During the 15 years preceding 1981, the western area of Fairfax County and the eastern edge of Loudoun County Virginia had grown exponentially. There were a considerable number of Omega men who were inactive and interested in becoming affiliated with an Omega chapter closer to their neighborhoods. These Brothers resided in Reston, Herndon, Sterling, and Ashburn communities in which were not in close proximity to any existing Omega Chapters in the Third District. Brother Emanuel T.("Manny") McCrae, in adherence to the cardinal Principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift, took the initiative to identify and contact an initial cadre of interested Brothers to discuss the feasibility of seeking a charter for a new chapter. Manny's primary purpose for applying for a Chapter Charter was to allow Omega men the opportunity to unite in brotherhood and to further the cause of Omega in their own communities.
On the evening of November 22, 1996, the Brothers met at Brother McCrae's house. In attendance were The Third District Representatives "Gary C. Clark", Area Supervisor " Alex Beard", District Marshall "Clarence McNeill" and Brothers Manny McCrae, Frank Merritt, Roscoe Nance, Paul Cole, Willie Henderson, Earl Lewis and Charles Smith.
The meeting was very productive and the Brothers were given approval to submit an application for Charter. This required a considerable amount of coordination by Brother McCrae to collect the application data from interested Brothers and to file the application in time for the Supreme Council's Winter meeting. If the application had missed the deadline, they would have been required to wait until June 1997. The Brothers completed the application for Charter on November 29, 1996, and submitted it to the Supreme Council.
On December 14, 1996, the Supreme Council of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity approved the Charter application for the eleven Brothers to have an Omega chapter in Herndon, Virginia. The Council named the Chapter "Omicron Kappa Kappa" (which quickly become known as "OKK"). It would be the 23rd Graduate Chapter in the Third District and only chapter chartered since 1990.
The chartered members and elected officers are:
Emmanuel T. McCrae - Basileus
Luther C. Williams - Vice Basileus
Charles V. Smith - Keeper of Records and Seal
Harrison K. Wallace - Keeper of Finance
Paul K. Cole - Chaplain
Ronald D. Patterson - Keeper of Peace
Roscoe A. Nance - Editor
Willie Henderson, Jr - Parliamentarian
Earl Ronald Lewis
John Hinton Jones III
Clarence H. McNeill
OKK chapter's first activity was a Reclamation Party hosted by Brother McCrae at his home on February 15, 1997. This resulted in six more Brothers joining OKK . . . Brothers Norman Franklin; Anthony Lewis; Landus Robertson; Dan Taylor; Eric Kendall Wallace and Harold Wilson.
Next a Chartering Ceremony was held at the Lansdowne Resort and Conference Center, Leesburg, Virginia on March 14, 1997. Brother Henderson Chaired this committee. The event drew approximately 100 members and guests. Brother Robert W. Fairchild, Grand Keeper of Records and Seal, delivered the charge to the Brothers and the community. He challenged the members of OKK Chapter to "work together and stay on course like a mighty ship on a long voyage." He admonished the Brothers to read and follow the constitution and reminded the Brothers that "Friendship Is Essential to the Soul".
This was followed by several fund raising activities being initiated by Brother Ron Patterson (Social Activity Chairman). He directed the Chapter's fish fry dinner at the South Gate (sold 70 dinners), he directed a "Blues Night" at the Vienna Grille restaurant and he raised more than $500 in scholarship funds via corporate sponsorship.
OKK held its first Achievement Week Ceremony in Centerville, Virginia on November 16, 1997. Brother Clarence McNeill, Third District Marshall, was OKK's guest speaker. He gave a rousing speech on the many accomplishments that OKK had achieved during its first year in existence. He pointed out, among other things, that the chapter had participated in Special Olympics; involved in a mentoring program; had completed a sweater and coat drive for needy children; increased its membership to 22 members; participated in District conferences and had purchased a purple and gold banner to be displayed at all official functions. He also noted that OKK is represented on the District Level by the District Marshall (Brother McNeill) and the Reclamation and Retention Committee chairman (Brother McCrae). He read a poem called "Builders or Wreckers" and charged the Brothers to be builders and not wreckers so that the Brothers could work diligently to carry out the mandates of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
The following are our current officers for the 2005-2006 fraternal year:
Darryl McMurray - Basileus
Ricardo Sewell - Vice Basileus
Dana Walker - Keeper of Records and Seal
James Moore - Keeper of Finance
Christan Smith - Asst. Keeper of Records and Seal
Terry Bellamy - Asst. Keeper of Finance
Chuck Smith - Chaplain
Cornell Huddleston - Keeper of Peace
Everett Corbin - Editor of the Oracle
Mike Clemmons - Parliamentarian
Will Henderson - Immediate Past Basileus