Friends and brothers of the Gamma Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity ushered in the 2010 Grambling State University homecoming experience with a commemorative banquet celebrating their 60th anniversary as the first national Black fraternity on campus. Established at what was then, Grambling College on May 19, 1950, 13 young men chartered the chapter.
The evening, sponsored by the Gamma Gamma Alumni Association was set to be a special one as brothers from across the nation reunited and were reminded of what made our chapter so beloved and revered within the entire fraternity and abroad.
Personally, I began to remember my early desires of becoming a brother as a native son of the Grambling community. This was my chance to witness a panel of Omega men who not only lived and told the story of Gamma Gamma, but literally, my story as well.
First of all, to have the opportunity to see and hear how our story began from the remaining two surviving brothers who made it happen, Bro. Alfred Twymon and Bro. Henry Emanuel Sr., followed by encouragement and stories from the early years from Bro. G. Stanley Lewis (Spr. ?51), was enough for every brother in the room to use for the
rest of our lives.
This was only the introduction, next we received words from Bro. Alvin Washington (Spr. ’81), Bro. Willie Rockward (Fall ’84), and Bro. Shannon Reeves (Fall ’88).
These brothers collectively spoke on theme of commitment to education, family, profession and relationships.
Each of these brothers played parts as personal influences on me as a youth in the community, while they matriculated through GSU as young brothers in the fraternity who were influenced by my father, Bro. Gardner N. Clark, who was a professor on campus for over 30 years.
The remaining panel consisted of Bro. Russell LeDay (Fall ?81), my chapter advisor, Bro. Greg Mitchell (Spr. ?90), my Dean of Pledges and Bro. Kentfield Taylor (Spr. ?92), my line brother. They continued on this theme of commitment to the brotherhood, the community and the future of our chapter.
Following this diverse dose of uplift were presentations from Bro. Chris Harmon (Spr.?08) with a video documentary of the chapter and myself Bro. Jaron Clark (Spr. ?92) with creative tokens of thanks to our charter brothers, whom we affectionately call “The Bridgebuilders.”
Somewhere, I heard a hard truth that it is more difficult to be an Omega man than it is to become one, and as our esteemed fraternity moves closer to it?s centennial celebration in 2011, best believe that the brothers of Gamma Gamma who belong to this campus and community will be living each day forth to be a better Omega man, and in that, we will continue to be the best!
Jaron Clark is a Grambling State University graduate and a resident of Grambling.