OLMF - Key Persons

Albert Benifield

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Audit Committee
Chairman of the Grants Committee
Member of the Bylaws Review Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Officers Team
Asst. Treasurer

Arnold J. Simmons

Job Titles:

Member of the Bylaws Review Committee

Arshad M. Ali

Job Titles:

Member of the Audit Committee

Benjamin F. Hill - Treasurer

Job Titles:

Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Bylaws Review Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Officers Team
Treasurer

Brother H. Carl Moultrie, former Chief Judge Superior Court of the District of Columbia and National Executive Secretary Emeritus was born on April 3, 1915 in Tampa, Florida. The son of the late Reverend William Edward and Mrs. Anne Moultrie, Carl was reared and received his preparatory education in Charleston, South Carolina, graduating from Avery Institute. He also received an A.B. Degree from Lincoln University, Chester, Pennsylvania and Aa Master of Arts Degree from New York University. After graduating from Lincoln University in 1935 and the Lincoln Theological Seminary in 1938, he began his professional career in Wilmington, North Carolina as a columnist for the Wilmington Journal newspaper and as Executive Director of the Wilmington Community Boy's Club. Brother Moultrie later served as Probation Truant Officer and the Manager of the Hillcrest Public Housing Development. In 1949, he was elected the National Executive Secretary of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Brother Moultrie received his Juris Doctorate Degree from Georgetown University School of Law and thereafter became associated with the prestigious Washington law firm of Cobb, Howard, Hays and Windsor. In 1972, former President Richard M. Nixon named Brother Moultrie to a judgeship with Superior Court, Washington, District of Columbia. To most Omega men back in 1949, the idea of establishing a national office to serve the fraternity with full time Executive Secretary and support staff was "wild speculation" and, to say the least, "an experiment," but the had confidence in the man who would shoulder this new and challenging responsibility. The man? Brother H. Carl Moultrie, known as "Mr. Omega" by Brothers for he knew more Omega men than any other man on earth and was known by more Omega men than nay other Brother alive. An executive of the highest caliber and an individual who knew how to bring out the best in others, he did indeed successfully lead the organization into its first office. Brother Moultrie's numerous memberships included the NAACP Legal Redress Committee; Chairman of the Washington Bar Association, Civil Rights Division; a member of the Steering Committee of Citizens of Public Welfare Crisis; and a member of the Washington OIC Board of Directors. Among the many honors bestowed upon Brother Moultrie are the following: Distinguished Service Award, 7th District, Biloxi, Mississippi; Sigma Omega Award of Excellence, Chicago Illinois; Distinguished and Outstanding Service Award, Raleigh, North Carolina; Meritorious Service Award, Los Angeles, California; Meritorious Service Award, Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama; Urban League Service Award, Washington, District of Columbia; Outstanding Service Award, Freedom Fun Committee-NAACP; Resourcefulness and Civic Leadership Award-NAACP; the Civil Right and Dedication Award, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc,; Senior Citizen of the Year Award, District of Columbia Federation of Civic Association; and the Meritorious Service Award, Nu Omega Chapter, Detroit, Michigan. He was married to the former Sara-Ellyn Avant of Wilmington, North Carolina and was the father of one son, H. Carl Moultrie, II. Having lived a full and rewarding life of service to his fraternity and mankind, Brother Moultrie entered Omega Chapter on April 9, 1986.

Bro. James S. Avery Sr.

