On September 1, 1985, the chapter was chartered by the General Organization (Atlanta, Georgia) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. as Omicron Eta Lambda with its seat in Washington, D.C. The first Brother elected President was Eugene C. Thomas. The chartering ceremony was held at Andrews Air Force Base in Suitland, Maryland on January 31, 1986.
Brief Sketches of the Charter Brothers
Stephen D. Adams (Ω) - Initiated through Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter in 1978, Brother Adams earned the B.A. degree in Political Science from Howard University. He is an Equal Opportunity Specialist in the Department of Human Rights and Minority Business Development with the Government of the District of Columbia. He remembers that, “A group of us who were affiliated with Omicron Lambda Alpha felt we were too old for the chapter but too young for Mu Lambda. (We) wanted to start a chapter for Brothers in their middle years that were business, politically and investment oriented.”
John M. Anderson - Brother Anderson was initiated into Alpha in 1956. He is a retired administrator with the District of Columbia Department of Public Works.
Ryle A. Bell - Initiated through Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter in 1977, Brother Bell earned the B.S. degree in Biology at Long Island University in 1969 and the D.D.S. degree in 1973 from the Howard University College of Dentistry. The M.S. was earned with a certificate of specialty from Ohio State University. He is the Associate Dean for Academic and Undergraduate Affairs at the Howard Dental College, where be has achieved the rank of Professor of Prosthodontics. A Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., he has served as Area Director for Washington, D.C. (1977-92) and Omicron Eta Lambda Chapter President (1991-93), He reflects that, “Omicron Eta Lambda Chapter was created by a group of young professionals who were interested in community involved programs. From its inception, it involved itself more than any other chapter in Washington, D. C. in community programs targeted at the elderly and the very young. Omicron Eta Lambda has continued in this tradition, and hopefully will continue to move from strength to strength. This is what brought me to Omicron Eta Lambda and is what keeps me with Omicron Eta Lambda.”
Jimmy B. Boyd (Ω) - Initiated through Beta Phi Chapter at Lane College in Jackson, TN in 1957. He earned the B.A. degree in Secondary Education from Lane College and the Master of Divinity degree from the Howard University School of Divinity. Initially employed by the New York City Public Library system, He taught Social Studies at Paul Junior High School in the District of Columbia Public School System. He was an early Director of Educational Activities for the new chapter and initiated Omicron Eta Lambda’s adoption of Paul Junior High School to extend our educational support outreach efforts. Charter members remember that Brother Boyd was very supportive of establishing the new chapter. He was always there and attended most of the planning meetings. Born on 28 April 1938, Brother Boyd entered into Omega Chapter on January 2, 1991. May the True spirit of fraternity, rule our hearts, guide our thoughts and control our lives, so that we may become through Thee, Servants of all.
Arnold Bullard (Ω) - Initiated into Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter in 1982. He earned the B.A. and Masters degrees in Education from Bowie State University. He has accrued more than 30 semester hours of In-service credit train Trinity College, Howard University and the University of Maryland across the course of his career. He is a retired elementary teacher with the District of Columbia Public Schools. He cites the following rationale for creating a chapter. “Men unacquainted shake hands and become friends. A noble goal, but seldom done. We have many reasons for joining Alpha. Working together for the greater good of all Brothers was one of ourgoals. If this goal is forgotten, then discord is created in the “House of Goodwill “. Omicron Eta Lambda created so that a more perfect union would develop among founding Brothers and future Brothers.”
Duane Calloway (Ω) - Initiated through Beta Upsilon Chapter at Alabama State University in 1974. He earned the B.S. degree in Biology from Alabama State in 1977. He has completed graduate courses at Auburn University and the University of the District of Columbia. Brother Calloway teachers Biology and Chemistry at Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School in the District of Columbia Public Schools, where be also coordinates the evening studies program. “The major thrust of our effort was to reunite Brothers who had been inactive. All of us knew several Brothers who were not active for various reasons. We decided to recruit those individuals who had not been active. As a result, a large number of the initial members of Omicron Eta Lambda were inactive Brothers who were brought back into the fold.”
