Bro. Antonio F. Knox, Sr. the 40Th Grand Basileus
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THE ORACLE OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC. FALL 2014/WINTER 2015 Bro. Antonio F. Knox, Sr. the 40th Grand Basileus The Oracle - Fall 2014/Winter 2015 1 ORACLE TABLE OF CONTENTS OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC. Oracle Editorial Board The Omega Chorale presented International Brother Milbert O. Brown, Jr. musical selections at ASALH’s 139th Headquarters Editor of The Oracle Birthday 3951 Snapfinger Parkway Email: [email protected] Celebration for Bro. Decatur, GA 30035 Carter G. Woodson 404-284-5533 Brother Glenn Rice at Washington’s Assistant Editor of The Oracle Shiloh Baptist Church. The Oracle Brother James Witherspoon Volume 85 No. 29 Director of Photography FALL 2014/ WINTER 2015 International Photographer, chief The official publication of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. District Directors of Public Relations The Oracle is published quarterly 1st Brother Al-Rahim Williams 2nd Brother Zanes Cypress, Jr. by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 3rd Brother Norman Senior 4th Brother Dr. Fred Aikens at its publications office: 5th Brother D’Wayne Young 6th Brother Byron Putman 3951 Snapfinger Parkway, The Grand Basileus Undergrad Summit Decatur, GA 30035. 7th Brother Barrington Dames 8th Brother Greg Labrie 7 24 9th Brother Avery Matthews 10th Brother Sean Long Message 2015 Summit in Atlanta * The Oracle deadlines are: 12th Brother Nicholas D. Thompson 13th Brother Kenneth Evans Bro. Antonio F. Knox, Sr. Summer issue - May 15 Omega Highlights Assistant International Photographers Fall issue - September 15 The 40th Grand Health news, history, Winter issue -November 15 Brother Galvin Crisp 10 26 Brother Jamal Parker Profile featuring profiles and tech issues *Deadlines are subject to change. Brother Wayne Pollard Bro. Antonio F. Knox, Sr. Brother John H. Williams, EMERITUS , First International Photographer District News Send address changes to: Conclave 2014 All Omega Districts 38 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Copy editors and Contributing writers A recap of the information Attn: Grand KRS Brother Vernon A. Battle Brother Andre Jackson 3951 Snapfinger Parkway Brother Dr. Marvin C. Brown, Sr. Brother Dr. Richard Layne 79th Grand Conclave in 16 Decatur, GA 30035 Brother Herb Ford, Jr. Brother Myron E. Reed Philadelphia Omega Chapter Remembering Brothers Cover picture by 64 International Executive Director Rededication & ASALH 22 who served Bro. James Witherspoon, Brother Kenneth Barnes Two major events in the Fraternity Director of Photography, International Photographer, 40th Grand Basileus Washington, D.C. Chief Brother Antonio F. Knox, Sr. FOUNDERS of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Omega's Past Grand Basilei FOUNDER FOUNDER FOUNDER FOUNDER Dr. Edward J. Braynon Burnel E. Coulon Dr. Moses C. Norman Dr. C. Tyrone Gilmore Dr. Ernest E. Just Dr. Oscar J. Cooper Professor Frank Bishop Edgar A. 30th Grand Basileus 31th Grand Basileus 33th Grand Basileus 34th Grand Basileus 1883-1941 1888-1972 Coleman Love 1890-1967 1891-1974 Members of the Supreme Council Dr. Dorsey C. Miller Lloyd J. Jordan, Esq. Dr. George H. Grace Warren G. Lee, Jr. 35th Grand Basileus 36th Grand Basileus 37th Grand Basileus 38th Grand Basileus Antonio F. Knox, Sr. Dr. David Marion Anthony Kadri Kenneth Rodges Contact information for Grand Officers 40th Grand Basileus 1st Vice Grand Basileus 2nd Vice Grand Basileus Grand KRS Antonio F. Knox, Sr. D. Michael Lyles, Esq. Dr. Edward J. Braynon, Jr. Dr. Dorsey C. Miller Grand Basileus Grand Counselor 30th Grand Basileus 35th Grand Basileus [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Burnel E. Coulon, Dr. David Marion Rev. Dr. Staccato Powell, 31st Grand Basileus Lloyd J.Jordan, Esq. 1st Vice Grand Basileus@ Grand Chaplain [email protected] 36th Grand Basileus oppf.org, [email protected], [email protected] Anthony Kadri Leon Pearson, Grand Dr. Moses C. Norman, Dr. George H. Grace, 2nd Vice Grand Basileus Marshal. 33rd Grand Basileus 37th Grand Basileus W. Kelly Shannon D. Michael Lyles, Esq. Rev. Dr. Staccato Powell Leon Pearson 2ndViceGrandBaileus@ [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Grand KF Grand Counselor Grand Chaplain Grand Marshal oppf.org. Donnel Jones, Dr. C. Tyrone Gilmore, Sr. Warren G. Lee, Jr. Kenneth Rodges, Grand Undergraduate Rep. 34th Grand Basileus 38th Grand Baileus, Keeper of Records & Seal, [email protected] [email protected] Omegawarrenlee@oppf. [email protected] Cody R. Charles Undergraduate Rep. W. Kelly Shannon, Grand Keeper of Finance Alaric Jones [email protected] Undergraduate Rep. Dr. Andrew A. Ray Donnel Jones Alaric Jones Cody R. Charles Immediate Past Undergraduate Rep. Undergraduate Rep. Undergraduate Rep. Grand Basileus 4 The Oracle - Fall 2014/Winter 2015 The Oracle - Fall 2014/Winter 2015 5 District Representatives Message from the Grand Basileus Giving Honor to God and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: To my brothers in Omega, I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to lead the greatest organization in the world, the Omega Michael A. Jefferson, Esq. Milton D. Harrison Ezekiel Dennison, Jr. Christopher K. Welch Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Brothers, I am indeed humbled by the faith and trust that you have bestowed upon me. I thank Brother Ray 1st District Representative 2nd District 3rd District 4th District and the previous administration building on previous administrations and putting us in a position to continue moving forward. I [email protected] Representative Representative Representative firmly believe that we are one! Our Founders envisioned us binding ourselves together to have a great impact on our communities. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] By working together, we will move our organization to another level. We have an outstanding team of officers and we will work to create positive change. By doing this we will strengthen our rightful place as the premier fraternal organization in the world. Brothers, there are a lot of things going on in our communities that are disheartening and have the appearance of pre-civil rights days. Our voting rights are being challenged; black men are being killed with no fear of a consequence by those who have been sworn in to protect all citizens. Along with other organizations, we are working to change this troubling trend and together will make a difference. We have under performing schools and poor graduation rates by our black male high school students. Funding for higher education is being cut and many of our HBCUs are struggling to survive. However, since our inception, we have been known to serve our fellow man by providing for and protecting our own. It can’t be any different now. With all of these adversities, I call it “Q Time!” The community is looking for Omega to step up and lead. We have an opportunity to make a bigger difference. We have and will continue to drive voter education, registration and mobilization within our communities and we have already made a difference. Through our mentoring programs from coast to coast we are making a difference in the lives of thousands of our young black boys and we will have Omega’s own mentoring program very soon. Slowly but surely we are changing the graduation rates and sending young men to college. We are participating in protests geared towards decreasing funding for our public school systems. We are adopting and volunteering in schools to help increase their Bryan K. White, Brian O. Beverly, Esq. Leslie A. Gamble Dr. Wm. Ray Brown academic performance. Our work with the Fatherhood Initiative is being recognized by the President and the Black Caucus. 5th District Representative 6th District 7th District 8th District Partnerships are being developed with both corporations and government. And we are improving our image through strong social [email protected] Representative Representative Representative action programing, raising funds for the St Jude Children’s hospital and a honoring a $1,000,000 commitment to the Smithsonian [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] African American Museum. We are working together as one! Our undergraduates are leaders, scholars and scholar athlete on their campuses and we are very proud of them. They are leading the way with voter education registration and mobilization as well. At the Undergraduate Summit there was an enormous amount of positive feedback from college and university graduate schools and corporate and government Human Resource recruiters present, regarding our undergraduates. The conference was definitely a huge success. Brothers, there are many exciting things going on within Omega. As we continue to build partnerships and work together with the Divine Nine, we will tackle issues that matter to our communities. Brothers, as the chosen ones, we will lead with a spirit to serve and make a difference. It’s not important who gets the credit. Our desire is simply to get the job done! We are one my brothers and we will continue to make this a better world in which to live! Fraternally, Ernest E. Parquet, Steve G. Watkins, Esq. Fred Alexander, Col. Mattew B. Coleman, 9th District 10th District 12th District 13th District Representative Representative Representative Representative [email protected] [email protected] 12thDistrictDR@oppf. [email protected] Tony Knox, Sr. org 40th Grand Basileus Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 6 The Oracle - Fall 2014/Winter 2015 The Oracle - Fall 2014/Winter 2015 7 Message from the 1st Vice Grand Basileus Message from the Dear My Brothers in Omega, It is a pleasure to extend warm and sincere greetings to you in the name of our Editor of The Oracle Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank you for your individual and collective support in assisting the forward movement of our beloved Fraternity. The spiritual fervor of brotherhood and service seems to be unstoppable these days. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity has historically led the way with substantial programs of Dear Brothers, service. Our children’s future, our community’s health and our families’ stability will continue to be key themes moving forward.