HR196: HR196 Omega Day at the state capitol; February 11, 2025; recognize

25 LC 112 2892 House Resolution 196 By: Representatives Crawford of the 89th, Sampson of the 153rd, Griffin of the 149th, Reese of the 140th, Willis of the 55th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 11, 2025, as Omega Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded on November 17, 1911, on the2 campus of Howard University, making it the first international fraternal organization founded3 at a Historically Black College or University; and4 WHEREAS, the fraternity has four founders—three undergraduate students—Edgar Amos5 Love, Oscar James Cooper, and Frank Coleman, along with their f aculty advisor, Ernest6 Everett Just; and 7 WHEREAS, the fraternity has four cardinal principles, which are Manhood, Scholarship,8 Perseverance, and Uplift; and9 WHEREAS, the name Omega Psi Phi was derived from the initials o f the Greek phrase10 meaning "friendship is essential to the soul," which was selected as the fraternity's motto; and11 WHEREAS, there are over 250,000 members globally and over 750 chapters throughout the12 United States, Canada, Mexico, Korea, Japan, China, Ghana, United Kingdom, Bahamas, and13 Dominican Republic; and14 H. R. 196 - 1 - 25 LC 112 2892 WHEREAS, the Georgia State Organization was established in 1963 and is composed of15 over 10,000 members and 46 chapters; it provides service in 40 counties throughout the State16 of Georgia and 16 colleges and universities including Historica lly Black Colleges and17 Universities; and18 WHEREAS, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. International Headq uarters is located in19 DeKalb County, Georgia; and20 WHEREAS, the fraternity has 12 mandated programs consisting of fatherhood training and21 youth mentoring, supporting STEM, providing scholarships to hig h schools seniors and22 college students, conducting talent hunts to showcase their tal ents through the arts,23 facilitating career development workshops, promoting medical an d health awareness, and24 other civic programs including voter registration, education, and mobilization; and25 WHEREAS, there are many Omega men recognized for their leadership in various industries26 nationally and internationally, including: The Honorable Hank J ohnson, congressman of27 Georgia's 4th Congressional District; Dr. M. Brian Blake, presi dent of Georgia State28 University; Dr. Kevin James, president of Morris Brown College; Sheriff Gregory D.29 Countryman, sheriff of Muscogee County; Sheriff Craig Owens, sheriff of Cobb County; Fitz30 Johnson, public service commissioner for District 3; Scott Hamilton, police chief of Austell,31 Georgia; Omari Crawford, representative of House District 89; D avid Sampson,32 representative of House District 153; and former Dean of the Ho use Calvin Smyre, just to33 name a few.34 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that35 the members of this body commend the State of Georgia Organizat ion Omega Psi Phi36 H. R. 196 - 2 - 25 LC 112 2892 Fraternity, Inc., for its continued commitment to public service and recognize February 11,37 2025, as Omega Day at the state capitol.38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized39 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to40 members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.41 H. R. 196 - 3 -