a profile of leadership: an interview with brother dr...
TRANSCRIPT
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It was over 62 years ago when Dr. James Andrew Elam decided to pledge Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Jim
Elam witnessed over 60 brothers of Upsilon Chapter at Wilberforce University when they rose in unison,
dressed in dark blue suits, white shirts, and all wearing a budding red rose in their lapels. The brothers stood
to recognize and escort Ada (Mother) Young to the podium as she entered the large room in Shorter Hall. The
brothers stood at attention while she spoke. They did not return to their seats until she left the room. Since
that day, Brother James Andrew Elam wanted to be a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Today, as I approach the home of Brother Jim Elam to interview him for this article, Jim, wearing one
of his famous hats and a heavy jacket, greets me in the driveway, even though it is the first day of spring and
unseasonably cold. I was welcomed in true Omega fashion. His first words were, "Hello Fred. How are you
doing? How's the family?" Brother Elam makes visitors to his home feel like family. Upon entering his
home, I felt welcomed as he lit the fire, offered me a seat and thanked me for the opportunity to listen to him
tell his story. Even though he is considered a giant among men in the fraternity, he still finds the need for hu-
mility; he recognizes the importance of service and making others feel at ease in his presence.
Humble Beginnings
Brother Elam was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His family later moved to Owego, New York,
a small town near Cornell. He is the son of a single mother, Sarah Elam, to whom he credits for being the sin-
gle greatest influence in his life. In this small New York town with a population of 5281, his was one of only
five African American families. This fact alone makes it even more spectacular that Jim Elam was elected the
Junior and Senior Class President while in high school. He was well-regarded by his classmates and respected
by adults in his community. The only male figure of influence in his life was his grandfather, who rarely ex-
hibited a kind word or action of encouragement. Brother Elam has a very high opinion of his mother, who
worked tirelessly to get him through school and see that he had a good foundation before sending him out into
the world.
(Continued on Page 2)
Volume 13; Issue 2
April 2013
OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY INC. FOURTH DISTRICT
A Profile of Leadership:
An interview with Brother Dr. James Elam W r i t t e n b y B r ot h e r D r . F r e d A i k e n s
4th District Ch
ronicle
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(Bro. Elam-Continued from Page 1)
Bro. Dr. Jim Elam (Pictured)
Attending Central State University
Brother Elam attended Central State College in 1951. His small hometown in New York had ill-
prepared him for the culture shock that was to come. This was the first time that Brother Elam encountered
educated African American professionals. In his hometown, the blacks consisted of the preacher, the barber,
and the shoe shine man. Central State College was different. At Central State, Jim encountered black teach-
ers, doctors, administrators, students, and most surprising were the black cheerleaders. Brother Elam had
never seen a community that consisted of anything other than a predominantly white population. During his
short time at Central State due to graduating in three years, brother Elam did quite well in his studies. He was
President of the Junior Class and subsequently the Senior Class.
Central State College prepared Brother Elam with a “fundamentally excellent education.” He had the
distinction of being a chauffeur for the first President of Central State College, Dr. Charles Wesley. This was
a position that Brother Elam loved. He enjoyed the interaction with the former president, and learned a lot as
he frequently drove Dr. Wesley to Xenia, Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati. Although this was a responsibil-
ity which was reserved for the younger fraternity brothers of Dr. Wesley (Alpha Phi Alpha), Dr. Wesley re-
quested Brother Elam even though he was an Omega because of his sterling reputation and character. Brother
Elam graduated from Central State University in 1954.
Professional Success
Brother Elam has done well professionally. When asked what he would have done differently, Brother
Elam paused. He said he would have complimented his employees more often. He would have given more
positive feedback and let his team know how much he appreciated their effort. His leadership style is known
throughout the fraternity. Brother Elam is often praised for his ability to influence others, and for his kind and
approachable demeanor. Brother Elam is now retired. He is the owner of Belmont Park Laboratories which
he sold to Smith Kline Beecham Pharmaceuticals. His organization focused on chemical and biological testing
in the city of Dayton and the surrounding area. When he retired, he donated all of the equipment in his labs to
Central State University.
When asked to define success, Brother Elam’s answer was enlightening. He measures success by the
service that he can provide to others; making a difference in the lives of others, and having meaning in one’s
life. He went on to add that one must be willing to provide advice and counsel to others as they encounter dif-
ficulties and obstacles. Brother Elam completed by saying that his own success will be determined by history.
This definition, though very lofty, has guided Brother Elam throughout the course of his life. He continues to
donate to his church, his alma mater, his fraternity, and many other philanthropic endeavors around the world.
