The history of the 4th District represents the evolution of two organizational concepts now embodied in the present-day functions of the District Representative and District Meeting.
The first District Representatives were appointed by the Grand Basileus who was authorized by a constitutional amendment in 1922. The District Representatives were delegated the function of assisting the Grand Chapter in the supervision of chapters within a geographical area known as a District.
Ohio and West Virginia’s journey over the past 90 years to what is now known as the Fourth District has not been a straight path. In 1920, Grand Basileus Raymond G. Robinson added Kappa Chapter at West Virginia Institute (now West Virginia State University). Then during the first year of Grand Basileus Alston Atkins’ administration in 1922 the name Kappa, which had been the designation of the Chapter at West Virginia Institute, became the name of a Chapter organized at Syracuse University. The Chapter at West Virginia State was then given a new charter as Theta Psi.
The history of the Fourth District in Ohio dates back to 1919, the year the Grand Chapter took steps to establish a chapter in Cleveland. Grand Basileus Raymond G. Robinson, spent some time in the Forest City hopelessly seeking men possessing the desired Omega ideals. The story of this unsuccessful venture, however, offered a challenge to a young newcomer to Cleveland, Nathaniel B. Bowen, then a brother and student at Morehouse College. Between school semesters Bowen renewed the search and in collaboration with Ted Hendricks, a brother, and several other migrant brothers, a qualified group was ready for a charter in 1923, the first in Ohio. The new chapter was designated Zeta Omega. Charter members were: P. H. White, Estes Gunn, John McMorries, Fred Roseboro, Julius Thomas, J. E. Edwards, Nathaniel Bowen, Elmer Whiting, William T. White, A. J. Thomas, and Henry Moon. Later that year, Upsilon was chartered at Wilberforce University.
In 1923 under the leadership of Brother Nathaniel Bowen the two states were joined together with Western Pennsylvania and known as the Ninth District. Over the next 23 years, the two states separated and aligned with other states in various Districts. Over the years, the two states have traveled through the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, and 11th Districts. Changes occurred in the mid 30’s when Brother Adolf. P. Hamblin was elected District Representative of the 11th District in 1937, which consisted of both Ohio and West Virginia.
“Omega Dear” was adopted as the official hymn by the fraternity in 1931. Brother Charles R. Drew, professor of surgery, and Brother Mercer Cook, professor of languages at Howard University faculty were the composers of the hymn. Brother Louia Vaughn Jones who was a world-renowned concert violinist and a professor within the music department at Howard arranged the musical score for the hymn. He was initiated into Omega in Zeta Omega Chapter.
The first 4th District Meeting under the constitutional mandate was held in Columbus, Ohio, in 1941 on the campus of The Ohio State University. Nine Chapters were eligible to participate in this first District Meeting. This development represents an inspiring story in Omega history.
Under the leadership of District Representative Chester Gray in 1941 Ohio and West Virginia officially became known as the 4th District. The leadership of District Representative Gray was instrumental in expanding the number of Chapters that are now a part of the 4th District and leading the District’s adoption of the Social Action Program.
Grand Conclaves: 25th in Cleveland, Ohio 1937; 34th in Columbus, Ohio in 1948 (the first time the 4th District, as we are known today hosted); 39th in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1953; 44th in Cleveland, Ohio in 1958; 68th in Cleveland, Ohio in 1994. Lastly, Cincinnati was the host of the 2017 Leadership Conference.
The first Talent Hunt at a Grand Conclave was presented in Cincinnati in 1953.
In the mid ’90s, the 4th District March Down was officially renamed the Kevin Cherry” 4th District March Down after his untimely death on November 1, 1991. This designation was in honor of the late Bro Cherry’s contribution as an Undergraduate/Intermediate Representative to the Supreme Council.
On February 26, 2000, the 4th District Talent Hunt has officially renamed the “Calvin H. Thomas” 4th District Talent Hunt in honor of the late long-time 4th District Talent Hunt Chair, the late Bro Calvin Thomas.
In 2011, the 4th District renamed its DR Breakfast the “Hank Glaspie” DR Breakfast in honor of the founder of the DR Breakfast the late Bro Henry “Hank” Glaspie, 21st Fourth District Representative. The first official “Hank Glaspie” DR Breakfast was held in 2012 at the 71st Fourth District Meeting in Canton, Ohio.
