Famous Omega Men

Famous Omega Men

 

Science
•Dr. Ernest Everett Just - Internationally known biologist and professor at Howard University
•Major General Charles Bolden - Astronaut, graduate of the United States Naval Academy (pilot)
•Dr. Charles R. Drew - Perfected the use of blood plasma; Professor of Surgery at Howard University
•Dr. Fred Drew Gregory - Astronaut, graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (pilot)
•Dr. Percy Julian - Discovered the use of foam to extinguish fires and discovered a method of producing cortisone synthetically. During his lifetime, he received more than 130 chemical patents. 1st Black chemist inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.
•Dr. Ronald E. McNair - Astronaut, graduate of M.I.T., Ph.D. in Physics (civilian)
•Dr. Hildrus Pointdexter - Bacteriologist who studied the epidemiology of tropical diseases.

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Arts
•William "Count" Basie - Internationally known pianist, composer, arranger, and band leader.
•Sterling Brown - Teacher, poet, writer, Professor Emeritus of Literature at Howard University, has a special foundation for folk culture and jazz music.
•William H. "Bill" Cosby - Comedian, author, actor, producer
•Steve Harvey - Comedian and actor
•Roland Hayes - Internationally known tenor of the 1920s. Hayes sang in five different languages
•Langston Hughes - The Black Poet Laureate, excelled as a poet, playwright, novelist, lyricis and humorist
•Tom Joyner - Radio show host
•Rickey Smiley - Comedian and actor
•Joe Torry - Comedian and actor

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Athletics
•Jerry Ball - 3 time Pro Bowler and former NFL defensive lineman.
•Joe Black - An all-time great Brooklyn Dodger baseball pitcher. In 1952, he had the lowest earned-run average in the Major Leagues. First Black to win a World Series game.
•Vince Carter - 8-time All-Star. 2-time All-NBA guard for the New Jersey Nets. 1999 NBA Rookie of the Year.
•Mark Duper - 3 time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro former wide receiver with Miami Dolphins
•Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines - Hall of Fame Basketball coach. Coached at Winston-Salem State University from 1946 - 1993. Also, 4-year All-CIAA lineman in football.
•Dr. Edwin Bancroft (E.B.) Henderson - Captain and outstanding player on the Washington 12th Streeters (1906-1910). He is known as the "Father of Black Sport History". First Black male to become certified to teach Physical Education in public schools.
•William DeHart Hubbart - A University of Michigan sprinter; was the first Black athlete to win a Gold medal for the United States (1924). His winning long jump in the Paris games was 24' 5".
•Keith Jackson - 5 time Pro Bowler and 5 time All Pro former NFL Tight end. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
•Ed "Too Tall" Jones - Overall 1st pick of 1974 NFL Draft. Outstanding former player with the Dallas Cowboys football team
•Michael "His Airness" Jordan - Outstanding former professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards of the NBA. His accolades and accomplishments include 5 NBA MVPs, 10 All-NBA first teams, 14 NBA All-star appearances, and 6 NBA Final MVPs.
•Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell - Outstanding former professional basketball player with the Boston Celtics and other teams. 1981 NBA Finals MVP
•Steve "Air" McNair - Outstanding NFL player with the Baltimore Ravens
•Shaquille O'Neal - Star center with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat is a 14 time NBA All-star. He is 3 time NBA Final MVP and 2000 NBA MVP.
•Brice Taylor - University of Southern California football legend. Guard on mid 1920’s team. Schools first All-American.
•Terrence Trammell - 2-time (2000, 2004) Olympic silver medalist in 110m hurdles
•Charlie Ward - 1993 Heisman Trophy winner and former NBA guard with the NY Knicks.

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Politics
•Clifford L. Alexander, Jr. - Secretary, Department of the Army
•James E. "Jim" Clyburn - The House Majority Whip in the 110th Congress. (2nd Black to hold that position).
•William Hastie - First Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands
•Rev. Jesse Jackson - Founder of both entities that merged to form Rainbow/PUSH. Candidate for the United States Presidency in 1984 and 1988. Served as “Shadow Senator” for DC from 1991 to 1997.
•Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. - 2001 Springarn Medal recipient. Executive Director of United Negro College Fund and a former president of the National Urban League. He also served as a close adviser to President Bill Clinton
•Clarence Lightner - 1st Black Mayor of Raleigh, NC
•Dr. David Satcher - 16th Surgeon General of the United States. He also held the posts of the Director of the CDC and the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry from 1993 to 1998.
•Walter E. Washington - 1st Home-Rule mayor of the District of Columbia. Former Executive Director of the National Capital Housing Authority.
•George L.P. Weaver - Former U.S. Secretary of Labor
•Robert C. Weaver - First African American to serve on the Presidential Cabinet when he became Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 1966 under President Lyndon B. Johnson
•Togo D. West, Jr. - 3rd US Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Also served as US Secretary of the Army. Currently, the President of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
•Lawrence Douglas Wilder - 1st Black to be elected as a governor. He served as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1990 to 1994. He is currently the mayor of Richmond, Virginia. He also received the Bronze Star for his military heroics in the Korean War.

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Civil Rights
•Wiley Branton - Attorney of the "Little Rock Nine" and former Dean of Howard University School of Law
•Oliver Hill - Civil Rights attorney whose work against racial discrimination helped end the doctrine of “separate but equal”. 1999 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.
•Benjamin Hooks - Succeeded Roy Wilkins as Executive Director of the NAACP, the most effective of all civil rights organizations
•Rev. Jesse Jackson - Former Director of Operation PUSH; Founder, Rainbow Coalition
•James Nabrit - Former Dean of Howard University Law School and former president of Howard University. A leader in the training of the early Civil Rights lawyers
•Grant Reynolds - Played a major role in President Truman's 1948 decision to desegregate the United States Armed Forces
•Roy Wilkins - Long-time Executive Director of the NAACP

Education
•Herman Dreer - Teacher, minister, writer, and author of The History of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., 1911-1961
•Benjamin E. Mays - President Emeritus of Morehouse College, writer and lecturer. Mentor to Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.
•Dr. Carter G. Woodson - The earliest and most outspoken proponent for the study of Black History

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