Brother Elam has several buildings and honors named for him. The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity will bestow the
most recent honor in April when an endowment of $30,000 is established in the name of James Andrew Elam
at Central State University. (Continued on Page 3)
4 T H D I S T R I C T C H R O N I C L E
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(Bro. Elam-Continued from Page 2)
Fraternity Activity
James Andrew Elam was initiated into the Lampado’s Club in 1951 and crossed the burning sands
of Omega on March 12, 1952. He is a Charter Member of Eta Gamma Chapter at Central State University
and has been influential in the fraternity since the day he was initiated.
Brother Elam has been very active in the fraternity. He has been a member in several graduate chapters since
graduating from Central State. He is currently a member of Mu Chi Chapter in Wilberforce, Ohio where he
attends meetings regularly, participates in chapter activities, and shares in the camaraderie of the Brothers.
Brother Elam served as the International Chairman of Fiscal Management when the Grand Basileus, Brother
Edward Braynon, asked him to take the position in the mid 1970’s. It was during a time when the fraternity
needed greater fiscal oversight, and Brother Elam was happy to serve. He had the honor to serve as a Foun-
der's Stand-In during the Centennial Conclave that took place in Washington, DC in 2011. Brother Elam has
won nearly every award, at every level of the fraternity. He has over 100 plaques in his Omega Room. Jok-
ingly, he said he wanted brothers to stop giving him plaques because he has no place to hang them. The
plaque of which Brother Elam seems most proud is the one given to him by the Economic Development
Committee, acknowledging his business acumen. He states that at the time there were only five of these
awards given out by the Fraternity, and he is elated to be in the company of such great business men and
members of the fraternity such as Brothers Earl Graves and Dr. William (Bill) Cosby.
Brother Elam is busy even to this day as he prepares to visit Washington D.C. for the dedication of
the Colonel Young Estate. President Obama’s office has summoned Brother Elam to be present as the Na-
tional Park Service establishes the Colonel Charles Young Estate as one of five historical sites that will re-
ceive this honor on Monday March 25, 2013. It is expected that President Obama will make this event part
of his Presidential legacy and our own Brother James Elam will be an important part of that history.
I asked Brother Elam how he felt about the future of the fraternity. He expressed his approval of the
current administration as well as the measures that are being implemented to protect the organization for
years to come. He praised Dr. Andrew Ray, the current Grand Basileus, and said the fraternity has come
through a rough past and is now headed toward a promising future. Brother Elam shares a majority opinion
as he expresses his concern for the younger members of our fraternity. Our conversation then focused on
how the younger generation lacks leadership and guidance. An absence of black role models in our commu-
nities is putting our young black men at risk. We both agreed that this issue has reached a critical point and
the fraternity must continue to play a role in the solution. As an organization, we need to return to the pre-
cepts established by our founders. We need to find some way to bring Omega’s proud history to the fore-
front, and show our newest members how to comport themselves in a manner in which our founders would
be proud.
Conclusion
As we ended our time together, Brother Elam shared myriad pictures and documents that demonstrate
his involvement in the fraternity and other communities to which he belongs. As he recalls his memories, I
can see the passion, emotion, and admiration that he has for those who have touched his life. He speaks of
Mother Young, who affectionately called him “Son Jim.” He talks of the past grand officers and the work
they shared. He tells his stories as though they happened yesterday and shares the pictures with accurate de-
scriptions of the people in them.
(Continued on Page 7)
V O L U M E 1 3 ; I S S U E 2
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4
If you had any reservations at all when the soon-to-be Immediate Past District Representative was
elected two years ago, today you should be convinced that the Fourth District elected the best man for the job.
Brother Stanford T. Williams Jr. has served the Fourth District with dedication, distinction, discipline, and de-
termination for the last 15 years. He has sacrificed for the brothers of this district as he has maintained his in-
tegrity, solidified the reputation of the Fourth District, and established friendships all over the world, and then
he began his second term. For many of the brothers of the district, Brother Williams is a mentor, a teacher,
and a friend. This article is written in the spirit of advice, uplift, and furthering the mission of the Mighty
Fourth District and the brothers that call Ohio and West Virginia their home.
Brother Williams pictured with Former District Representatives Jarrett Thomas (center) and Albert Jordon (right). Success, Opportunities, Pleasure and Pain
In an interview with Bro. Williams in early April, several questions were posed to the DR. These ques-
tions were intended to get the DR to share his learned lessons and his perceptions of his success as the DR, to
provide some sage advice for the incoming Officers of the district, and to take a look into the future of the
Fourth District. Although the DR was candid with his responses, he demonstrated characteristics of an authen-
tic leader who seeks to add value to the lives of those he leads. This is apparent in how he assesses his admini-
stration, and how he makes decisions.
Brother Williams asserts that his greatest accomplishment was moving the district closer to paperless
processes and reporting. Previously, the district had between 50 and 70 reports that used numerous pages to
report to the district; this happened at least three times a year, using thousands of sheets of paper and thou-
sands of dollars. The reporting process is now more streamlined, the reports are available on the district web-
site, and brothers can read the reports prior to arriving at the meetings. This reduces the amount of time re-
viewing reports while at the meetings, leaving more time for fraternization and community service. When
asked what could have been done better, the DR thought there could have been a greater focus on undergradu-
ate development and utilizing the Chapter Advisors to be more instrumental in undergraduate chapter develop-
ment.