In 2013, the 4th District established a District Motto “To unite a Brotherhood of college-educated men with like ideals and commitment to service in Ohio and West Virginia communities.”
In 2014, the 4th District established the 4th District Honor Society to recognize Undergraduates with 3.0 cumulative GPAs and above.
Brother Keith B. Key became the youngest donor in The Ohio State University’s history when he contributed $1 million to support the Office of Student Life’s Center for Student Leadership and Service. The office has been appropriately renamed the Keith B. Key Center for Student Leadership and Service.
In 2020, the 4th became the first District of Omega to sponsor a borehole in Ghana, Africa. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 79th Fourth District Meeting which held in Youngstown, OH was canceled. The 4th District held its first virtual Awards ceremony on May 28, 2020.
In 2021, the 4th District saw many highlights. The 4th District Life Membership Program was established. The 80th Fourth District Meeting featured the first-ever 4th District Undergraduate Debate Competition. The 4th District Delegation unanimously approved the renaming of the Budget & Finance Committee to the “Bobby J. McDowell” Budget & Finance Committee. The 4th District ascended to 1,000 financial members for the first time in 4th District history. Pi Zeta Chapter was moved to from Baldwin Wallace University to Stark County to serve as a citywide Undergraduate Chapter to service Malone University, University of Mt Union and Walsh University.
11th District (Ohio & West Virginia)
| 1937-1939 | 1. Bro. Adolf. P. Hamblin | Xi Alpha | 11th District (Ohio & WV) |
| 1939-1940 | 2. Bro Elvey E. Mitchell | Xi Alpha | 11th District (Ohio & WV) |
| 1940-1941 | 3. Bro. James Henry Rowland | Chi Alpha | 11th District (Ohio & WV) |
| 1941-1942 | 4. Bro Chester Gray | Mu Iota | 11th District (Ohio & WV) |
4th District (Ohio & West Virginia)
| 1942-1943 | 1. Bro Chester Gray | Mu Iota | 4th District |
| 1943-1945 | 2. Bro. J. Douglas Anderson | Xi Alpha | 4th District |
| 1945-1949 | 3. Bro. E.A. Bowling | Xi Alpha | 4th District |
| 1949-1953 | 4. Bro. Leonard Holland | Mu Iota | 4th District |
| 1953-1954 | 5. Bro Willard Brown | Xi Alpha | 4th District |
| 1954-1956 | 6. Bro. James Henry Rowland | Upsilon Upsilon | 4th District |
| 1956-1960 | 7. Bro. Leonard L. Holland | Mu Iota | 4th District |
| 1960-1965 | 8. Bro. William J. Moore | Beta Iota | 4th District |
| 1965-1968 | 9. Bro. Dr. Clark E. Beck | Delta Alpha | 4th District |
| 1968-1969 | 10. Bro. Robert Thomas | Delta Alpha | 4th District |
| 1969 | 11. Bro. Dr. John L. Fuller | Xi Alpha | 4th District |
| 1969-1972 | 12. Bro. Dr. Floydelh Anderson | Xi Alpha | 4th District |
| 1972-1975 | 13. Bro. William L. Hunter | Kappa Tau | 4th District |
| 1975-1978 | 14. Bro. Dr. R. Charles Byers | Xi Alpha | 4th District |
| 1978-1980 | 15. Bro. Richard Jenkins | Zeta Omega | 4th District |
| 1980-1984 | 16. Bro. Dr. Frank C. Williams | Zeta Omega | 4th District |
| 1985-1987 | 17. Bro. Kenneth Wilson | Xi Tau | 4th District |
| 1987-1990 | 18. Bro. Jarrett A. Thomas | Delta Alpha | 4th District |
| 1990-1992 | 19. Bro. Raymond Tillery, Sr | Mu Iota | 4th District |
| 1992-1994 | 20. Bro. Malvin Jones | Delta Alpha | 4th District |
| 1994-1996 | 21. Bro. Henry W. Glaspie, Jr. | Beta Iota | 4th District |
| 1996-1997 | 22. Bro. Rev. Mel Kendall McCray | Zeta Omega | 4th District |
