Gamma Pi "Giant in Omega" Enters Omega Chapter Suddenly; Leaves Behind a Sterling Legacy

UPDATE: Livestream link for the service on Friday, March 18 at approximately 12:15 pm:  

https://www.holyfamilychurch.com

Brothers in Gamma Pi Chapter and throughout Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. have spent the past 72 hours or so trying to process the jarring developments of Friday morning, February 25. Mid-morning, urgent emails went out like wildfire. Group chats of Omega men started receiving startling posts. Smartphones started ringing. Word was traveling faster than the speed of light: "Have you heard? Gordon Everett is dead." To hear those words, it was as if someone was speaking a foreign language. Throughout Gamma Pi Chapter and the entire Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Brothers are still trying to process the shocking news as it continues to reverberate into a new week. The Super Chapter has lost a Super Brother. The Second District has  lost a Super Brother. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has lost a Super Brother. As one Brother put it, "A giant tree in Omega has fallen."

Bro. Gordon Everett, Sr.

Days later, the numbness about his sudden and untimely loss continues. It just does not seem real. Numerous Brothers had just seen and talked to Bro. Gordon Everett, Sr. the night before at the CIAA basketball tournament in Baltimore watching his beloved Winston-Salem State University Rams advance to the next round. The day before that, he had posted in a chat about available jobs young Black students could interview for on-site at the tournament. He was working feverishly to get all the interview spots filled and was asking for recommendations. Two chapter  members had spent hours with him just three weeks ago as part of a multimedia project. And then just last weekend, Brother Everett joined chapter members in the virtual monthly meeting on Saturday afternoon, February 19. He was his usual feisty -- and wise --self. Bro. Everett's Omega wisdom is like gold. Everybody wanted a nugget.

The suddenness with which he departed unexpectedly for Omega chapter -- and on the day before his birthday, no less -- contrasts with the many decades during which he has given many long hours of his life to serving Omega everywhere he has lived. He has been a mentor to many Brothers, and not just to newly inducted members. He is a former three-term Gamma Pi Basileus and former KRS and committee chairman for Gamma Pi, which is based in Prince George's County, Md.  Brother Everett worked at the District and International levels and ran for District office, including the top office of District representative. He most recently headed an initiative at the District level helping to enhance the code of conduct within the Fraternity. It's not a stretch at all to say that Bro. Everett knows Brothers in every district of the Fraternity. His Gamma Pi service was interrupted by a job relocation to Cincinnati from 2008-2010, where he was active with Beta Iota Chapter. After that, he returned to the DMV area and Gamma Pi. He considered The Super Chapter home.

Bro. Everett (2nd, right) with golf pro Jim Thorpe 

The consummate Omega man, Bro. Everett could delve into some of the deepest and most intellectually challenging thinking about Omega life as well as some of the most pressing  issues of the day and how they affected the Fraternity. On the other hand, he could hold his own and kick back dust when the talk turned to past-times like sports and music from "back in the day." For example, whether the "trash talk" was about his beloved WSSU Rams, or the NFL Philadelphia Eagles (he used to live and work in the area ... we can forgive him), he enjoyed giving it as good as he took it.

But when it came time to roll up the sleeves, Bro. Everett had an all-business persona that was unmatched. Whether decked out in a perfect-fitting suit, spiffy shoes and an unmistakably purple tie, or adorned in his Omega sweater, Bro. Everett could run a meeting with the skill and acumen of a Corporate CEO. He was very adept at keeping the business at hand front and center and staying on track. He never seemed to get flustered no matter how hot the heat "turned up" in the kitchen.  Leadership was written all over him. He could relate to and be comfortable among younger, newer members of the Fraternity half his age just as easily as he could be among the Brothers he had known for 30, 40 and almost 50 years of Omega life. Bro. Everett could relate to everyone and everyone could relate to him. His people skills were unique. In fact, his people and salesmanship skills were such that he sold out several tables every year for Gamma Pi Chapter's Mardi Gras fundraising formal.

Bro. Everett knew when to work and when to play. And he was good at both. Because of what he stood for and what and how he lived as an Omega man, he had hundreds of "followers" long before social media ever came into existence. It was easy to see why he also thrived in the professional world as a leader in the corporate sales arena and more recently as a federal government senior executive.

