Since its founding on Dec. 27, 1927, the members of Chi Phi chapter of Omega Psi Phi have:
Established the Omega Leadership Academy and the Clarence F. Holmes/Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Scholarship Foundation, leadership development and scholarship programs that award approximately $10,000 in college study grants annually; partnered with various health organizations to better educate the community about diabetes, cancer and heart disease; conducted blood, food and clothing drives for those in need; and, for the past 28 years, helped Brothers Redevelopment in its efforts to paint homes belonging to low-income seniors.
The chapter also conducts an essay contest and a talent showcase where high school students can share their writing, music and singing skills.
All that and more was celebrated when the chapter marked its 90th anniversary with a two-part celebration chaired by past president Theron G. Labrie.
First up was a luncheon where Lynn Beckwith, the 706th member to receive life member status in the fraternity that was founded 106 years ago at Howard University, was the guest speaker.
Following opening remarks by Orrin L. Ellis and acknowledgements by 37-year member Jeffrey Smith, Dwight Gentry presented the Citizen of the Year award to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and the Omega Man of the Year award to past president James Sykes Jr.
Delvert P. Neal was given the Life Service Award; Mika El Heru took home the Founders Award, and Jason Butler and Theron G. Labrie were recognized for Superior Service.
Sykes joined Omega Psi Phi in 2007 and since that time has been active on both the local and district level, co-chairing the fraternity’s International Prostate Awareness Committee and serving on the membership selection program. He’s a member of the Colorado Association of Black Journalists and volunteers as a mentor.
Chapter service awards went to Chip Boykins for his work chairing a golf tournament to benefit the chapter’s scholarship foundation. Stanley Bey was cited for his service as the chapter’s chaplain and Mike Williams was recognized for his work on behalf of the Omega Youth Leadership Academy.
The 80 luncheon guests also were treated to performances by talent showcase participants Leah Edmonds, a senior at Denver School of the Arts, who sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing;” dancer Cesca Dixon, a senior at South High School, who performed to “Jealous Labrinth,” and Jasmine Swanson, a senior at Noel Community Arts School, who sang “Take Me To The King.”
The anniversary celebration continued that evening with a gala where approximately 400 gathered to reminisce, dine and dance.
Chi Phi chapter was founded by a group of civic leaders that included dentist Clarence F. Holmes, who in 1917 went on to become the fraternity’s national president. Holmes also was a founder of Colorado chapter of the NAACP and the Interracial Cosmopolitan Club for Human Relations.
A special guest at the anniversary celebrations, held at the Deep Space Event Center in Parker, was Seymour Loftman. The 90-year-old retired dentist is the chapter’s oldest active member and has the distinction of having been a student of one of the fraternity’s founders at Howard University, where he received an undergraduate degree in chemistry and his graduate degree in dentistry.