| 1997-1999 | 23. Bro. Christopher M. Cooper, Esq. | Mu Iota | 4th District |
| 1999-2001 | 24. Bro. Albert Jordan | Delta Alpha | 4th District |
| 2001-2003 | 25. Bro. Dr. Gregory Epps | Xi Alpha | 4th District |
| 2003-2005 | 26. Bro. William M. Comeaux | Zeta Omega | 4th District |
| 2005-2007 | 27. Bro. Jesse J. Junius, Jr. | Delta Alpha | 4th District |
| 2007-2009 | 28. Bro. Dewey A. Ortiz, Sr. | Mu Iota | 4th District |
| 2009-2011 | 29. Bro. Rufus D. Heard | Zeta Omega | 4th District |
| 2011-2013 | 30. Bro. Stanford T. Williams, Jr | Beta Iota | 4th District |
| 2013-2015 | 31. Bro. Christopher K. Welch | Delta Alpha | 4th District |
| 2015-2017 | 32. Bro. Daryl S. Cameron | Psi Omicron | 4th District |
| 2017-2019 | 33. Bro. Elder Bobby L. Robinson | Xi Alpha | 4th District |
| 2019-2021 | 34. Bro. Lamar T. Cole | Zeta Omega | 4th District |
| 2021- | 35. Bro. David L. Reliford | Kappa Tau | 4th District |
| Bro. George V. Johnson | Grand Marshall – Cleveland | 1937 |
| Bro. Dexter D. Eure | 2nd Vice Grand Basileus | 1945 |
| Bro. Paul A. Jones | Grand Marshall – Cincinnati | 1953 |
| Bro. Charles P. Lucas | Grand Marshall – Cleveland | 1958 |
| Bro. J. Franklin Spurill | Grand Counselor | 1970 |
| Bro. Dr. Frank C. Williams | Grand Marshall – Cleveland | 1994 |
| Bro. Christopher M. Cooper, Sr., Esq | Ground Counselor | 2010-14 |
| Daniel B. Jones Sr. | Grand Keeper of Finance | 2016-20 |
| Bro. Kevin Cherry | Undergraduate/Intermediate Representative | 1986 |
| Bro. Darryl G. Moore | Undergraduate/Intermediate Representative | 1996 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1937 |
| Columbus, OH | 1948 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1953 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1994 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 2017 |
| Judge Ronald B. Adrine | Cleveland Municipal Court Judge |
| Russell T. Adrine, Esq. | Political Activist in Cleveland, OH |
| Douglas Anderson | Former Registrar at West Virginia State – Scholarship named in his honor |
| Dr. Samuel Baskerville | Dentist, Scholarship named in his honor |
| Horace Belmear | Former Educator at WVU, endowed scholarship in his honor |
| James Andrew Elam | President, Belmont Park Laboratories, Philanthropist |
| Adolph Hamblin | Former Professor at West Virginia State, Science building named in his honor |
| Charles P. Lucas, Sr. | Former Regional Director of HUD |
| Dr. James Russell | Former President St. Paul’s College, Former Interim President West Virginia State |
| Sam Shepard | Former Editor of the Oracle |
| C. Franklin Spurill, Esq. | Past Grand Counselor |
| W. O. Walker | Founder of Call-In Post (Black Newspaper) |
| Judge Charles White | Common Pleas Court |
| Bayard Rustin | Civil Rights Activist, Architect of the 1963 March on Washington & developer of “Freedom Rides” |
| Dr. R. Charles Byers | Interim President/Provost Emeritus – West Virginia State University |
| Col George “Spanky” Roberts | Tuskegee Airman 1st Graduating Class |
| MG Charles C. Rogers | Congressional Medal of Honor |
| Herb Washington | Former Major League Baseball Player – Oakland A’s |
| Steven Perry | Former Executive Director of Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| Ted Childs | Former VP of IBM Global Workforce Diversity, Featured in The History Makers |
| Ozzie Newsome | Former NFL Football Player – Cleveland Browns, NFL General Manager |