Brother James S. Avery, Sr., a former corporate executive, who served as Omega's 28th Grand Basileus, did not merely open doors for Black people in this country; he changed marketing strategy throughout the corporate world. In his autobiography, "Others Thought I Could Lead," Brother Avery shares in vivid, candid and often poetic detail, the secrets of his success and unique work ethic, his moral values, and an uncompromising belief in himself that allowed him to persevere in the face of adversity. His destiny of leadership was the result of preparedness, opportunity and commitment. For James Avery, this was evident early in his life. In his autobiography, he wrote, "when I was a student at Cranford High School, I had teachers who never let me forget that I could achieve my goal… Through this kind of support and encouragement, one becomes better able to face life's challenges and to seize opportunities that can make a difference in the world around us." After an honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Columbia University and received his Bachelor's degree and continued to receive a Master's degree in Education. He started his working career in his hometown of Cranford, N.J. as a teacher and coach, for which he received numerous honors and awards. The quality of service you provide in your daily life and the manner in which you perform whatever responsibility you're given, never goes unnoticed. For Brother Avery, opportunity knocked while he was teaching. It happened to be the father of one of his students. This particular parent was an assistant manager at Esso Standard Oil Company (now Exxon). Based upon feedback from his child and the observations of others, the gentleman called on James Avery and indicated that Esso was looking for a professional employee with a background in education and experience in community service, who could function in the company's educational and race relations programs. During his tenure at Esso Standard Oil Company, James Avery forged many partnerships, alliances and affiliations with high profile individuals and national organizations. Yet it was at the start of his career that he decided to seek membership into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He was impressed by several local businessmen and community leaders in Plainfield, NJ. for their community involvement. He was friend and neighbor to Raymond Cruse, Bill McKnight, Washington & Joel Nelson, and Donald Van Blake. The men demonstrated a friendship and mutual respect that inspired Brother Avery. He saw these characteristics in casual situations, in organized social occasions and on a one on one basis. He was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. through the Omicron Chi Chapter in 1957. Chartered in 1955, Brother Avery was its first initiated member. Serving as National Co-Chairman of the United Negro College Fund for three national campaigns from 1965-67, he helped raise over $12 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) and during his involvement with UNCF, Esso Standard Oil Company established a grant to UNCF which grew from $50,000 to $150,000 per year. He felt strongly about building financial resources Black colleges and universities needed for the preparedness of Black students.

Bro. Walter "Crow" Riddick

During the 54th Grand Conclave in Houston, Texas, Grand Basileus James S. Avery appointed Brother Walter "Crowe" Riddick, Grand Keeper of Records and Seal Emeritus, as chairman of the Life Membership Program.

Brother Herbert E. Tucker

Job Titles:

Member Charitable Giving

Brother Tucker's tenure as 23rd Grand Basileus was dominated by increased intensity on social action and support of the ongoing civil rights struggle. The Fraternity's Life Membership program was launched during his tenure along with life membership in the NAACP. In 1935, Brother Tucker was initiated into the Fraternity through Gamma Chapter. Upon graduating from Northeastern University School of Law, he was admitted to the bar in 1947. In 1952, Brother Tucker and Antonio Cardozo founded what they believed was the first black law firm in the state of Massachusetts. He and Mary Hill of Philadelphia married in 1937. The couple had two daughters, Gwendolyn and Gretchen. Beginning in 1950, Brother Tucker held offices with the National Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Colored People, serving as president of the Boston branch from 1956 to 1960. Before that, he was the Fraternity's First District Representative, serving members in New England. In 1949, he was elected the Fraternity's second Grand Counselor. It was a position he held until 1953, when he was elected First Vice Grand Basileus. At the 41st Grand Conclave in 1955, Brother John F. Potts, who was the Fraternity's Grand Basileus at the time, placed Brother Tucker's name in nomination for Grand Basileus. He was elected to three terms as Grand Basileus without opposition. No other Grand Basileus had served that many times. Brother Tucker's tenure as Grand Basileus was dominated by increased intensity on social action and support of the ongoing civil rights struggle. The Fraternity approved nu- merous resolutions deploring mob violence and racial discrimination as well as support for the student "sit-in" demonstrations against lunch counter and restaurant discrimi- nation. The Fraternity's Life Membership program was launched during his tenure and the final payment was made on the national headquarters in Washington DC. The Fraternity purchased a second life membership in the NAACP and more than $30,000 was contributed to the group by chapters who also obtained life memberships. Brother Tucker later became involved in politics, working on the U.S. Senate and presidential campaigns of John F. Kennedy. Brother Tucker and his wife attended one of JFK's inaugural balls in 1961. Later that year, Kennedy picked Brother Tucker to be an assistant attorney general in Mas- sachusetts. Kennedy also appointed him to be his personal representative, with the rank of ambassador, to the Republic of Gabon in Africa. Brother Tucker's career as a jurist began in 1973, when he was appointed special justice in the Dorchester District Court. He later became an associate justice in that court and in 1980 became the presiding justice of the Edgartown Dis- trict Court, where he remained until his retirement in 1985. He joined the Aleppo Shriners and was the Worshipful Master of Mt. Zion No. 15, Prince Hall in Dorchester. He was also a lecturer at several universities, including Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University and Harvard College.