Multiple award winner for his contributions

Bro. Everett was also well-known and well-respected within the community of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in his role as a leading alumni and former national alumni president for Winston-Salem State University (Mu Epsilon '75) from 2011-2014. At a time when the role of these institutions is being questioned throughout society, Bro. Everett dedicated himself to demonstrating these schools' phenomenal intellectual output and real-world success not only to the African American community, but in all of American life. One way he did that was through helping young WSSU grads get internships, fellowships and other opportunities to showcase the knowledge that had been instilled in them at an HBCU, more specifically WSSU. 

Finally, his family was his crown jewel. Bro. Everett's family was everything to him. He never let an opportunity go by where he did not mention his wife, his son (who followed his footsteps into Omega Psi Phi) or his daughter in terms of what they were up to and where they were either going or just got back from. By the time you met members of his family you felt that you already knew them.

Yet another Second District road trip...

As all of Gamma Pi Chapter and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc, prepare to join and support his family in remembering him and honoring his legacy, one thought comes to mind. That is, being able to grieve someone's loss is a sign they have had a major impact on your life. Being able to grieve that person's loss is also a sign of privilege -- privilege to have known that person and to have had them in your life. If we did not have that privilege as his Omega Brothers, we would not be grieving Bro. Gordon Everett, Sr.

 Fraternity members throughout the country are realizing now just how much of a true privilege it was to know and be a Friend of Bro. Gordon Everett, Sr. He will always be missed, but always remembered. What a privilege we have all had in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to know Bro. Gordon Everett, Sr. Rest in the Arms and Peace of the Supreme Basileus, Bro. Everett...

Read more about a scholarship Bro. Everett and his wife Sharon recently endowed for Winston-Salem State University students.

From a District meeting several years ago

From 2011- Bro. Gordon Everett, Sr. positioned at The Escutcheon

Gamma Pi Prepares to Celebrate Chapter Military Veterans for Achievement Week

Bro. James Wyatt

Every year, the Omega Psi Phi Achievement Week observance is about recognizing leaders in the community and the Fraternity. Each and every chapter in the U.S. and in overseas locations pauses for a week to remind the 110-year-old Fraternity's proud membership of the clarion call of the Founders who overlaid the Four Cardinal Principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift on top of a foundation of service.

As a part of this year's Achievement Week observance, the Brothers of Gamma Pi Chapter are recognizing Omega men who have demonstrated service of the highest order -- service to country as members of the United States Military.

In Gamma Pi, a chapter of more than 200 members, approximately 15% of members are military veterans, many having completed distinguished careers. The chapter's Protocol Committee is leading the charge to pay homage to its military veterans this year during Achievement Week, which often encompasses the November 11 Veterans' Day holiday. 

Gamma Pi men cover all the major branches of the service -- Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Many Brothers achieved officer status. Some are still serving as reservists and are even participating in overseas tours as recently as in the last year.

Bro. Roland Penn 

"Continuing in the tradition of Col. Charles Young, Gamma Pi’s Omega Men serve and served our great nation with honor, dignity and pride. Thank you for your service!," said Bro. Terry Rogers, a member of the Protocol Committee and an 11-year veteran of the U.S. Army who retired as a Captain.

As part of the salute to military Brothers, the protocol committee has collected photographs of Gamma Pi men in their official military uniforms and gear, many from "back in the day." Some go as far back as the early 1950s, namely Bros. James Wyatt (Army) and Roland Penn (Air Force), who are both in their 80s and spry as ever. Must have been the military training mixed in with the Omega experience that has kept these Brothers young!

According to Bro Rogers, the idea to pay respects to military veterans for this year's Achievement Week was the brainchild of Bro. Ron Swann. Chapter Brothers with a military background were requested to send in their photos and short bios for this project. Below are the photos and military thumbnails of other Gamma Pi Brothers:

NAVY

Brother Aaron Ajani, Lieutenant Commander, 18 years, Active, 1MP2010, LM 6909

AIR FORCE

Brother Joseph C Ramsey, Colonel USAF (Ret) Service: Feb 1964 to Nov 1991

 

Brother Tim Blount, USAF, Col Retired, 23 years

Brother Harold Pratt - Sgt. U.S. Air Force - served 9/67 to 6/71 (crew member flying combat missions Vietnam era)

Brother Clint Green, U.S. Air Force, from 1978 to 1982 as a Missile Combat Crew Commander. Then 1982 to 1989 as Logistician. 

