25 LC 112 2892
House Resolution 196
By: Representatives Crawford of the 89
th
, Sampson of the 153
rd
, Griffin of the 149
th
, Reese
of the 140
th
, Willis of the 55
th
, 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 faculty 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 of 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
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WHEREAS, the Georgia State Organization was established in 1963 and is composed of
15
over 10,000 members and 46 chapters; it provides service in 40 counties throughout the State16
of Georgia and 16 colleges and universities including Historically Black Colleges and17
Universities; and18
WHEREAS, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. International Headquarters 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 high schools seniors and22
college students, conducting talent hunts to showcase their talents through the arts,23
facilitating career development workshops, promoting medical and 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 Johnson, congressman of27
Georgia's 4th Congressional District; Dr. M. Brian Blake, president 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; David Sampson,32
representative of House District 153; and former Dean of the House 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 Organization Omega Psi Phi36
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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 available for distribution to40
members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.41
H. R. 196
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