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.
WHEREAS, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded on November 17, 1911, on the
campus of Howard University, making it the first international fraternal organization founded
at a Historically Black College or University; and
WHEREAS, the fraternity has four founders—three undergraduate students—Edgar Amos
Love, Oscar James Cooper, and Frank Coleman, along with their faculty advisor, Ernest
Everett Just; and
WHEREAS, the fraternity has four cardinal principles, which are Manhood, Scholarship,
Perseverance, and Uplift; and
WHEREAS, the name Omega Psi Phi was derived from the initials of the Greek phrase
meaning "friendship is essential to the soul," which was selected as the fraternity's motto; and
WHEREAS, there are over 250,000 members globally and over 750 chapters throughout the
United States, Canada, Mexico, Korea, Japan, China, Ghana, United Kingdom, Bahamas, and
Dominican Republic; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia State Organization was established in 1963 and is composed of
over 10,000 members and 46 chapters; it provides service in 40 counties throughout the State
of Georgia and 16 colleges and universities including Historically Black Colleges and
Universities; and
WHEREAS, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. International Headquarters is located in
DeKalb County, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the fraternity has 12 mandated programs consisting of fatherhood training and
youth mentoring, supporting STEM, providing scholarships to high schools seniors and
college students, conducting talent hunts to showcase their talents through the arts,
facilitating career development workshops, promoting medical and health awareness, and
other civic programs including voter registration, education, and mobilization; and
WHEREAS, there are many Omega men recognized for their leadership in various industries
nationally and internationally, including: The Honorable Hank Johnson, congressman of
Georgia's 4th Congressional District; Dr. M. Brian Blake, president of Georgia State
University; Dr. Kevin James, president of Morris Brown College; Sheriff Gregory D.
Countryman, sheriff of Muscogee County; Sheriff Craig Owens, sheriff of Cobb County; Fitz
Johnson, public service commissioner for District 3; Scott Hamilton, police chief of Austell,
Georgia; Omari Crawford, representative of House District 89; David Sampson,
representative of House District 153; and former Dean of the House Calvin Smyre, just to
name a few.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body commend the State of Georgia Organization Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity, Inc., for its continued commitment to public service and recognize February 11,
2025, as Omega Day at the state capitol.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to
members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.