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Happy Birthday to Omega Psi Phi

Omega Psi Phi (ΩΨΦ) is an international fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, by three undergraduate students and one faculty advisor, at Howard University in Washington D.C. The founders were Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman and their faculty adviser Dr. Ernest Everest Just. Each of the founders graduated and went on to have distinguished careers in their chosen fields: Bishop Edgar Amos Love became Bishop of the United Methodist Church. Dr. Oscar James Cooper became a prominent physician, who practiced in Philadelphia for over 50 years; Professor Frank Coleman became the Chairman of the Department of Physics at Howard University for many years; Dr. Ernest E. Just became a world-renowned biologist.

On November 23, 1911 in Thirkield Hall, Edgar Love became the first Grand Basileus (National President). Cooper and Coleman were selected to be the Grandkeeper of the Records (National Secretary) and Grandkeeper of Seals (National Treasurer), respectively. Eleven Howard University undergraduate men were selected to be the charter members.

The fraternity has worked to build a strong and effective force of men dedicated to its Cardinal Principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift. In 1927, at the urging of fraternity member Carter G. Woodson, the fraternity made National Negro Achievement Week, an annual observance and it continues today as Black History Month.

Famous Omega Men

Steve Harvey                                                        Bill Cosby                                        Langston Hughes

Joe Torry

Rickey Smiley

Shaq                                                    Jesse Jackson                                     Michael Jordan