WS Chronicle

The Psi Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. celebrated Achievement Week, a celebration of the fraternity’s founding more than 100 years ago, by handing out honors to several local men.
Forsyth County Commissioner Walter Marshall was presented with the Citizen of the Year Award for his decades of service and advocacy.

“I was surprised,” he said of receiving the honor. “Anytime you are recognized by community members for the work you do, it’s a satisfaction. This type of recognition encourages me to fight on. I see that my work is not in vain. I’m grateful and humbled.”
Galvin C. Crisp Jr., a longtime esteemed member of the chapter, was named Omega Man of the Year Award.

“I am humbled and proud to have been selected … It means the work that I do for Omega has been acknowledged by my brothers. I took an oath to serve and hold high the principles of our fraternity and as long as God gives me health and strength I will forever live up to that oath,” he said.

Several other chapter members also received awards. Cassius Smith took home the Superior Service Award; Ronald Travis received the Uplift Award; Emory E. Jones was presented with the Scholarship Award; the Manhood Award went to Tim Smith; Keith Vereen, the chapter’s basileus, received the Willing Vessel Award; and James Franklin Jr. took home the Perseverance Award.

Barry Rountree, an Omega and chief of the Winston-Salem Police Department, was the awards program’s speaker. He challenged members of the Fraternity to live up to the organization’s cardinal principles and become more active in the organization and responsible in the community.

Michael Fulton chaired this year’s Achievement Week Committee and was pleased with its outcome.
“It’s very rewarding to work with Brother Vereen; he is truly a man of the community,” he said, noting that the week’s other activities included visits to sick and shut-in Omega members and a community coat drive.

Members also took part in a Founder’s Day Worship Service, during which a check was presented to a local food pantry.

“As Basileus of this great chapter, it was an honor to present awards to my brothers who have been integral in helping promote the ideal of timely service to our chapter and community; however, it’s worth noting that several of the Brothers being honored, as well as many who aren’t, became members during the tenure of our former Basileus, Brother Charlie Bethea,” Vereen said. “Brother Bethea had the foresight and ability to select persons whom he felt would be a benefit to the fraternity and community.”