Jesse D. Dawkins - Initiated into Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter in 1977, He earned the B.S. degree at Union College. The M.D. degree was earned at Howard University College of Medicine in 1976. He is a Radiologist with Kaiser Permanente in Washington, D.C. He is married to Cynthia Dawkins and they have three children. He reflects that he became a charter member of Omicron Eta Lambda because, “I was impressed by the character of my fellow charter Brothers as well as by the desire to serve our fraternity and community.”
Reginald L. Dunn (Ω) - Initiated at Beta Omicron Chapter, Tennessee State University, earning aundergraduate degree. The graduate degree was earned at the University of Tennessee. He is President and Chief Executive Officer of DDL, Inc. He is married to Lucenla Williams Dunn..The Dunn’s are very active in helping to create a “world class public education system in PrinceGeorge’s County, Maryland. He reflects, “The Alpha Phi Alpha Brotherhood that I experienced at Beta Omicron was important to continue, so when Harry Taylor approached me about starting a new chapter, I agreed quite readily. Harry was one of the Brothers from Beta Omicron and I knew he understood the value of this special Brotherhood. Omicron Eta Lambda has evolved into that special bond among Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers.”
Malachi B. Jones (Ω) - Initiated into Beta Nu Chapter at Florida A&M University in 1960, Brother. Jones earned a B.A. at Florida A&M; the M.S, at Tray State University; and the J.D.. at Northern Virginia Law School. He retired from the U.S. Army after 30 years where he earned the rank ofColonel. He is currently the President of MBJ Associates which specializes in International Trade. A charter member of Omicron Eta Lambda Chapter, Brother Jones states, “Brother Robert Warren, who is on Alpha Life Member, thought enough of me to ask me to become a Charter Member of Omicron Eta Lambda I respected him enough to accept because we grew up as friends in Jacksonville, Florida, attending grade school through college together.”
Reginald B. Lawrence (Ω) – Initiated into Beta Upsilon Chapter at Alabama State University in 1974. Brother Lawrence earned the BS Degree in Mathematics from Alabama State in 1977. He earned Master’s degrees in Oceanography (1981) and Computer Science (1983) from The Johns Hopkins University. He is a Supervisory Physical Scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce. Brother Lawrence alsoserves as an evening school educator in computer applications in the DC Public Schools. He reflects, “We needed to diversify. We needed a new chapter in the city; we had 0LA for the younger guys and Mu Lambda for the traditional, standard types. We needed a chapter for men in the transitional phase.”
Hubert E. Michel (Ω) - is credited with originating the establishment of Omicron Eta Lambda by making the initial contacts with the 1985 Area Director Brother Ryle Bell and with his close friend, 1985 Eastern Regional Vice President Brother William Ross. Brother Michel not onlyinitiated the conversation but continued to serve as the engine behind the chartering process. A graduate of the District of Columbia Teachers College and the Howard University School of Law, he pledged at Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter in 1970. He was employed as an Investigator in the Department of Human Services, Government of the District of Columbia. Brother Michel is remembered by charter members and the Brothers of Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter as being very articulate and a go-getter. Born on October1, 1939, be entered into Omega Chapter on February 22, 1993. First of all, servants of all, we shall transcend all!
Willie G. Robinson (Ω) - Initiated into Beta Rho Chapter, Shaw University, Raleigh, N.C. Heearned the BA. Degree in Business Education at Shaw University (1971) and the M.S. in Counseling at the University of the District of Columbia (1980), He has held various positions in the field of adult and career education including Director, Evening School at Temple College of Maryland; Career Counselor/Teacher at Gordon Adult Education Center in the D.C. Public Schools and at Jefferson Business College; and a Consultant with the D.C. Department of Employment Services. Most recently be worked as a Special Assistant for the Resolution Trust Corporation in Washington, D.C. He said, “I was, motivated to become is Charter Member because of a need for extended growth within the Alpha Phi Alpha chapters in this area.”
