With esteemed pride and pleasure, the Brothers of the Xi Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated celebrated the Centennial Anniversary of our Chapter’s charter with a celebratory black-tie banquet on September 30, 2023 at the Doubletree Downtown Tulsa. For 100 years the Xi Omega Chapter has been committed to living its creed to God, our families, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Xi Omega Chapter, and the community in which we serve. The Centennial Banquet was an event planned to reflect on the Chapter’s achievements through Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift.
Proclamations were presented to Xi Omega from The Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus, Oklahoma District 73 State Representative Regina Goodwin, and Tulsa District 1 City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper.
The 42nd Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi, Brother Ricky L. Lewis honored the chapter as the keynote address speaker. Brother Grand Basileus asked the Brothers to make an effort to better the fraternity by engaging themselves with the following five charges: 1) Save our sons through mentoring, STEM, scholarship offerings, and tutoring 2) Help fathers to become better fathers through the Fraternity’s Fatherhood Initiative 3) Staying engaged with our brotherhood by giving a Brother a call with the Brother You’re On My Mind initiative 4) Saving our HBCUs with regular and consistent contributions 5) Investing in Omega by paying fraternity dues and reclaiming at least one Brother back into financial standing. At the conclusion of his message, Xi Omega’s Chapter Basileus Brother Terry Benjamin thanked Brother Grand Basileus for his commitment to serving Omega Psi Phi and celebrating the evening with the Brothers in Tulsa. Brother Lewis was also presented a customized ceremonial plaque of the Xi Omega Centennial logo that named him as the Keynote Address Speaker for the momentous occasion.
The evening was also reserved to recognize the hard work of the Brothers who serve the Xi Omega Chapter. Chapter Basileus Terry Benjamin recognized the long term contributions of Brothers Fred Latimer, Bobby Woodard, Eugene Harris, George Chastang, and Steve Goodrich by presenting them with gold fraternity blazers. Achievement Week Award Winners for 2023 were also announced at the banquet. The award recipients were:
Citizen of the Year - Dr. Tiffany Crutcher
Brother Samuel Mingo, Sr. and Brother Benny Ross Stalwart Award - Brother Erik Anthony
Founders’ Award - Brother Bobby Woodard
Superior Service Award - Brother Ellis Brent
Omega Man of the Year - Brother Terry Benjamin
Recognition was given to Purple & Gold Centennial Sponsors: The Terence Crutcher Foundation and Brother Damario Solomon-Simmons and the Justice for Greenwood Foundation. Wal-mart was also recognized as being a Community Uplift Partner. Other presentations were made to the Xi Omega Chapter where the Omicron Gamma Gamma Chapter from Arlington, TX presented Xi Omega with a customized Chapter Blanket, and the Alpha Iota Iota Chapter presented Xi Omega with a customized ceremonial mace. Also, $10,000 in Scholarships were presented to the following high school seniors:
Carrie Schaum-Couch - $1000
Meleigha Simpson - $1000
Kolby Brent - $1250
Donavin Hardaway - $1250
Kennedy Raven Thomas - $1250
Railyn Watkins - $1250
Maxwell Spaulding Freeman - $1500
Samuel Armstrong Freeman - $1500
The evening concluded with the Brothers singing Omega Dear, dancing, and fellowship.
