[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 116 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 244--CONGRATULATING OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC. 
 FOR 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES 
AND THE WORLD, AND COMMENDING OMEGA PSI PHI FOR UPHOLDING ITS CARDINAL 
      PRINCIPLES OF MANHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, PERSEVERANCE, AND UPLIFT

  Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Brown of Ohio, 
Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Levin, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. 
Cornyn) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 244

       Whereas Omega Psi Phi is the first international fraternal 
     organization to be founded on the campus of a historically 
     black college;
       Whereas Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded at 
     Howard University in Washington, District of Columbia, on 
     November 17, 1911, by undergraduates Oscar James Cooper, 
     M.D., Frank Coleman, Ph.D., and Edgar Amos Love, D.D., and 
     their faculty advisor Ernest Everett Just, Ph.D.;
       Whereas, on November 17, 2011, Omega Psi Phi will celebrate 
     100 years of service to communities throughout the United 
     States and the world in many diverse fields of endeavor;
       Whereas, in 2011, Omega Psi Phi has more than 700 chapters 
     throughout the United States, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the 
     Virgin Islands, South Korea, Japan, Liberia, Germany, and 
     Kuwait;
       Whereas Omega Psi Phi has maintained a commitment to the 
     betterment of mankind, the enhancement of the community, and 
     the enrichment of collegiate men through dedication to its 
     cardinal principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, 
     and uplift;
       Whereas Omega Psi Phi chapters participate in activities 
     that uplift their communities, including voter registration, 
     illiteracy awareness, Habitat for Humanity, health awareness 
     programs, and youth mentoring;
       Whereas the men of Omega Psi Phi have distinguished 
     themselves in the field of science, including Dr. Ernest 
     Everett Just, an internationally known biologist, Dr. Charles 
     Drew, who perfected the use of blood plasma, Dr. Ronald E. 
     McNair, an astronaut and member of the flight team aboard the 
     Space Shuttle Challenger, Charles Bolden, an astronaut and 
     the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, and Dr. Fred Drew Gregory, an astronaut and 
     graduate of the United States Air Force Academy;
       Whereas the men of Omega Psi Phi have distinguished 
     themselves in the field of sports, including Dr. Robert M. 
     Screen, the tennis coach at Hampton University and the coach 
     with the most wins in the history of the National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association, Michael Jordan, who was inducted into 
     the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, 
     Charlie Ward, the winner of the Heisman Trophy in 1993 and a 
     former guard with the New York Knicks of the National 
     Basketball Association, Dr. LeRoy Walker, a former president 
     of the United States Olympic Committee, and Terrance 
     Trammell, a world champion hurdler;
       Whereas the men of Omega Psi Phi have distinguished 
     themselves in the field of government, including William 
     Hastie, the first Governor of the Virgin Islands, Lawrence 
     Douglas Wilder, the first black Governor of Virginia, Togo 
     West, a former Secretary of the Army, James E. Clyburn, a 
     Member of the House of Representatives from South Carolina 
     and the 26th Majority Whip of the House of Representatives, 
     Jesse Jackson, Jr., a Member of the House of Representatives 
     from Illinois, and Hank Johnson, a Member of the House of 
     Representatives from Georgia;
       Whereas the men of Omega Psi Phi have distinguished 
     themselves in the field of the arts, including Langston 
     Hughes, the poet laureate who excelled as a poet, playwright, 
     novelist, lyricist, and humorist, and William ``Count'' 
     Basie, an internationally known pianist, composer, arranger, 
     and band leader; and
       Whereas Omega Psi Phi will commemorate its history and 
     promote its continued success at its centennial celebration 
     to be held July 27 through July 31, 2011, in Washington, 
     District of Columbia: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for 100 
     years of service to communities throughout the United States 
     and the world; and
       (2) commends Omega Psi Phi for upholding its cardinal 
     principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift.

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