| Carter G. Woodson | Father of Black History, Former Dean of Liberal Arts at West Virginia State |
| Jesse Heslip | 1st Basileus of the War Chapter |
| George Whitehead, Esq. | Civil Rights Attorney |
| Christopher M. Cooper, Esq. | Past Grand Counselor |
| Malcolm Jenkins | NFL Football Player – New Orleans Saints/Philadelphia Eagles |
| Roderick McDavis | 20th President of The Ohio University. He is the first Ohioan of African ancestry and only the second alumnus to lead Ohio University as President. |
| John M. Rudley | President Emeritus Texas Southern University |
| Matt Snell | Former NFL Football Player – New York Jets |
| Hal Greer | Former NBA Player for the Philadelphia 76ers |
| Louia Vaughn Jones | World Renowned Concert Violinist. Arranged the musical score for the Hymn, “Omega Dear” |
| Harry Lee “Butch” Reynolds, Jr. | American former track and field athlete |
| Bob Ferguson | NFL Football Player – Pittsburgh Steelers/Minnesota Vikings |
| Alex Gordon | NFL Player – NY Jets/LA Raiders/Cincinnati Bengals |
| Dr. James Elam | Central State University | 2014 |
| Horace Belmear | West Virginia University | 2016 |
| Dr. R. Charles Byers | West Virginia University | 2017 |
| Jamail E. Johnson | Youngstown State University | 2018 |
| Devin C. G. Moore | Kent State University | 2018 |
Undergraduate
| Chapter Name | Charter Date |
Location
|
| Beta Beta | January 8, 1971 | The University of Akron |
| Delta Epsilon | October 1, 1947 | Bowling Green State University |
| Eta Gamma | October 1, 1951 | Central State University |
| Gamma Lambda | August 6, 1979 | West Virginia University Institute of Technology |
| Iota Psi | March 17, 1926 | The Ohio State University |
| Lambda Theta | January 17, 1970 | Shepherd University |
| Nu Beta | May 14, 1971 | Marshall University |
| Nu Zeta | September 28, 1973 | West Virginia University |
| Omega Epsilon | November 1, 1949 | University of Toledo |
| Phi Theta | August 1, 1970 | Cleveland State University |
| Phi Sigma | May 1, 1946 | Case Western Reserve University |
| Pi Zeta | November 6, 1973 | Baldwin Wallace University |
| Psi Gamma | April 1, 1969 | Kent State University |
| Psi Theta | August 1, 1970 | University of Cincinnati |
| Sigma Psi | May 15, 1968 | Ohio University |
| Tau Xi | October 12, 2006 | Miami University |
| Upsilon | April 1, 1923 | Wilberforce University |
| Xi Theta | March 11, 1970 | Ashland University |
| Zeta Beta | February 19,1971 | University of Dayton |
| Zeta Gamma | March 11, 1951 | Youngstown State University |
| Zeta Sigma | May 16, 1939 | Bluefield State University |
Graduate
| Chapter Name | Charter Date |
Location
|
| Alpha Alpha Alpha | March 3, 1978 | Morgantown, WV |
| Beta Iota | June 25, 1940 | Cincinnati, OH |
| Chi Alpha | October 1, 1939 | Bluefield, WV |
| Delta Alpha | June 1, 1934 | Dayton, OH |
| Eta Nu Nu | November 19, 2020 | Columbus, OH |
| Kappa Tau | June 20, 1959 | Canton, OH |
| Mu Chi | April 5, 1955 | Fairborne, OH |
| Mu Iota | June 1, 1945 | Columbus, OH |
| Psi Beta Beta | July 25, 1983 | Huntington, WV |
| Psi Omicron | June 15, 1949 | Youngstown, OH |
| Upsilon Upsilon | May 1, 1952 | Beckley, WV |
| Xi Alpha | October 1, 1936 | Charleston, WV |
| Xi Chi | May 1, 1955 | Akron, OH |
| Xi Iota Iota | December 7, 1991 | Lime, Piqua, Sidney, OH |
| Xi Tau | April 6, 1960 | Toledo, OH |
| Zeta Kappa Kappa | July 12, 1995 | Beachwood, OH |
| Zeta Omega | March 6, 1923 | Cleveland, OH |