Iota Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Celebrates 75 Years
Raleigh, NC – The Iota Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. will celebrate its 75th Anniversary as a non-profit fraternal organization located in North Carolina’s capital city May 30th – June 2nd. Iota Iota was chartered by 26 Omega Men from the surrounding Raleigh area on May 31, 1944.
All of the charter members have entered Omega Chapter (deceased). As former members of the Beta Phi Chapter of Durham, these Brothers formed Iota Iota Chapter when the Omega Men of Raleigh and Omega Men of Durham became two separate and distinct entities. Early on, Iota Iota quickly positioned itself as a visible team of community service leaders and role models within the city. This role would gain the Chapter recognition not only with the city of Raleigh, but also throughout the state of North Carolina and beyond.
Notable members of the Iota Iota Chapter are John W. Winters – first African-American to be elected to Raleigh City Council, Clarence E. Lightner – the first African-American Mayor of Raleigh, Harold W. Webb – former Director of State Personnel, JD Lewis – on-air host of WRAL & Capitol Broadcasting executive, Ralph Campbell – first African-American State Auditor, Bradford Thompson – former Raleigh City Councilman, Michael R. Morgan – former judge on the Superior Court of NC and present Associate Supreme Court Justice of NC, and Antonio F. Knox Sr. – the 40th Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
The 75th Anniversary Celebration will be observed over a 4-day period culminating with the Iota Iota Diamond Anniversary Celebration at the North Raleigh Hilton. The celebratory weekend kicked off May 29th with a press conference on the campus of Shaw University. Other events planned during this celebration are as follows:
Thursday 5-30-2019/9:00 am – 11:00 am: Community Service Project in Lee County- B.T. Bullock Elementary School
Friday 5-31-2019/11:45 am: Community Service Project in Johnston County- My Kid’s Club
Saturday 6-1-2019/8:00 am: Community Service Project at Garner Rd. Community Center
6:00 pm: Diamond Anniversary Celebration Banquet-Hilton Raleigh N. Hills
Sunday 6-2-2019/11:00 am: Worship Service at St. Paul AME
Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The founders were three Howard University undergraduates, Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper, and Frank Coleman. Joining them was their faculty adviser, Dr. Ernest Everett Just. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the first international fraternal organization to be founded on the campus of a historically black college. Its mission is to bring about the union of college men of similar high ideals of scholarship and manhood in order to stimulate the attainment of ideas and ambitions of its members; occupy a progressive, helpful and constructive place in political life of the community and nation; and foster the humanity, freedom, dignity of the individual and aid all downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher economic and intellectual status.
For tickets or additional information please contact Bro. Glenn Thomas at (919)605-5278 or email iotaiotakrs@oppf.org. Visit Iota Iota Chapter on Facebook @theiotaiotachapter and Twitter & Instagram @iotaiota_1944
Press Conference Highlights (Photos: Qiana Hendricks):
