Over the weekend of February 12, 2022, the Gamma Epsilon chapter celebrated 75 years since being chartered on February 12, 1947. The Brothers had been planning a celebratory weekend for two years headed by the Gamma Epsilon Alumni Association and the 75th Anniversary Chairman Bro Morgan Bailey 1-92-GE and co-chairmen Bro Marvin Chisholm 30-90-GE and Bro Brandon Grooms 4-02-GE. Pandemic protocols were put in place led by one of the “Four Horsemen” Bro Dr. Keith Boykin 11-78-GE. Special wristbands were given to individuals to indicate their level of social distancing comfort. Sanitizer and masks were provided throughout the four-day weekend.
Thursday began with “Fellowship Night” which is something the chapter has been doing virtually via Zoom every Thursday at 9pm ET since the pandemic began. However, this weekend marked the first time hundreds of Brothers could fellowship in-person in over two years. As you can imagine, conversations and fellowship lasted well into Friday morning. Later on Friday evening, there was a reception and registrant check-in.
Saturday morning began with service in collaboration with the Dreams of Hope Foundation to serve food and clothing to the homeless of the Hampton Roads area. Throughout the morning, approximately 50 homeless people were fed and provided with clothing to survive the harsh conditions of the winter. The event was sponsored and led by GE undergraduate Brothers under the leadership of Basileus Bro Nicholas Edwards 4-20-GE, Vice-Basileus Bro Resmond Williams 8-20-GE and Bro Georquel Goodwin 9-20-GE who chaired the service initiative and ensured brothers signed up to provide coverage for the duration of the event.
Fellowship continued at the hotel until the 75th formal anniversary Gala began on Saturday evening.
During the Gala’s cocktail hour, the GEAA President Bro George White 6-78-GE and GEAA Director of Finance, Kenneth Jackson 8-95-GE presented Hampton University President Bro Dr. William R. Harvey $285,000 as a gift on behalf of the GEAA to the brothers beloved alma mater. Bro. Harvey accepted the monetary donation from his fraternity brothers and was moved as he stated “I was always taught if you can help somebody, do it and that’s what you [GE] brothers are doing…Thank you MY BROTHERS!”
After the Welcome by GEAA VP Grooms and Invocation given by Bro Eric Twiggs 19-90-GE, Bro Osei Tuffour 3-96-GE served as Master of Ceremonies. Celebratory toasts were given and a musical selection was sung by Bro David Whitted 4-90-GE and an empty table presentation representing all of the Gamma Epsilon Brothers in Omega chapter was displayed and showcased for the guests.
While brothers and guests dined, the video “75 Laws of Power” created by Kay Hamed 6-04-GE was shown and highlighted an interview conducted by Lance Gatewood 4-81-GE with chapter founder Bro L. Julian Haywood 45-A and Bro Jerry T Hodges 11-47-GE. The video also showed how Gamma Epsilon has changed from 1947 to 2022 through various pictures and clips narrated by Bro. Richard Thompson x-74-GE.
Congratulatory messages were given by 1st Vice Grand Basileus Bro Ricky Lewis who commended GE “for your service and to your families for allowing you to serve…long live Gamma Epsilon Chapter and long live Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.”
Special recognitions presented by GEAA President Bro George White were given to Bro James T George 58-GE who Hampton University’s School of Business is now named in his honor. Bro Charles D Chambliss Jr 68-GE and Alonzo Carter 10-82-GE were celebrated for their fraternal leadership as Grand Counselor and 2nd District Representative respectively. Bro Xavier T Brunson 9- 90-GE was honored for being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and is the highest ranking military brother in the chapter.
Cornerstone Awards were presented by Recognition Chairman Sheldon Schanck 15-GE-90 and given to GEAA President Bro George White, Bro Brandon Grooms, Bro Morgan Bailey. Brothers from the 1947 charter lines, Bro Samuel J Dunn, Bro Henry Kemp, and Bro Jerry T Hodges also received Cornerstone Awards and were recognized for their 75 years of service to the chapter, graduate chapters, the fraternity and respective communities.
Scholarship Chairman Bro Andre DeBose 2-78-GE presented a $2,000 scholarship award to Bro Resmond Williams x-20-GE, a business management major who also serves as the chapter’s Vice Basileus.
The 30th 3rd District Representative Bro Conrado B Morgan 82-PG read “Invictus” and brought greetings on behalf of the District, Officers, and the 41st Grand Basileus Bro Dr. David Marion. Bro Morgan further congratulated the chapter on their 75 years of service of which he acknowledged witnessing 40 years of them.
75th Chairman Bailey recognized the various brothers who assisted in making the event a success. After which he asked the oldest brothers present, Bro Major General Retired Wallace Arnold 58-GE Bro Hurl Taylor 59-GE and the youngest brother present, Bro Resmond Williams to cut the anniversary cake to be served to all in attendance.
Although the Gala was attended by over 375 Gamma Epsilon Brothers and guests, the event was also streamed virtually by GEAA Director of Communication, Bro F. Tarkin Jones 3-95-GE for over 50 Brothers and friends of the chapter that were unable to attend due to concerns regarding the pandemic including chapter founder Bro L Julian Haywood’s family.
The souvenir journal compiled by Marvin Chisholm 30-90-GE and designed by Matt Williams 7-99-GE along with ads provided the history of the chapter founding as well as summaries of the chapter through the decades written by the History Committee. The journal further illustrated various recognitions and accomplishments of brothers in the chapter including entrepreneurs, CEOs, CFOs, Presidents, VPs in business and academia, Board Members and those that serve in government, the ministry, medical field and in the military. Fraternally, brothers that served as Basileus, District or International Officers were also recognized.
Brothers of Gamma Epsilon have been a part of chartering at least 14 chapters and have been instrumental in expanding Omega’s reach including UVA, Duke, Temple on the undergraduate level; Military chapters from Fort Bragg, Fort Eustis and Joint Base McGwire-Lakehurst-Dix; and expansion internationally in Panama, China, Mexico, Abu Dhabi, and most recently in the Dominican Republic.
After all recoginitions were given and the cake was cut, Brothers sang the hymn in place. The event concluded with a rousing and emotional benediction was led by Bro Reverend Caralis Kimbrue 8-79-GE who exclaimed “The torch of Omega still lives on and GE will still be the light of the world and so God we thank you on this day we celebrate your presence and your spirit and in God’s name we say Amen, Amen and Amen!”
In his final appearance in front of the chapter, he stated he looked for people “that were Serious, Capable and have character…and look what happened. You all are a testament that that approach worked!” Over 300 Brothers travelled from across the country and internationally to be in attendance to exemplify what chapter founder Bro Dr. L Julian Haywood envisioned. The celebration will continue throughout the year at The Clave and at Hampton’s Homecoming!