Entertainment
Three Events Held
Founders Day Celebrated by Local Fraternity Chapter
Three events were recently held to celebrate the founding of the Beta Eta Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
On Dec. 4, more than 200 attended the chapter’s Founders Day Dance at The Centre, which attracted fraternity members from the University of Central Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.
Curtis Horton, associate director of the fraternity’s Oklahoma District, was the speaker at the second event of Founders Day, a Dec. 12 breakfast.
Anthony “Tony” Daniels was presented the chapter’s Brother of the Year Award at the breakfast, and George H. Smith, president of Beta Eta Lambda, gave closing remarks.
Afterwards, members of the chapter attended morning worship services at the St. John Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Spencer.
Rev. Anthony L. Walker, a member of the fraternity chapter and pastor of St. John CME, delivered the sermon.
During all three events, tributes were given to the founders of the chapter: the late Dr. G. E. Finley, William Johnson, Searcy “Jap” Bailey, Joe Dumas and Dr. Joseph M. Littlepage Sr.
Prior to the Founders Day events, the chapter (in September) held installation services for new officers.
Wm. Gerald Henderson conducted the services.
George H. Smith was installed as president, and Arthur Houston was installed as vice president.
Jodie Mack was installed as recording secretary, Jason Herron was installed as corresponding secretary and J.D. Daniels was installed as treasurer.
Other officers installed (and their positions) were Jelani Touri (editor to The Sphinx), Carvel Davis (director of education), Anthony Daniels (chaplain), Roy Watson Sr. (sergeant-at-arms), John Green Sr. (parliamentarian), Jamal Wiggins (historian) and Jason Johnson (chairman of the Membership Intake Process Committee).
Jamal Wiggins and Curtis Horton were appointed as advisors to the undergraduate chapter at the University of Oklahoma.
In addition, Norman Markland and Reggie Wood were named to serve as advisors to the fraternity’s undergraduate chapter at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Committee assignments were made during the September inaugural meeting, as well.
At the September meeting, too, a scholarship was presented to Mark A. Zachary, a biochemistry major at Oklahoma City University.
On Sept. 25, the chapter manned a voter registration booth at the Forest Park Fall Festival.
Randy Hunt (who has previously served as president of Beta Eta Lambda) and Carvel Davis (education director) reported the effort was successful.
The voter registration effort was part of the A Voteless People Is a Hopeless People Project of Alpha Phi Alpha.
In November, Capt. Lee T. Womack, a member of the fraternity, was the speaker at Veterans Day ceremonies held in November at the Prospect Baptist Church.
(Rev. Lee E. Cooper Jr., also a fraternity member, is pastor of Prospect Baptist.)
Active and retired servicemen and servicewomen were recognized at the ceremonies.
Anthony Daniels served as chairman of the committee that planned the Veterans Day event.