 

ARMY

Brother Marc Ellington, Major, U.S. Army (Retired) Service 30 December 1983-31 July 2004 

Brother Terry Rogers, Cpt. US Army Transportation Corp., 1979-1990

Brother Roderick Lawrence (Retired) 25.5 years, Dec 1987 to Jun 2013

Brother Ronnie J. McIlwain, Served 29 years in the Army 

Brother Christopher Green, enlisted into the US Army at age 18 in December 1995 to May 1998, to Virginia National Guard until 2003.  He served as Heavy Construction Equipment Engineer.

   

Brother Joshua P. Roberson, US Army- Vietnam era

Brother Michael Mitchell, JAG CORPS, Army, Major / O-4, 20 years of service as a drilling reservist (active)

Brother Willie L Blanding, Jr., LTC, US Army, 26 years

Brother Kenneth Rodgers, Major, US Army, 24 years

Brother James Riley, US Army, 4 years, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division Air Assault

Brother Darryl Thompson, Army Reserves, 20 Years, Military Police/Force Protection

Brother Lawrence Dukes, 3 years Army - Active Duty, 11 years Army National Guard

Brother Gregory Gaines, 1LT (p) US Army AG Corp, 3 Years

Bro. James Wyatt more recently  

(Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret.) 1953-1979

 

MARINES

Brother Donald Hart, GPI Spring 90, Marine Corps, Served from 1979-1982

 

New Year for Project ENRICH: Focus on Careers and Colleges

For the second consecutive year, Gamma Pi Chapter's Project ENRICH opened the academic year by adjusting cameras, opening microphones and pressing buttons on their computers, rather than filing into an auditorium on the campus of Bowe State University. The only thing that resembled pre-pandemic Project ENRICH is that it was a Saturday morning. Second-year director Bro. James Riley, Jr. and other Brothers working with the program along with the newly registered students held the 2021-22 opening session on the Web Ex video platform.

"I believe in leaning on resources. We don't always have the answer, but what we are always going to do is find the answer," said Bro. Riley in his opening remarks.

The opening session was used to introduce the members of the chapter who will be working with this year's group of young college aspirants, and also to introduce students to each other.. This year's focus is "Careers and Colleges" and to get the students warmed up for this year, they were led in discussions about what their dream jobs looked like, what charity they would donate to if they had $1 million and about residual income earning opportunities.

Team leads working with this year's class are Brothers Andrew Gibson, Anthony Smith, Chris Green, Jason Crump, John  Howard and Damien Goins. Vice Basileus Bro. Richard Allison, who is also Gamma Pi's incoming Basileus, greeted the students at the start.

The overarching message every year at Project ENRICH is that the high school years are critical to future success. Bro Goins summed it up best: "These four years will set you up for the next 40.If you play with these years now, you will pay later. If you pay during these years now, you can play later."

As positive as the opening session was, a dark cloud hovered overhead left over from the closing program for the 2020-21 academic year, which ended on a tragic and surreal note for Project ENRICH. On May 1, Gamma Pi Bro. and program lead William "364" Reese gave a rousing speech to the students, sending, them off for the summer with some powerful words of wisdom, only to suddenly pass away a few minutes later off screen. Word reached everyone just a few hours after the closing session ended on WebEx. Bro. Riley encouraged students who witnessed that tragedy to utilize it as a lesson for overcoming adversity.

It is not too late to register for Project ENRICH, visit the website here: Project ENRICH.

Gamma Pi Brother Prepares to Release New Book on the Critical Role of Black Fathers in Families

A Gamma Pi Chapter Brother is about to set the world on fire with a brand new book about Black fathers. Bro. Anthony McAllister, his wife Tyreese along with 17 amazing co-authors, are set to release his anthology titled, "Fathers Matter," on Sunday, October 10 with a virtual book launch party on Zoom. The book is intended to change the narrative of Black fathers. One of the dynamic co-authors is Bro. Kevin Greenwood, also of Gamma Pi, and writing the foreword is the 39th Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Bro. Dr. Andrew Ray. 

