Bloody Pi Chapter
Pi chapter was founded October 28th, 1923 on the campus of Morgan College in Baltimore, Maryland by eight men headed by the Honorable Brother Linwood G. Koger. Pi is the sixteenth of 23 undergraduate chapters chartered by the National Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, Incorporated.
Generations of Pi Brothers had the opportunity to obtain firsthand knowledge about their beloved Fraternity by walking and talking with Brother Koger. Very few chapters had this awesome and inspiring opportunity. Pi Brothers also hosted the writing of the Fraternity’s 1963 History Book and were mentored by the author, Dr. Walter Gill.
Pi Chapter Brothers of Note:
Dr. Walter G. Amprey, Educator – was appointed Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Baltimore City Public Schools by Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke. He would lead Baltimore’s public schools with incredible devotion to educators and most importantly, to students and honored as Maryland Superintendent of the Year in 1995. Brother Amprey served as president of the Large City Schools Superintendents of the U.S. And Canada from 1995-96.
Joe Black, Athlete – pitched with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1952 against the New York Yankees, Brother Black was the first black to pitch in a World Series game. He joined Pi Chapter in 1946. Brother Black received Masters Degrees from both Seton Hall and Rutgers Universities. In corporate life Brother Joe Black rose to Vice president of Greyhound Bus Lines.
Raoul (Ray) Carroll, Attorney – served as General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Assistant United States Attorney under President George Bush, (41), among other leadership government posts. Brother Ray was an energetic and effective counselor and advocate for veterans rights. He also served as President of the Government National Mortgage Association at HUD. Ray was just as successful his government career as an investment banker, university advisor, and veterans counselor.
Dr. Howard Lee Cornish, Minister, Educator, Civil Rights Activist – served as director of the Morgan Christian Center. A beloved professor of mathematics on the college campus, Cornish lived in the parsonage and his home was known as a center of Civil Rights activities involving Morgan students, clergy and activists from throughout the Baltimore community.
Dr. Walter A. Gill, Educator – was also an author, artist, actor and former university professor. It has been estimated that Dr. Gill has touched the lives of over 16,000 students, in K-12, undergraduates and in graduate school. He was the first African American to graduate from prestigious Baltimore City College High School, the country’s third oldest high school. After graduating from Morgan State College (now University) he acquired his master and Ph.D. degrees in educational communications from Syracuse University (NY). Brother Gill authored of The History of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
George McKinney, who was the first African American to be appointed U.S. marshal for the District of Maryland, and whose career in federal service spanned more than four decades.
Samm-Art (Big Samm) Williams, Playwrite, Producer – was the television producer for “Martin”, “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Hanging with Mr. Cooper”. Williams is Artist-in-Residence at North Carolina Central University, where he teaches classes on equity theatre and the art of playwriting. In 2011, The Black Rep of Saint Louis, Missouri produced the world premier of his play The Montford Point Marine. Montford Point was where the first black Marines trained.
A prolific artist, Big Samm made his mark in the movies, on stage, and on tv. He was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for his play Home (1979), which moved to a Broadway in 1980. Big Samm had multiple experiences in front of the camera playing Matthew Henson in the historical drama TV movie Cook and Peary: The Race to the Pole (CBS, 1983),in the PBS American Playhouse dramas Denmark Vesey (1985; title role) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (as Jim; 1986). In the mid-1980s he appeared in television series including The New Mike Hammer, 227, and Frank’s Place, a CBS dramedy for which he also served as a story editor. His film work during this time included a role in Blood Simple (1984).