Jaru Ruley Initiated into Alpha at Zeta Psi Chapter, West Chester State College (PA) in 1971, he earned the B.S. Degree at Alabama State University and a J.D. degree at the University of Iowa College Of Law. Currently the Deputy Regional Attorney for the U.S. Deptartment of Agriculture in the Southern Regional Office (Atlanta, GA). He remembers that, “The primary motivation for my becoming a charter member of Omicron Eta Lambda Chapter was the infectious desire of a group of Brothers to associate fraternally in an effort so make a difference in the community, and to encourage the advancement of each oilier. At the time I had begun to feel far removed from the sense of purpose and camaraderie I’d came to expect from the fraternity, and had opted to become inactive. After a few tentative discussions with others who fell similarly, and were determined to do something about it, I became infused with a renewed sense of purpose and camaraderie... The rest is history!”
Ray E. Spears - Initiated into Alpha at Epsilon Iota Chapter in 1971, Brother Spears earned the B.A. in 1971 and a J.D. degree in 1974, both from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a retired Deputy Chief of Staff with the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. He was the second Chapter President of OHL and has served in a number of positions including Treasurer, Parliamentarian and Legal Counsel. Brother Spears comments, “I had been active for a number of years both at she undergraduate and graduate levels. I attended meetings of various graduate chapters in Washington when I relocated but had not joined any of them. Bob Warren advised me of the new chapter, I met a number of the Brothers and felt “at home” with them.”
Harry W. Taylor - Initiated at Beta Omicron Chapter (BO-22-61Fa), Tennessee State University. He earned a Civil Engineering degree (B.S.) from Tennessee State University and a Masters in Engineering Administration from The George Washington University. He retired from the Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation as Team Leader for Road Departure Safety. He is married to Jannie (JP) Taylor and has one daughter, JoycelynHope Taylor, and one grandson, Jeffrey Kyle Taylor. In 1993, Brother Taylor received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Civil Engineering from Tennessee State University where he remains active with the Alumni Association. Brother Taylor remembers, “In 1985, I had been a member of Iota Upsilon Lambda Chapter in Silver Spring. At the time, J.P. who is now my wife,was riding to work with Brother Eugene Thomas. In conversation, Gene told her he was leading an effort to start a new chapter in the District of Columbia with a number of like—minded Brothers. She informed him that I was a Brother and might be interested. Gene invited me to a Happy Hour at, I believe, The Ibex Club to meet the other interested Brothers and I liked the potential for progress and Brotherhood. I became involved.”
Eugene C. Thomas - He was the first Chapter President of Omicron Eta Lambda. A native Washingtonian, Brother Thomas graduated from St Augustine College in Raleigh, N.C.
Robert Warren, Jr. (Ω) - Initiated into Beta Nu Chapter at Florida A&M University in 1959. He earned the B.A. degree in French from Florida A&M. The M.A, degree in French Language and Literature was earned at The Catholic University of America. He completed additional studies at Atlanta University, Universite de Besancon (France), Indiana University and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (in France). Brother Warren was a retired Secondary French and Linguistics Teacher with the District of Columbia Public Schools. He was a Life Member of Alpha, the NAACP and the Florida A&M Alumni Association. His biography appears in the 1994 edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. One of the highlights of his career was his selection as a Fulbright Scholar in 1986. Brother Warren believed “The driving force (for the establishment of OHL) was a desire to affiliate with a Chapter that was less Collegiate in nature (than an Intermediate Chapter), which fostered a genuine fraternal spirit while maintaining active involvement in social, civic and charitable endeavors.”
Jacob R. Wormley, III. - Initiated into Theta Iota Chapter at Virginia Tech in 1974. He earned the BA. Degree in Education at Virginia Tech. He is a candidate for the M.B.A. at HowardUniversity, He is the Campus Store Manager for Howard University. Married to the formerVeryl Miles, the Wormley’s are the parents of two sons, Jacob Miles and Jared Maxwell. BrotherWormsley recalls, “The camaraderie of Brothers Ruley, Spears and Bell made it a pleasure and joy to unite In the advancement of Alpha Phi Alpha.”
(Ω) - Omega Chapter
Compiled by Brother Ryle Bell
Edited in 2023 by Brother JaRel Clay