The book launch will take place from 7-9 p.m. It is open invitation. Here is the link.

It is not an accident that Bro McAllister, as the book's lead author, is an Omega man. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc, has had a focus on Fatherhood and Mentoring in recent years including as a formal initiative. The Fraternity partnered with The White House on fatherhood and mentoring during the Administration of  President Barack Obama.

The McAllister's new book is just another part of their amazing resilient response in reaching out and giving hope and help to others after losing one of their two daughters, Ayana, to gun violence in Washington, D.C while she was a college freshman home for Spring Break in 2017. They have formed a foundation in her memory. For more information, visit the Ayana J. McAllister Legacy Foundation.

Below is an interview that Bro. McAllister recently provided to Gamma Pi News and Notes about his new book and the impetus for it. He and Bro. Greenwood and Bro Grand Dr. Ray were all interviewed about the book on Gamma Pi's "Community UPLIFT" television show early this year. 

1. When is your book about Black fathers releasing? Tell us details about the launch?

The book is scheduled to be released on September 22.  Because of the current Covid climate, I am currently planning our virtual launch which will take place either the first or second Sunday in October. The event will take place via zoom platform and will be open to the public. This will be advertised on social media, and other social networks.   

2. Tell us what the book is about and what inspired it. 

This anthology is filled with stories from 18 African-American men talking about their plights on being black fathers, or having a phenomenal father or men in their lives. The inspiration behind this anthology came from the loss of my 18-year-old daughter in 2017, and during this time I was approached by many people often asking how my wife was doing. This was a normal and legitimate question, but I often felt lost and left out as no was asking how I was handling my daughter’s death. As my wife and I discussed this, she inspired me to take this opportunity to give voice to black fathers.  This is often the case when it comes to black fathers and I felt that this was an opportunity not only to give me voice, but to share the opportunity with men in my immediate circle.  

3. How long did you work on the book? 

From beginning to end this entire anthology project took a little over 12 months.

4. Who were your collaborators and what role did they play? 

Each co-author contributed to the project by writing their separate chapters. This was truly a group effort, and it promises to be a game changer on changing the narrative on black fathers.

5. How does this book relate to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s focus on fathers? 

We were honored and blessed that Dr. Andrew A. Ray, the 39th Grand Basileus of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated consented to write the foreword. Additionally, he penned a story in the anthology entitled “Male vs Manhood”.  Additionally, there are stories from four Omega Men in this Anthology. 

6. What do you hope will be the outcome and impact of this work? 

It is my sincere hope that this anthology will be used as a teaching tool for Young Fathers as they embark on their journeys into fatherhood. Additionally, it is my hope that this anthology will begin to change the negative stereotype that we as black men have had to endure throughout the years, and that this will be an opportunity for us to change the Narrative on black fathers.

7. What do you think is often overlooked about Black fathers? Does your book address that? 

I think there are several things that are often overlooked when one talks about the black father. The media will have us to believe that black fathers are not present, that we are not family oriented, and that we do not have the ability to openly love. In this anthology you will see men pouring out their hearts and sharing information on their plights on being Fathers. You will see men being vulnerable discussing issues on counseling and therapy, and giving homage to other black men that have poured into them and aiding them in being the men they are today.  

8. What final thoughts and challenges do you want to leave with Black Fathers? 

My final thoughts move me to a posture of gratitude and I want to thank each and every co-author that contributed to this anthology, as I know when one has an opportunity to read the pages of this book it will truly be a game changer. Lastly, I sincerely want to thank Bro. Grand Dr. Andrew A. Ray, who did not hesitate when I reached out and asked him to take part in this most important anthology. He also gave the charge to men in his chapter on the importance of knowing the difference of Male vs Man. He has been so gracious throughout this entire project and I am better having met and had the opportunity to discuss life with him. Please do us and yourself a favor and pick up your copy. The book can be purchased at www.anthonymcallister.com. Thank you so much Gamma Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity , Inc. for supporting this most important effort.

Below: Bro. Grand Dr. Andrew Ray and Bro. Kevin Greenwood