Ozell Sutton Omega Service

Brother Ozell Sutton Born: December 13, 1925 | Initiated: Pi Lambda, October 1, 1950 | Omega: December 19, 2015

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY OMEGA SERVICE Monday, December 28, 2015 | 7:00 PM

Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel | Morehouse College | Atlanta, GA

Manly Deeds, Scholarship, and Love for All Mankind

Resolution Honoring and Transferring to Omega Chapter Brother Ozell Sutton WHEREAS:

Brother Ozell Sutton was born on Sunday, the thirteenth of December, nineteen hundred twenty-five in Gould, Arkansas and attended Dunbar High School in Little Rock, Arkansas; and

WHEREAS:

Brother Sutton went on to show his commitment to serving the country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1944 where he survived bloody conflicts from the Solomon Islands to Saipan; and

WHEREAS:

Brother Sutton’s journey towards academic enlightenment took him to Philander Smith College in Little Rock, AR where he graduated in nineteen hundred fifty; and

WHEREAS:

Brother Sutton was duly initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on Sunday, the first of October, nineteen hundred fifty through the Pi Lambda Chapter seated in Little Rock, AR and

WHEREAS:

Brother Sutton became the first black reporter for the white-owned publication Arkansas Democrat. He also served as one of the escorts for the Little Rock Nine in 1957; and

WHEREAS:

Brother Sutton’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement included his role as a field representative for the U.S. Justice Department’s Community Relations Service. In 1962, Philander Smith College awarded him with an honorary doctorate in recognition of his role in the Civil Rights Movement, and a year later he marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington, DC; and

WHEREAS: Brother Sutton was tremendously dedicated to Alpha Phi Alpha and showed unwavering commitment over his sixty-five years of service. He first served as the Arkansas state director and in 1971 became the southwestern region vice president.

He later became Georgia state director and later served as the southern region vice president from 1976-1980. He was elected as the 26th general president in 1980 and served until the end of 1984. In 1994 he was awarded the Alpha Award of Merit, the highest honor bestowed on a member of the fraternity. He has remained involved living out the mission and aims of Alpha Phi Alpha becoming a shining light of what it truly means to be a servant of the people; and WHEREAS:

Our hearts are overjoyed with Brother Ozell Sutton’s accomplishments and how he touched so many lives remaining mission focused, promoting academic excellence and providing service and advocacy to his community. It is because of brothers like him that we are in fact the College of Friendship, the University of Brotherly Love and the School for the Better Making of Men.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity transfers the membership of Brother Ozell Sutton to the higher realm of its Omega Chapter where he may stand in noble peace alongside our other dearly departed brothers.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, Mark S. Tillman, general president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Constitution and By-Laws, have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen and of the one hundred ninth year of the fraternity.

Mark S. Tillman General President ATTEST: William Douglass Lyle Executive Director/COO OMEGA SERVICE | OZELL SUTTON 3

Taken on August 4, 1976, in the Executive Mansion, President William R. Tolbert of Monrovia, Liberia welcomes Alpha brothers to his country during the 70th Anniversary General Convention. Among attendees were 24th General President Walter Washington, Midwest Region Vice President Thomas Pawley, 27th General President Charles Teamer, James “Tiny” Blanton and 25th General President James R. Williams. Behind Tolbert is 26th General President Ozell Sutton, next to Washington.

Brother Ozell Sutton, sitting with Brother Harold Win­f rey, President of Alpha Delta Lambda, serving as master of ceremonies for an Alpha event. The Keynote Speaker for the luncheon was Brother Ozell Sutton, state director of Georgia at the time.

THE LIFE OF AN ALPHA LEGEND

C

ivil rights activist and community leader Ozell Sutton was born on December 13, 1925, on a plantation in southeast Arkansas in the city of Gould. Despite grueling hours and backbreaking work on the cotton plantation, Sutton managed to graduate from Dunbar High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1944, Sutton became one the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps, at Montford Point.

“DESPITE BEING DENIED MANY BASIC RIGHTS, THE MONTFORD POINT MARINES COMMITTED TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY WITH SELFLESS PATRIOTISM....

EMBODYING THE MARINE CORPS MOTTO OF SEMPER FIDELIS, ALWAYS FAITHFUL, THESE HEROES PAVED THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF WARRIORS, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, TO SERVE IN THE FINEST MILITARY THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.” – PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

In 1950, Brother Sutton entered the house of Alpha through Pi Lambda Chapter in Little Rock, AR. With his 65 years of fraternal membership

Brother Sutton has been a trailblazer in the midst of extreme race-based challenges.

Alpha’s 26th general president was no stranger to adversity. He grew up in a sharecropper’s home.

The one-room schoolhouse was for him a real memory – not just a storybook scenario. Walking to school was the order of the day, coupled with the dubious pleasure of watching the bus pass each day loaded with children of another race. He completed eighth grade at the colored school in Gould. But that was the extent of the education available locally, and the family had no money to assist him in continuing his education.

So he struck off on his own. In Little Rock he got a job as a dishwasher at Walgreen’s, working over 60 hours a week. After Walgreen’s came another restaurant job. This one was downtown, and during that stretch he got the opportunity to watch Brother Thurgood Marshall argue that black teachers should get equal pay for the work they performed. Brother Sutton noted that time also as a point of inspiration to him.

The dishwashing paid off with Ozell’s graduation from Dunbar High School in Little Rock. After 2 years in the Marine Corps, he returned to that city to enter college. He attended Dunbar College for 2 years and then graduated from Philander Smith College. Brother Sutton later served as a member of the College’s Board of Trustees. On the recommendation of his college

Brother Sutton speaking at the National Memorial Service for Dr. Charles H. Wesley at Howard University’s historic Rankin Memorial Chapel in 1987.

General Presidents (l to r): 22nd General President Lionel H. Newsom, 26th General President Ozell Sutton, 12th General President Raymond W. Cannon, 27th General President Charles C. Teamer Sr., 24th General President Walter Washington and 25th General President James R. Williams.

“HE BREATHED LIFE INTO THE ‘A VOTELESS PEOPLE IS A HOPELESS PEOPLE CAMPAIGN, INITIATED THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT/CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION INSTITUTES, AND INAUGURATED PROJECT ALPHA. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR INSTITUTING THE PROGRAMMATIC APPROACH [TO] THE ‘BLACK STRUGGLE.’” – 29TH GENERAL PRESIDENT MILTON C. DAVIS

instructors, Brother Sutton was hired as a reporter by the Arkansas Democrat newspaper in 1950. He started work 4 months prior to his graduation from college and became the first black reporter on a major Southern newspaper.

Act structured and passed beginning in 1962.

During the civil rights marches and protests he was assigned to the police and the courts where he was supposed to know how the police would respond to the protests in an effort to prevent violence.

Brother Sutton began his professional career in human relations after leaving the newspaper, working first with the Little Rock Housing Authority and as a personal assistant to Winthrop Rockefeller. As he told it, in 1956 he heard about the protests and boycotts taking place in Montgomery, Alabama, so he and some friends hopped in a car and drove there to learn firsthand what was going on. He said that he spent 2 to 3 weeks there observing, learning, and listening to the leadership led by 27-year-old Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sutton confessed that he was unaware that he and King were brothers of Alpha during that visit. In 1961, he became associate director of the Arkansas Council on Human Relations, an interracial group working for equal rights. In 1963, he marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in the historic March on Washington, DC. He became director of the Arkansas Council on Human Relations where he worked to get the Civil Rights

In 1968, Brother Ozell Sutton was working as a field representative for the Community Relations Service of the United States Department of Justice. He was assigned to work on equal rights programs in several cities in the Southern part of the country. He also served as a mediator during racial disturbances. That is how he came to be in Memphis in 1968 during the strike by the city’s garbage workers. For the stay, he was registered in room 308 at the Lorraine Hotel. In room 306 was another member of Alpha Phi Alpha Martin Luther King Jr. Brother Sutton said he heard the shots when King was struck by an assassin’s bullets and he knew immediately what had occurred.

Because of his federal job, only he had access to hospital staff and official reports on the status of Martin Luther King Jr. when King was taken to the hospital on April 4, 1968. It was Sutton

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OMEGA SERVICE | OZELL SUTTON 5

Presiding Brother Mark S. Tillman General President Organ Prelude �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Brother David F. Oliver Morehouse College Organist Procession of Officers and Alpha Phi Alpha Members Opening Statement ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Brother Mark S. Tillman General President Statement by the Southern Region Assistant Vice President................................................................... Brother Brandon Woodruff Statement by Eta Lambda Chapter President............................................................................................................Brother John J. Funny Reflections from Alpha Members ������������������������������������������������������������� Brother Congressman David A. Scott, D-GA, 13th District Brother Robert A. Willis, Past Southern Region Vice President Brother Roderick L. Smothers Sr., President, Philander Smith College Brother Ambassador Andrew Young Musical Selection Brother Samuel E. Martin, Jr. THE OMEGA SERVICE RITE Brother Reverend Walter L. Kimbrough, Presiding Liturgist Brother Reverend Herbert Bridgewater, Associate Liturgist Brother Reverend Michael Stinson, Associate Liturgist THE LITURGIST I am the resurrection and the life - saith the Lord He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

INVOCATION O Master Eternal, give to each of us The deep consciousness of Thy presence That the spirit of fraternity may so Direct our thoughts, guide and control Our hearts and lives, that we may become Through Thee, servants of all mankind.

AMEN SING THE FIRST VERSE OF THE ALPHA HYMN WITH CHORUS. SCRIPTURE LESSON And God said, let there be light, and there was light And God saw the light- that it was good.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God And the Word was God. In Him was the life and light of men.

Then spoke Jesus again unto them saying: I am the Light of the world.

He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, But shall have the light of life.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness Hath shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge Of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.

SCRIPTURE LESSON (cont) Ye are the light of the world; Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

I am ALPHA and OMEGA, the beginning and the end saith the Lord, Which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

AMEN LITANY FOR THE DEAD L. O Father of life, and giver of light look with favor upon Thy creatures here assembled; R. AND GRANT US THY BLESSING. L. O, Thou, who hast led man through the ages of his existence upon the earth by Thy Spirit R. GRANT US THY CONTINUED GUIDANCE. L. Thou who dost generate love and goodness in hearts and the desire for fellowship one

with the other in life’s living: R. INCREASE THY SPIRIT IN US L. Thou who hast called our brother from his task to the reward of noble thought and deed: R. DEEPEN OUR MEMORY OF HIM L. Thou who are the light of the new heaven, the new earth, the new Jerusalem, the Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end of all creation.

R. GRANT A FINAL RESTING PLACE WITH THEE TO ALL WHOM THOU HAST CALLED AND FINALLY OURSELVES. AMEN Words of Tribute “An Alpha Brother”, Brother Darryl R. Matthews, Sr., 32nd General President “A Family Man”, Brother Harry E. Johnson, Sr., 31st General President “A Servant Leader”, Brother Adrian L. Wallace, 30th General President “An Investor in Education and our Children”, Brother Henry Ponder, 28th General President Musical Selection Samuel E. Martin, Jr. Words of Tribute “A General President”, Brother James R. Williams, 25th General President “A Fighter for Civil Rights”, Brother Milton C. Davis, 29th General President “A Man Full of Life”, Brother Charles C. Teamer, Sr., 27th General President “A Man from Yonder to Here”, Brother Mark S. Tillman, General President THE OMEGA CHAPTER HYMN (Sung to the tune of the Alpha Hymn) Alpha brothers, gather ‘round And make our praise resound Of this brother, whose labors now are crowned.

His good deeds, heaven blest Commend them through each test To OMEGA our chapter of sweet rest. (chorus) Farewell, dear brother, transcendent are thou, Thy spirit shall dwell with us now.

We cherish thy mem’ry, thy good name we’ll revere To thy glory, thy honor, BROTHER, dear.

BENEDICTION AND BLESSING The grace of the Lord - Jesus Christ Be with your spirit, brother.

And now, may the Peace of God, Which passeth all understanding, Keep your hearts and minds in the Knowledge and love of God, — And of His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord: And may the blessing of God Almighty, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Be amongst you, and remain with you always.

AMEN SING THE FIRST VERSE AND CHORUS OF THE ALPHA HYMN Closing Remarks............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. General President Tillman Recession of Officers and Family Omega Service Host Chapters: Alpha Rho, Theta Mu, Eta Lambda, Metro Area Alpha Chapters OMEGA SERVICE | OZELL SUTTON 7

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who first shared the news of the death of the fallen leader with the rest of the waiting public.

After this time, Sutton went back home and forged a new path that included resumed service with Governor Rockefeller before returning to federal government as state supervisor of the southeast region of the Community Relations Service.

During this time, he served as Alpha Phi Alpha’s Arkansas district director and in 1971 was elected the southwestern region vice president. He only served one year in the post before moving to Atlanta, where he had accepted a new job.

While, he became Georgia state director and was southern region vice president from 19761980. He was elected 26th general president in 1980 and served until the end of 1984.

In 1983, a federal holiday honoring the late Bro. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was signed into law and that same year a group of five Maryland Alphas proposed that there should be a memorial

to the slain leader in our nation’s capitol in Washington, DC. Sutton said the proposal made it past the board of directors and onto the floor of the General Convention that year.

Twice the proposal was voted down. During the evening after the second vote, brothers met with Sutton and asked that he reintroduce the measure and that he explain why it is important for the Fraternity to uphold such a proposal.

The support and presentation were given and a third vote followed. This time, it was approved.

Over the next 13 years, brothers in and out of Congress met in DC to garner approval for land in the famous National Mall area that was in congressional jurisdiction. The significant hurdle was the fact that only presidents and wars had been memorialized in that area. King would be the first and only private citizen to receive the honor.

Sutton arranged a meeting in Washington to meet with President William Jefferson Clinton after having no success for such a long time.

Brothers visit Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tenn., to reflect on April 4, 1968, the day Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. (r-l) 28th General President Henry Ponder, 29th General President Milton C. Davis, Brother Leland Ivy Southern Region Assistant Vice President, Past Southern Region Vice President Everett Ward and Brother Trevor Thompson and 26th General President Ozell Sutton.

After being seated in the Oval Office, Sutton recalled hearing a familiar voice shout out, “Ozell Sutton!” To which he responded, “Hello, Bill.”

After the conversation that included an array of stories, President Clinton provided his support, and congressional approval was secured in 1996. From there the fraternity sought designs and began raising money. The final design was approved in 1999 and the project was completed and dedicated in 2011.

Brother Sutton has repeatedly made Ebony magazine’s annual list of the “100 Most

Influential African Americans.” He also was awarded the Medal of Freedom by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Sutton served as the national president of several organizations, such as the National Assault on Illiteracy, and was a founding member of the executive board of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as well as a co-chairperson of the Atlanta BlackJewish Coalition. In 2012, he was presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama for being among the first blacks to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“[SUTTON’S] COMMITMENT, INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS, [MAKES HIM] AN EXEMPLARY MAN OF GREAT STRENGTH AND COMPASSION.” – CORETTA SCOTT KING

OMEGA SERVICE | OZELL SUTTON 9

Brother Sutton seen here as he and other past General Presidents take the dais during the Alpha Phi Alpha pilgrimage to Cornell University, kicking off the fraternity’s yearlong .

Brother Sutton at the inauguration of General President Darryl R. Matthews on a visit to the grave-site of Brother Martin Luther King Jr.

In 2008, Brother Vic Carter penned 26th General President Ozell Sutton’s biography, “From Yonder to Here: The Life and Work of Dr. Ozell Sutton.”

Brother Sutton receives the Semper Fidelis Congressional Gold Medal.

Brother Sutton was one of the first African-Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps.

Brother Sutton congratulates the 34th general president of Alpha Phi Alpha, Mark S. Tillman, at his inauguration in Detroit, MI, 2013.

Brother Sutton receives presidential citation from Acting General President Aaron Crutison (l) with Executive Director William D. Lyle (r).

Brother Sutton with (l-r) 31st General President Harry E. Johnson Sr., 30th General President Adrian L. Wallace, and 25th General President James R. Williams.

Brother Sutton surrounded by past General Presidents at 2005 pilgrimage to Cornell in preparation for Alpha’s Centennial.

(l-r) 29th General President Milton C. Davis, 32nd General President Darryl R. Matthews Sr., 26th General President Ozell Sutton, 28th General President Henry Ponder, 27th General President Charles C. Teamer Sr., and 25th General President James R. Williams.

“I SAW MY ADMINISTRATION MOVING ALPHA WHERE IT BELONGS—IN THE FOREFRONT OF LEADERSHIP IN THE BLACK STRUGGLE.” – 26TH GENERAL PRESIDENT OZELL SUTTON

OMEGA SERVICE | OZELL SUTTON 11

First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All

"Farewell, dear brother, transcendent are thou, Thy spirit shall dwell with us now.

We cherish thy mem’ry, thy good name we’ll revere To thy glory, thy honor, brother, dear."

Brother Ozell Sutton PI LAMBDA 1950 | OMEGA 2015