100 YEARS
THE OMICRON CHAPTER CENTENNIAL
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Classic Omicron Chapter Coronation Photo: then-Immediate Past Polemarch, Veron E. Johnson Jr., Kourt Queen, Lois Clark, Polemarch David E. Bryan Jr., circa 1969. white shirts. Other brothers wore their crimson Kappa blazers or dark suits, with white shirts and crimson ties. In addition to brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi from other chapters, family members and Omicron Diamonds/Sweethearts attended. Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, (Pi 1968), a New York (NY) Alumni Chapter member, delivered the opening prayer. The 34 th Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi, Reuben A. Shelton, III, Esq. delivered the keynote address in which he spoke of the road traveled thus far and the challenges faced ahead. The Grand Polemarch praised Omi- cron for being “a beacon of light across Kappa, and certainly across the halls of the Ivy League culture in which you find yourselves.” Other dignitaries who provided remarks on occasion included the 30 th Grand Polemarch Samuel C. Hamilton, Junior Grand Vice Polemarch Evan R. Jackson, Northeastern Province Polemarch Christopher Thompkins, Omicron Chapter Advisor Gregory Thomas (Nu Zeta 1988), New York (NY) Alumni Chapter Polemarch
Ebony/Jet Magazine features the service of the Omicron Chapter.. Omicron Queen circa 1957. Omicron Scrollers circa 1957. Used by permission from author.
• William N. Chisholm, Senior Grand Vice Polemarch (1954- 1959) • David J. Billings, Junior Grand Vice Polemarch (1961) • Bennie F. Giles, Grand Lieuten- ant Strategus (1962) • Melvin V. Christy, Grand Lieuten- ant Strategus (1963) • Michael C. Blum, Grand Strat- egus (1967) • Alexander Dent, Grand Board of Directors Member (2008) Northeastern Province Polemarchs from Omicron • 1 st and 3 rd : James Egert Allen (1930, 1933 – 1937) • 2 nd : Harcourt A. Tynes (1930 – 1933) • 4 th : I. T. Donaldson (1937-1940; 1945-1946) • 9 th : William N. Chisholm (1951 – 1953) • 10th: Ernest L. Dimitry (1953 – 1957) • 11 th : Livingston Wingate (1957 – 1959) • 14 th : Albert G. Oliver (1969 – 1974) • 17 th : Melvin Taylor (1981 – 1982)
Omicron Centennial Chapter
Observances O n February 27, 2021, and on March 20, 2021, the Columbia University Chapter, the Omi- cron of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., celebrated its Centennial via Zoom, drawing more than 200 participants, including Omicron initiates spanning 1953 to 2019. Collectively, the two ses- sions comprised the most extraordinary gathering of Omicron initiates in the chapter’s history. Despite the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom provided the Omicron initiates and guests to participate from across the country and worldwide. The cur- rent Omicron Chapter Polemarch Ivan McDaniel (Omicron 2019) and past Omicron polemarchs Robert Robinson (Omicron 1989) and Hwesu Samuel Murray (Omicron 1967) hosted the Zoom sessions. Session 1- February 27, 2021 T he first session was an elaborate affair that ran over three hours. The virtual centennial celebration was held exactly 100 years to the day, February 27 th , of the chartering of Omi- cron. The official attire was semi-formal: many of the brothers in the bond for 50 years or more wore their white, 50-year Kappa blazers with crimson ties and
THE JOURNAL ♦ SPRING 2021 | 13
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