burse congratulations via
email: lutherburse@comcast.net
