help_outline Skip to main content
Add Me To Your Mailing List

News / Articles

Oldest Living Member of Omega Psi Phi

Published on 8/3/2010
SUBJECT AND THE ORIGINAL QUESTION? Is Dosh Jackson the 99 yr old brother and i think 35 psi and one of the founders of alpha sigma, the oldest living bruh in the frat? Hey Bros., No, Bro. Doss Jackson is not the oldest, living Omega. Perhaps he is the oldest living consistently FINANCIAL brother. Bro. Dr. David H. Reid, Jr., (Upsilon 1927, is 101 years old, born in Raleigh, N.C. in May 1909). We had a big Birthday Party for him last May 2009, which was feted by both a personalized message and a great Birthday Card signed by former GB Warren Lee. As well, since Bro. Dr. Reid had been active with Alpha Omega for many years, we submitted a full article to the Oracle. Despite assurances that the article would be published, I never saw it and suspect that it was either never published, or was included in the so-called "on-line" Oracles that were published by "Guest Editors," which 99% of us never saw. As well, in 2009 Bro. Dr. Reid was verbally invited - by whom I cannot say for certain - to address the 76th Conclave in Raleigh, which is also his home town. He now lives in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the home of his son, Bro. Dr. David H. Reid, III (4-64-Alpha Chapter), my LB. But apparently no one followed up, so Dr. Reid was not included in any Raleigh Conclave events. Given how this Conclave just dragged on, we certainly could have used some of Dr. Reid's wisdom during the many periods of no apparent activity. He is quite alert and could have shared a lot with us. I interviewed him last November 2009. He took great pride in telling me about 1926-27 pledging, and what it was like to be a high school student at Shaw University in the 1920s (because the city offered no public high schools for the Negro youth), and then going on to college at Wilberforce Univ. in 1926, where he was inducted into the Lampados Club in about September 1926, at 17 years of age, and then into Omega in November 1927. He knew Mrs. Charles Young, and was initiated in the same sub-basement that served as a station on the underground railroad during the slavery era. So no, Bro. Doss Jackson, a great Omega man, is not our oldest. An aside, in 1963, here in D.C., as a federal government summer intern, I worked with Doss Jackson, Jr., who had just been initiated at Gamma Epsilon. I was at Howard, seeking Omega through the Mother Pearl, and did gain entrance into the brotherhood on the next line, the 21 Titans, initiated on April 4, 1964. Beyond the Good Bro. Doss Jackson - As I noted in my reply, Bro. Dr. David H. Reid, age 101 years as of May 2010, was inducted into Upsilon Chapter (Wilberforce Univ.) in November 1927. He was recruited and put into the Lampados Club in September 1926. He was an active member of Alpha Omega for many years, and now lives in Northern Virginian, with his son, Bro. Dr. David H. Reid, III, my LB, from Alpha Chapter 1964. Further, we ALSO have Bro. Ben Spaulding, another Alpha Omega brother, who was inducted into Alpha Chapter in 1931. He is the brother who was awarded the 80 year plaque and recognition at the 76th Conclave. It was noted that he almost had 80 active years in the fraternity, and that the decision was made to award him the 80 year plaque NOW. If God spares life, I imagine that the 80 year plaque will be represented at the Centennial Conclave. I was at the Urban League Centennial Convention art reception last night, and spoke with William "Billy" Thompson, Bro. Spaulding's godson and caretaker. He was well aware of the award that was given in Raleigh, and said that Bro, Spaulding was just ecstatic about having been recognized by the fraternity at the conclave. Bro. Spaulding is about 99 years old, very much alert to everything. Any questions, please advise. Thank you. PLEASE FORWARD THIS INFORMATION AS YOU SEE FIT Rohulamin Quander, FIETTS Chairman, 3rd District, History and Archives 202-487-9922 - c