Omega Psi Phi – John H. Williams
Historical Museum
OMEGA
THROUGH THE
DECADES
Volume 1
Manhood
Scholarship
MSPU
From the beginning, Omega Men have stood on the front lines
of Civil Rights and have been the vanguard of Social
Change.
Members of Omega Psi Phi have achieved many historical
1st’s and continue to be recognized as world leaders. To
date, Omega’s have received 23 of the 94 Spingarn
Medals.
An account of every son of Omega, who has made a
contribution to human progress, would be impossible. This
presentation hi-lites a few but represents all.
Perseverance
Bro. Carl A. Blunt
Uplift
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades
1911 - 1919
1911 - 1919
1911
Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper, Frank Coleman & Dr. Ernest
E. Just, establish the 1st Negro Fraternity founded on a
Negro Institute of Higher Learning, the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
1915
Omega Founder, Dr. Ernest E. Just becomes the 1st recipient
of the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal for unique and
distinguished achievement in cell research.
1918
Bro. Dr. E. B. Henderson opened the 1st rural branch of the
NAACP, was the 1st Negro to be certified to teach P.E.,
and wrote the 1st compendium ever written about Negro
athletics, “The Negro In Sports.” He fought to integrate
amateur boxing.
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades
1920 - 1929
1920 - 1929
1924
Bro. William DeHart Hubbard becomes the 1st African-American
to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event. (Running
Long Jump)
1925
Bro. Brice Taylor becomes the University of Southern California’s
1st All – American football player. Black or White.
1926
Bro. Dr. Carter G. Woodson single handedly pioneered the
celebration of “Negro History Week”, in order to bring
awareness and pride of the contributions and
accomplishments of the Negro race.
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades
1930 - 1939
1930 - 1939
1932
Bro. Homer G. Phillips of Upsilon Omega, who was connected
with nearly every movement to advance the cause of the
Negro, is murdered.
1937
Bro. W. Sidat-Singh, at Syracuse U, becomes one of college
football’s 1st Negro QB’s. SU basketball jersey retired in 2005.
1937
Bro. Theodore Poston, one of the 1st and only Negro reporters
employed by a white daily newspaper and Founder of the
American Newspaper Guild. Risked his life traveling in the
South providing early coverage of Civil Rights.
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades
1940 - 1949
1940 - 1949
1940
Bro. Dr. W. Montague Cobb, the 1st Negro PhD in physical
anthropology, fought for racial integration of health and
medical education.
1941
Bro. Dr. Charles Drew, as head of the Red Cross effort,
protested against the practice of racial segregation in
blood donations, and later became the 1st Negro surgeon
to serve as examiner on the American Board of Surgery.
1944
Bro. Graham E. Martin, became one of the US Navy’s 1st
officers on active duty. His all black class, compiled an
average GPA of 3.89. A record that has yet to be broken.
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades
1950 - 1959
1950 - 1959
1952
Bro. H. Carl Moultrie, Omega’s 1st NES, testifies before the
Board of Education regarding segregation and police
brutality in DC.
1955
Bro. Willard Saxby Townsend fought to gain employee
status for Red Caps. In 1942 he brought his union (UTSE)
into the CIO and in 1955 becomes the 1st Negro to be
elected as vice-president of the AFL-CIO.
1957
Bro. Paul R. Williams, noted architect, was bitterly
outspoken regarding segregated deeds and covenants
barring Blacks from purchasing parcels. He becomes the
1st African American to be voted an “American Institute
of Architects” Fellow.
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades
1960 - 1969
1960 - 1969
1960
17TH Grand Basileus, Z. Alexander Looby’s home was
dynamited for defending students arrested in Nashville
“sit-ins”.
1966
Bro. Robert C. Weaver becomes the 1st Negro in US history
to serve as head of a presidential cabinet (HUD)
1966
Bro. Dr. Robert H. Lawrence is the 1st Black to be selected
and serve in the NASA Astronaut Program.
1967
Bro. Dr. W. Allison Davis , known for proving I.Q. tests are
biased, is the 1st fellow, in the field of education, of the
American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He was also the
1st African-American to hold a full faculty position at a
white university. (U. of Chicago 1942).
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades
1970 - 1979
1970 - 1979
1970
Bro. Wilson C. Riles becomes the 1st African American to
win a state-wide elective office, California State
Superintendent of Schools. He proved poor students
could learn on par with middle and upper class students.
1975
Bro. Lee Elder became the 1st African American to play in
the Masters , and in 1979 he was the 1st AfricanAmerican to play on the US Ryder Cup team.
1977
Bro. Clifford L. Alexander Jr. becomes the 1st AfricanAmerican Secretary of the Army.
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades
1980 - 1989
1980 - 1989
1983
Bro. Max Roach, master jazz drummer, unveiled a new
improvisational multi-percussion style with new contexts,
departing from the styles he was known for. He
expressed a strong kinship with the young Black “HipHop” artists.
1986
Bro. Roscoe Lee Brown, actor and director wins an Emmy
Award. He is also the 1949 AAU 1,000 yard indoor
champion
1988
Bro. Roger Kingdom, 2 X Olympic gold medal hurdles
champion. Unbeaten all season. First man to break the
13 second barrier.
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades
1990 - 1999
1990 - 1999
1990
Bro. L. Douglas Wilder becomes the 1st African-American to
be elected as Governor of a US State.
1994
Bro. Byron Lewis’ UniWorld Corp, the nations largest
independently ethnic owned advertising firm, generated
Burger King’s largest six month sales increase in its
history.
1994
Bro. Tom Joyner, radio host and philanthropist, signed with
ABC Radio to host a nationally syndicated program that
reaches over 10 million listeners. In January 2008, he
was inducted into the Civil Rights Walk of Fame.
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades
MILLENIUM
MILLENIUM
2006
Bro. James “Jim” Clyburn unanimously elected as Majority
“Whip” of the 110th Congress and is the 3rd ranking
Democrat in the House.
2007
Bro. Gen. (4 star) William “Kip” Ward, becomes the 1st
commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM). Ward was
previously Deputy Commander, HQ. US European
Command.
2008
Bro. Admiral Manson K. Brown, US Coast Guard, received
his 2nd star
Omega Psi Phi Through the Decades