[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FRIENDSHIP IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SOUL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 1997

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, November 17, 1996 marked the 85th anniversary 
of the founding of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. The fraternity was 
founded by three undergraduate students and their faculty advisor at 
Howard University. These gentlemen--Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James 
Cooper, Frank Coleman, and Dr. Ernest Everett Just--began an 
organization that would play a major role in the cultural, social, and 
civic lives of communities of color.
  The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is one of eight members of the National 
Pan-Hellenic Council. The fraternity's motto is ``Friendship Is 
Essential To The Soul'' and its cardinal principles are manhood, 
scholarship, perseverance and uplift. The first chapter, the Alpha 
Chapter, was organized by 14 charter members on December 15, 1911. 
Today, Omega Psi Phi is composed of 11 districts and has more than 500 
active chapters around the world.
  The Upsilon Phi Chapter represents the greater Newark, New Jersey 
area. It was founded on October 27, 1927 to promote the fraternity's 
cardinal principles in the community. The 63-member organization has 
continued the tradition of providing service and support to our 
community and its people.
  The brothers of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity were very active in 
America's struggle for social change. Thousands of Omega men from every 
part of the country were involved in the fight to eliminate racial 
discrimination. The Omegas financially supported other organizations, 
including the NAACP and Urban League, that were fighting on the same 
battle field for social justice.
  It is said to forget one's history is to be doomed to repeat one's 
mistakes. In 1921 at its Nashville Grand Conclave, the Omegas adopted 
Carter G. Woodson's concept of a National Achievement Week to promote 
the study of Negro life and history. Today, Mr. Woodson's concept is 
observed in the month of February as Black History Month. The 
Achievement Week is still observed during the month of November where 
tribute is paid to members of  the community who have served it in an 
exemplary manner.

  On November 9, 1996, the Upsilon Phi Chapter held its 1996 
Achievement Week Awards Breakfast on the campus of the New Jersey 
Institute of Technology in Newark, New Jersey. The event was a 
gathering of family, friends, brothers and associates who came together 
to recognize and thank those who have made a difference. Student Awards 
were presented to Willie D. Graves and Michael Brown, students of 
Orange High School and St. Benedict's Prep School, respectively; Irving 
A. Childress received the Community Service Award; the Citizen of the 
Year Award went to Milton L. Harrison; the Superior Service Award was 
accepted by Brother James G. Hunter; the Basileus Award was presented 
to Brother Felix H. Bryant, Jr. and Brother William H.L. Oliver became 
Omega Man of the Year.
  In their acceptance speeches each gentleman thanked his family for 
the role each has played in his life. The words role model kept coming 
up. Felix Bryant thanked his mother who received an Achievement Award 
in 1995; presenter Louis Childress thanked his awardee brother, Irving, 
who although younger had been a role model for him; William Oliver 
recognized his two daughters, Shelly and Krystal and his granddaughter, 
Kourtney. The theme of being of service to one's community also took a 
prominent place in everyone's remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I was honored to be the recipient of the 1994 Citizen of 
the Year Award from the Upsilon Phi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi 
Fraternity. It was very gratifying to be recognized for my work by a 
group of distinguished professional gentlemen who in their own rights 
make differences in the lives of many people every day. Greatness, 
commitment and service have permeated the legacy of the Omegas through 
the memberships of many famous African-American men including marine 
biologist Ernest E. Just who was recognized recently with the issuance 
of a commemorative U.S. postal stamp, discoverer of plasma Charles 
Drew, poet Langston Hughes, developer and initiator of the current 
Black History Month Carter G. Woodson, attorney and former head of the 
National Urban League Vernon Jordan, astronaut Ronald McNair, America's 
first African-American Governor L. Douglas Wilder, and author of ``Lift 
Every Voice and Sing'' James Weldon Johnson. This list of luminaries 
would not be complete if it did not include two gentlemen who were 
instrumental in establishing a sound and functional foundation for the 
fraternity. They are H. Carl Moultrie who served as the fraternity's 
first national executive secretary (executive director) and Walter H. 
Mazyck who was the fraternity's preserver of records (historian).
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to enter into the 
annals of U.S. history, the names of the members of the Upsilon Phi 
Chapter; hereby thanking them for being such good role models and 
supporters of our community. The 1996 membership roster includes Lee A. 
Bernard, Jr., Basileus; William H.L. Oliver, 1st Vice Basileus; Patrick 
D. Todd, 2nd Vice Basileus; Ronald D. Coleman, Keeper of Records and 
Seal; Felix H. Bryant, Jr., Keeper of Finance; Derrick Hurt, Keeper of 
Peace; Rev. John G. Ragin, Chaplain; and members Dwayne R. Adams, 
Donald D. Baker, James R. Barker, Jr., Stephen Barnes, Richard A. 
Bartell, Jr., James E. Bennett, Victor Cahoon, Louis Childress, Jr., 
Steve Cooper, Michael A. Davidson, Adrian C. Desroe, Edward Von Dray-
Smith, Daniel Eatman, Leon Ewing, Jeffrey C. Gaines, Alfred C. Gaymon, 
Tyrone Garrett, Hugh M. Grant, Richard Greene, Bruce D. Harman, Keith 
Harvest, Pearly H. Hayes, Thomas V. Henderson, Bruce A. Hinton, James 
G. Hunter, George W. James, IV, Sharpe James, Michael W. Johnson, 
Kenneth J. Jones, Ronald M. Jordan, Jr., Calvin R. Ledford, Jr., Melvin 
D. Lewis, Jr., Gilbert D. Lucas, Samuel M. Manigault, Samuel T. McGhee, 
Maxie A. McRimmon, Clifford J. Minor, Ronald J. Morse, Jr., Roy Oller, 
Sedgewick Parker, Alfred Parchment, S. George Reed, Autrey Reynolds, 
Arthur J. Smith, III, Zinnerford Smith, Rhudell A. Snelling, Jessie L. 
Stubbs, Jr., Kenneth Terrell, Lloyd Terrell, Antionne Thompson, Charles 
W. Watts, H. Benjamin Williams, Robert Wilson, Jr., James C. Wilkerson, 
Rashad Wilkerson, and Ennis D. Winston.
  Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues will want to join me as I offer 
congratulations to the award recipients and extend best wishes for a 
prosperous, healthy and happy 1997 to the members of Omega Psi Phi 
Fraternity, particularly the membership of the Upsilon Phi Chapter of 
Newark, New Jersey.

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