Archive for December, 2007

“Finding Frat”

bro. occasio gee posted a topic on thecause1914 group today by this same title. it made me think about feel good stories i had about chasing frat down or running into brothers at random places and this one came to mind.

it must have been the spring of 2002 and i was working in emeryville, ca which is just outside of berkeley. something took me away from my usual route home and i decided to stop by wells fargo to use the ATM. traffic was heavier than normal and i came to a 3 way stop when i noticed a Sigma plate on the oncoming car. it was a hot late afternoon so windows were down and i gave him a “what’s up frat!” as he passed by. the brother, whose name i can’t recall right now, was quite surprised (oh gee i wonder why??? lol), told me to pull over and i motioned him over to the wells’ parking lot. he got out, gave me the grip, and we exchanged information. what really made this moment stand out for me was that he goes “hey do you have any pari?” and me, a good 9 years removed from crossing, was like “no not on me.” so this kind brother tells me to hold on, while he jumped into this trunk and gave me something of his. in fact, i still have that khaki visor with the PBS letters on them to this day. so if you’re reading this, and you remember me in the silver convertible BMW (no comments on the wife’s girlie car. that’s waaaay too easy), drop me a line.

this is why i love our Fraternity. feel free to share yours!

happy holidays

thanks for all of you who’ve made bluephi.net the great destination site it’s become. you’ve put up with my whining in the past and helped me see that stressing the positive is a much better use of time and energy. thanks especially to all who’ve contributed content to the site and i look forward to sharing more voices of our great fraternity.

Blue Phi!!!

ABZ Chapter at top listed Wingate University, NC

Bro. Reggie Ramseur posted this on thecause1914 last week and I’d been meaning to repost it here.

This just in. Thought I would share some positive info regarding our brothers of Phi Beta Sigma as they contribute to the success of their Universities and College campuses. Universities look to Greek letter organizations to help promote the social and community life. Wingate University was looking for this very benefit to further market their university to an African American population. Organizations were clambering for a seat at Wingate University in 1998. Kappa Alpha Psi and Phi Beta Sigma battled out the final round in an effort to win the chance to charter the first ever Black Fraternity or Black Greek letter organization of any kind at Wingate University. Needless to say, Phi Beta Sigma was ‘chosen’ by the students as the ‘organization of choice’ thus allowing the brothers of the Blue and white family to colonize on the yard.

Wingate University, Wingate NC, now home of the Alpha Beta Zeta Chapter “The Chapter That Never Sleeps” of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. makes the top list for Colleges and Universities.

Wingate University sits just 45 minutes east of Charlotte, NC and 30 minutes from Salisbury, NC in the Southeastern Region of Phi Beta Sigma.

ABZ Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is the FIRST and ONLY Black Greek letter Fraternity on the Wingate University campus. ABZ chapter was founded on April 1st, 1999. ABZ chapter is very unique in that it lives among neighboring established chapters that age from approximately 74 years old (a Mother Chapter – Upsilon Chapter at Livignstone College and its Jr sibling, Alpha Epsilon, at Johnson C. Smith University – Charlotte NC) to 20 years older (Rho Beta, UNC-Greensboro, Rho Gamma – UNC – Charlotte) . ABZ chapter has been recognized numerous times for its continuous involvement in community service. ABZ chapter easily out paces all other Greek letter organizations at Wingate in its pursuit of provisioning excellent community based programming assistance.

Read more…

Zeta Chapter 1964: Morris Brown College – Atlanta, GA

Today, we have the 1964 Zeta Chapter at Morris Brown College. Marking the 50th Anniversary of Sigma in 1964, here are the Brothers and Crescents. This was taken from the 1964 “Brownite” Yearbook.

In addition, the college physician was Bro. Dr. Richard A. “R.A.” Billings who was the 10th National President of Phi Beta Sigma from 1941-1944. Uncle George (Bro. George Nelson, Zeta Alpha Chapter 1939) tells a great story about how Bro. Billings was elected President at the 1940 Conclave in Tuskegee, AL.

Brothers, again, thank you for all of the emails, phone calls, pictures, advice, tips, leads, kind words, etc, it is all greatly appreciated. I will continue to portray our history so that 50 years from now, SIGMAs all over the world can benefit from the greatness that WE come from.

Today in Sigma history will resume on Monday, January 7, 2008.

HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED HOLIDAY SEASON AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

Conclave 1959 – Dec. 27-30 – 45th Anniversary – Washington, DC

This picture is from the collection of Bro. Col. Robert L. Pollard (Alpha Chapter 1919). The picture is actually in bad shape, however, it is on file under the Charles I. Brown Historical Collection at Kansas State University.

This picture was taken on the steps of the United States Supreme Court Building in Washington, DC.

Who can identify past national presidents of Phi Beta Sigma? I count 7 past National Presidents in this picture, there maybe more. But today, I am throwing it to the Brothers. Let me see how good you are. I am even going to help you. Please identify the following SIGMA PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENTS IN THE PICTURE.

1). Jesse W. Lewis #7 – 1935-1936
2). George A. Parker #10 – 1944-1947
3). Felix J. Brown #13 – 1951-1953
4). Hutson L. Lovell #16 – 1958-1959
5). Roswell O. Sutton #17 – 1960-1962
6). Maurice Moore #18 – 1963-1965
7). Alvin J. McNeil #19 – 1966-1970

Man, you have some GIANTS in this Picture, Bro. Col. Robert L. Pollard, Bro. William E. Doar, Bro. J.D. Hill, Bro. Clifton Felton, Bro. James Squires, Bro. Guilbert Daley, Bro. Joseph Dotson, AND FOUNDER LEONARD F. MORSE, just to name a few.

And last but not least, the last brother, at the very top of the picture in the black top coat, Bro. Francis L. Hall.

Today in Sigma History – CONCLAVE 1959 – 45TH ANNIVERSARY CONCLAVE – DEC 27-30, 1959