Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation (TASF)
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Special Edition Newsletter – A Tribute to Black History
Honoring Tuskegee Airmen among Greek Letter Organizations
Black Greek-letter organizations, sometimes to as BGLO's play a significant role in the lives of African Americans in higher education. Specifically, at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's), Greek life has influenced campus life, social life, surrounding communities, networking, and friendships.
More often referred to as The Divine Nine, or D9, an abbreviation the first nine fraternities and sororities founded between 1906 and 1963, these organizations were the early foundations of establishing unity and scholarship through their communities. They are Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated. All nine make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) which was founded May 10, 1930, at Howard University.
In the list below we salute the Tuskegee Airmen who are members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Lawrence Roberts ‘43 Alpha—In 1944, he was assigned to the 477th Medium Bombardment Group and later the 332nd fighter wing rising to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant during WWII. Bro. Roberts would ultimately achieve the rank of Colonel and retired in 1975 after 32 years of service. Bro. Roberts entered Omega chapter in 2004.
Luke J. Weathers, Jr., ‘40 Epsilon Phi—He enlisted in 1942 & rose to the rank of Captain, during which time one of his assignments was to escort a crippled bomber back home after a raid over Austria. In 1965, he became the first African American Air Traffic Controller in Memphis, TN. Bro. Weathers entered Omega Chapter in 2011.
Jerry T. Hodges, Jr. enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1944 & was shipped to Tuskegee for cadet corps that same year. He graduated in 1945 as a 2nd Lieutenant. Bro. Hodges, Jr., who will be 98, still maintains his active membership with Omega.
George S. "Spanky" Roberts ‘35 Theta Psi—In 1941, Bro. Roberts became the first African American cadet accepted for pilot training in the Army Air Corps. He was part of the first graduating class. He was appointed the second commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron, succeeding General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. In 1948, Bro. Roberts became the first Black commander of an integrated U.S. Air Force unit. He retired with the rank of Colonel in 1968. Bro. George Roberts entered Omega Chapter in 1984.
Dr. Lincoln J. Ragsdale Sr. ‘48 Phi Iota—was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in 1945. The local Phoenix chapter of the Tuskegee Airman is co-named after him. Bro. Ragsdale entered Omega Chapter on June 9, 1995, at the age of 68.
Charles H. DeBow, Jr. ‘41 Zeta Phi—He served with the 99th Fighter Squadron, and eventually was promoted to lieutenant. He commanded the 301st Fighter Squadron. One of his greatest military achievements was providing air support for General Patton's tank corps. Bro. DeBow entered Omega Chapter in 1968.
Honoring a Heroine among the Ranks of the Tuskegee Airmen
PIA MARIE WINTERS JORDAN is the project director of the Tuskegee Army Nurses Project and continues to work on a multimedia documentary on the Army Nurse Corps members who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Jordan retired in 2018 as an associate professor in the School of Global Journalism and Communication at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
*Source Contribution by !TFAM Newsletter L. "Sunnye" Simpson, M.A. Editor & Publisher. Sunnye is a member of the board of directors of the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation
Diversity in our Scholarship Winners 2018-2023
Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation