The Oracle - Summer/Fall 2018 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE ORACLE Editorial Board EDITOR’S NOTES International Editor of The Oracle The Oracle his issue highlights the Brother Dr. Milbert O. Brown, Jr. mention of great Omega OMEGA PSI PHI Assistant Editor of The Oracle-Brother Norman Senior giants. Throughout FRATERNITY, INC. Director of Photography- Brother James Witherspoon TOmega, we celebrate our new International giant-our new leader Brother Dr. Graphics Editor Brother Melvin Hodge Headquarters David Marion, Omega Psi Phi Undergraduate Editor-Brother Daniel Wire Fraternity’s 41st Grand Basileus. District Directors of Public Relations 3951 Snapfinger One of our past GIANTS was 1st-Brother Alexander Jones Parkway our beloved leader the late Brother 2nd-Brother Zanes Cypress, Jr. Burnel E. Coulon, the Fraternity’s 31st Grand Basileus. Decatur, GA 30035 For many of us in Omega, Brother Coulon was our friend, 3rd-Brother Norman Senior TWO BROTHERS AND SCHOLARSHIP--Bro. Reed Blair (left) and Bro. 404-284-5533 shepherd, and mentor. For those of us who had the Johnathan Blair (right) earned Juris Doctor degrees from Stetson University's 4th-Brother Bryon K. Dirke College of Law. Reed was initiated in 2012 at Brown University and Johnathan pleasure of meeting his acquaintance we heard him fuss was initiated in 2015 at Florida A&M University. They are the sons of Brother Volume 89 No. 35 5th-Brother Irwin Todd with laughter, and as a result, he taught us much—like Marlow Blair,Upsilon Delta, 1981. Summer/Fall 2018 serving Omega with enthusiasm, grace, and style. We will 6th-Brother Timothy Hunter miss Coulon’s iconic grandfather spirit. He provided all Grand Basileus Message The official publication of 7 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 7th-Brother Sean R. Bland of Omega with a distinguished legacy of Friendship that is Bro. Dr. David E. Marion 8th-Brother Dr. Paul Prosper everlasting. 9th-Brother Herbert Guillory An Introduction of Dr. Marion 10 Send address changes to: I first met Brother Coulon when I had began my Omega Fraternity's 41st Grand Basileus 10th-Brother Marcel Clarke journey in Spring 1976. It was during my second week as a member of Upsilon Beta’s Lampados Club when Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 12th-Brother Quentin Davis Coulon arrived on the campus of Ball State University Fallen Giant Attn: Grand KRS 13th-Brother Dr. Carl Bampoe wearing a fashionably loud sports coat. Brother Coulon, Remembering the late Brother 14 3951 Snapfinger Parkway Decatur, GA 30035 Assistant International Photographers the Immediate Past Tenth District Representative, had an Coulon, the 31st Grand Basileus authoritative voice. During that visit, he brought another Brother Galvin Crisp giant with him, Brother Judge Marion W. Garnett, the The next Oracle deadline: Brother Richard D. Nichols The Clave 29th Grand Basileus. I was only a 19-year-old journalism 18 February 25, 2019 student when I was assigned by my Big Brothers at 2018 Conclave in New Orleans Brother Wayne Pollard *Deadlines are subject to change. Upsilon Beta to photograph the two giants during their Emeritus Photographer-Brother John H. Williams visit at the chapter’s annual weekend gala. Founders Day at Howard 26 Copy Editors* and Content Editors 107th Birthday of Omega Please Email all editorial concerns, Brother James Alexander* In later years, Brother Coulon gave me the oath of office comments, and information to as a newly elected Tenth District officer. When I became Bro. Dr. Milbert O. Brown, Jr. Brother Earle D. Clowney* the Oracle Editor, Coulon would often call me, and his All Hands on Deck Editor of The Oracle 28 Brother Myron Reed conversations would start, ‘Hey Brother Brown where is Congressional Black Caucus [email protected] my Oracle?’ The last time I would see my mentor was at Brother Jarrett Thomas the 81st Grand Conclave in New Orleans last summer. Youth Leadership Conference 32 Contributing Writers I gave him an Oracle and took a picture with him. He Fatherhood & Mentoring Initiative ORACLE COVER DESIGN Brother David English Carl, Esq. misplaced his Oracle early during the conclave, but I gave him another one because I wanted him to have his Oracle. By Brother Dr. Vincent Windrow SPECIAL FEATURES Bro. Melvin Hodge International Executive Director Media News-34 FIETTS, Tussle at The Top-36 Beta Alpha Graduate Chapter Brother Kenneth Barnes Brother Dr. Milbert O. Brown, Jr. Military News-38 41st Grand Basileus International Editor of The Oracle Undergraduate News-42 Brother Dr. David E. Marion Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. District News-44 IHQ Website Editor Omega Chapter-68 Brother Quinest Bishop 2 The Oracle - Summer/Fall 2018 The Oracle - Summer/Fall 2018 3 FOUNDERS of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. District Representatives FOUNDER