Kappa Omega members (from left) Lonnie DeVan, Michael Elby, Dr. John Gumby Sr., Jesse Rawles Sr., Lance Freeman
Usually, the men of Kappa Omega are dressed in their business attire—jackets and ties. They’re known for dressing up, even just for their chapter meetings.
But, today, they came dressed in “Omega casual,” sporting sweaters, button downs and turtlenecks, all in their fraternity’s colors—purple and gold.
Some of the men admitted that they rarely leave the house without some article of clothing emblazoned with the Kappa Omega Greek letters. It’s a point of pride and a way to recognize fellow brothers around the area—and even country.
“Everywhere you go, you can see so many strong men,” said fraternity member Michael Elby.
The Harrisburg Kappa Omega chapter is part of the national Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a historically Black fraternal organization. The “Capital City Ques,” as the Harrisburg group calls themselves, was established in 1923 as a graduate chapter for college-educated men to find fellowship and serve their community.
You can’t talk about Harrisburg history without referencing historic Kappa Omega men. Their names are on schools, monuments and buildings. Today’s members are making history, as well, as doctors, lawyers, principals, city officials, business owners and educators.
“Your mailman may be an Omega man. We have men in so many different professions,” member Lance Freeman said. “We are everywhere.”
The chapter celebrated its centennial in January, recognizing decades of consistent service and the impact it’s had on the region.
“There’s an organization of men who have been here in this community for 100 years—African American men, educated men—who have been involved in so many things to uplift their community,” Freeman said.
Men of Influence
Omega Psi Phi was founded in 1911 at Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, D.C. Harrisburg’s graduate chapter started about a decade later and would grow to include notable local figures such as attorneys James Rowland Sr. and Jr., former Dauphin County President Judge Clarence Morrison and Dr. Charles Crampton, among others.
Currently, the chapter includes around 100 members from Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Reading and other central Pennsylvania municipalities.
Dr. John Gumby Sr. of Harrisburg, a former school district teacher and principal, has been an Omega man for 55 years. He also was the school district’s first Black high school football coach and remembers when the community threatened to cancel the season over it. Gumby has had significant academic and professional success during his lifetime, but through both good and challenging times, his fraternity brothers have been there.
“Omega gave me a chance when no one else would,” he said. “That’s why I love this fraternity and my brothers.”
Fellowship and brotherhood are embedded in the organization—it’s right in the name. Omega Psi Phi represents letters in the phrase, “Friendship is Essential to the Soul.”
Brothers like Gumby and others have come to realize the truth in that statement over the years.
“It’s just something there that makes you feel very comfortable,” said the chapter’s Keeper of Peace, Jesse Rawls Sr. “I’ve established more friendships in this organization than in any other team I’ve been a part of.”
Uplifting Community
Community members may recognize the chapter from their fraternity house on State Street in Harrisburg. While they hold meetings and community events in their building, much of the members’ time and effort is focused outside of the building’s walls. One of their core principles is “uplift,” which has played out over the organization’s 100 years of service to their community.
The fraternity has assisted with COVID vaccination clinics, voter registration, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship, blood drives and scholarship programs, among other volunteer opportunities. For years, the men have regularly served at Bethesda Women’s Mission, hosting meals, donating gifts and serving breakfasts.
“What’s important to me is what we do in the community,” Freeman said. “That’s critical.”
The men also recognize the responsibility they hold as role models in the community.
“You never know who’s watching you,” Rawls said. “That’s very important, to demonstrate manhood and how you carry yourself. Every day, we live that and walk that to show kids that you can be successful in life.”
Member Lonnie DeVan, who has been with the chapter for 10 years, was once one of those kids, looking up to men in the fraternity who were teachers, coaches and principals.
“Growing up, there were a lot of Omega men,” DeVan said. “As you learn and hear the stories of all the men who’ve come before me and what they’ve done in the community, you find out how much Omega Psi Phi is influential in Harrisburg.”
As the Harrisburg chapter celebrated its 100-year anniversary, members talked about how their fraternity brothers supported them through family members’ deaths, life-threatening illness and single fatherhood, among other challenges. Over the years, they’ve become family.
But they also hope that the organization’s mission will continue to reach outside of their members and into the Harrisburg community through their service.
“We’ve been making a difference in the community for 100 years,” Freeman said. “We want to continue to be part of the change in Harrisburg.”
The fraternity house of the Kappa Omega Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is located at 2020 State St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.kappaomegaques.org.
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