FOUNDER FOUNDER FOUNDER Dr. Ernest E. Just Dr. Oscar J. Cooper Professor Frank Bishop Edgar A. Francois Fils-Aime J. Kendall Smalls Kevin Brown Bobby Robinson 1st District 4th District 1883-1941 1888-1972 Coleman Love 2nd District 3rd District Representative Representative Representative Representative 1890-1967 1891-1974 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Members of the Supreme Council Dr. David Marion Rickey Lewis Austin Tatum Mark E. Jackson Bryan K. White, Melvin Mitchell James H. Cistrunk James Ball 41th Grand Basileus 1st Vice Grand Basileus 2nd Vice Grand Basileus Grand KRS 5th District 6th District 7th District 8th District Representative Representative Representative Representative [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Daniel B. Jones, Sr. Benjamin Crump, Esq. Rev. Walter Richardson Antonio F. Knox Sr. Grand KF Grand Counselor Grand Chaplain Immediate Past 40th Grand Basileus Patrick Smith Darryl L. Jones Dennis Martinez Dr. Trevor V. Hodge Naaral King Karanja Matory Paul L. Anderson 9th District 10th District 12th District 13th District Undergraduate Rep. Undergraduate Rep. Undergraduate Rep. Representative Representative Representative Representative [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 4 The Oracle - Summer/Fall 2018 The Oracle - Summer/Fall 2018 5 Omega's Past Grand Basilei FOUNDERS: Frank Coleman, Oscar J. Cooper, Ernest E. Just, Edgar A. Love Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 3951 Snapfinger Parkway Decatur, GA 30035 Telephone: (404) 284-5533 Fax: (404) 284-0333 FROM THE DESK OF THE GRAND BASILEUS Dr. Andrew A. Ray Dr. Edward J. Braynon 39th Grand Basileus 30th Grand Basileus Brothers, As I pen this letter, I am humbled to serve as your 41st Grand Basileus. I appreciate your individual and collective support and I do not take for granted the trust that you have placed in me to lead our great Fraternity forward. The highest level of leadership requires a greater level of service. This, my Brothers, is who we are called to be, servant leaders. During the times in which we now live, we need every brother to help us fight this fight. We need each brother to reclaim at least one brother. We need each chapter to do a fatherhood and Dr. Dorsey C. Miller Lloyd J. Jordan, Esq. Dr. George H. Grace Warren G. Lee, Jr. mentoring initiative. We’re fighting against the school to prison pipeline, voter suppression, police 35th Grand Basileus 36th Grand Basileus 37th Grand Basileus 38th Grand Basileus brutality, and discriminatory laws. We are fighting for economic equality, reducing the stigma attached to mental illness through our signature initiative, Brother You’re On My Mind, increasing fatherhood and mentoring initiatives, and increasing our support of HBCUs. Our outstanding team of officers will continue Contact information for Grand Officers to work hard to create positive change that 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. However, since our inception, we have been Dr. David Marion Benjamin L. Crump, Esq. Dr. Edward J. Braynon, Jr. known to serve our fellow man by providing for and protecting our own. It can’t be any different now. The Grand Basileus Grand Counselor 30th Grand Basileus GrandBasileus GrandCounselor issues of our community are great and will only be eradicated with the collective efforts of men who have @oppf.org @oppf.org Dr. Dorsey C. Miller been called out from the masses to contend with them. 35th Grand Basileus Rickey Lewis Rev. Dr. Walter Richardson [email protected] Since the conclave, with your support, we streamlined the committee structure and our operations at IHQ, 1st Vice Grand Basileus Grand Chaplain instituted electronic registration and voting for international meetings, conducted an International 1st ViceGrand Basileus GrandChaplain Lloyd J.Jordan, Esq. @oppf.org @oppf.org, 36th Grand Basileus Technology Summit, updated our financial system and membership data base, gave financial support to four [email protected] HBCUs, and expanded our global footprint by chartering a new chapter in Shanghai, China. Omega is now Austin Jerrell Tatum Alex F. Hall, Esq. in thirteen countries. 2nd Vice Grand Basileus Grand Marshal Dr. George H. Grace 2ndViceGrandBaileus [email protected] 37th Grand Basileus Lastly, let us encourage and build up one another to fulfill our divine assignment. Remember, we are @oppf.org [email protected] Antonio F. Knox, Sr. brothers and friends as our motto states, “Friendship is Essential to the Soul.” Friendship is a defining Mark E. Jackson Immediate Past (40th) Warren G. Lee, Jr. characteristic of Omega. There is an African Proverb that says if you want to go fast, go alone; but if you Grand Keeper of Grand Basileus 38th Grand Basileus want to go far, go together. Brothers, by the grace of God, let’s go far! Records & Seal Omegawarrenlee [email protected] Naaral King @oppf.org.