If you have spent any time with Brother Williams, you will understand that he is a very real and ap-
proachable brother. As a member of the Supreme Council, he appreciates the interaction with other brothers
who have made the same sacrifice as he. Among this select group of leaders, there is a certain level of peer-
respect, common concerns, and an understanding of how the fraternity conducts its affairs. It is among this
group of brothers that our DR flourishes. He likes the camaraderie. He likes the influence that the Fourth Dis-
trict has, and he likes spending time with the brothers. What he liked the least is taking disciplinary actions
against and suspending brothers.
words of Advice from the Fourth District
Representative B y b r o t h e r D r . F r e d A i k e n s
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(Williams-cont. from Page 4)
The Future of the Fourth District
The outgoing District Representative has some advice for his successor. Were he taking office today,
the DR’s first priority would be the Omega Legacy Project (OLP). This is an initiative to have brothers get
their affairs in order before they enter Omega Chapter and share their wishes with their families so that there is
no ambiguity. The OLP allows brothers the opportunity to get fraternity property back to the fraternity so that
the heritage and memorabilia are maintained for future generations. The second priority would be to create a
committee to address the possibility of establishing a life membership program for the Fourth District. There
are other districts that offer this benefit at the district level. Brother Williams feels that the Fourth District
should explore the potential of making this happen in Ohio and West Virginia.
Brother Williams thinks that the future of the fraternity looks bright and that there are great leadership
mechanisms in place. He assures us that the International Headquarters is stable under the leadership of
Brother Kenneth Barnes. There are processes in place, and the fraternity is better organized. The Grand Basil-
eus, Brother Dr. Andrew Ray is a collaborative leader. There is team building and participation by all the offi-
cers of the fraternity. As a member of the Supreme Council, Brother Williams sees that there is “one voice”
that commands the fraternity, and that voice says that we are sound, and the future of Omega is bright.
Giving Advice and Leaving a Legacy
As Brother Williams takes a look back at his tenure, he is proud to say that he was the last Fourth Dis-
trict Representative of the last century and the first DR of the next century. Although leading educated black
men is a difficult task, Bro. Williams would not hesitate to run again. His advice to his successor is to listen
and not to take on too much. He suggests that the incoming DR should take the time to develop a team around
himself with the necessary talents to move the Fourth District forward. The future officers should have the
right skills and dispositions to lead the district to greater heights. Brother Williams says that we should con-
tinue to define excellence, that there should always be a focus on improving and innovating, and that there
should be a continued focus on applying a greater level of business acumen in the fraternity.
Brother Williams was initiated into the fraternity at Beta Iota Chapter in 1997. Since then he has served
as Chapter Basileus, District Editor, District Keeper of Records of Seal, First Vice District Representative, and
currently serves as the 25th Fourth District Representative. The legacy that he leaves, though yet unwritten,
will likely include such characteristics as being direct, being a servant leader, providing training and coaching
to the members of his administration, being fiscally responsible, and being openly and actively supportive in
the election of Brother Christopher M. Cooper Esq. as the Grand Counselor. Brother Cooper is the first Grand
Officer elected from the Fourth District and has worked with Brother Williams as he has served as our District
Representative.
Pictured are the Grand Counselor (fifth from the left), Bro Williams (6th from the left), and the Past
District Representatives of the Fourth District
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Brother Carter G. woodson Honored at
west Virginia State University
Xi Alpha Achievement Week 2012
Christian Manhood By Brother Bobby Robinson
Huntington, WV. On November 11th, 2012, the brothers of Xi Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi
gathered at the First Baptist Church of Huntington, WV to kick off their Achievement Week festivities. This is
a fitting location, albeit this is the city where Omega's beloved Bro. Dr. Carter Goodwin Woodson began his
education at the Fredrick Douglas High School (one of the only all-black high school educational institutions
of its time in the region). Brother Woodson attended Douglas High School before leaving for Berea College in
Kentucky and returning to become the principal of “Douglas High.” This occasion proved even more signifi-
cant as brothers gathered in worship as Reverend Brother Dante’ Jackson (Pastor) rose to proclaim the word of
God in this church in where Brother Dr. Woodson was a member many years ago.
The impact on what we as Omega men have come to know as Achievement Week, has not only shaped
the way Omega Men everywhere perceive the achievements in Negro history, but has evolved into something
that has helped shape the minds of Black people everywhere during Black history month. In a time and society
in which the accomplishments of Black people are acknowledged but undervalued and sometimes devalued,
the power and purpose of Omega stands sure. One component of this purpose to keep alive the legacy of
Achievement Week; not permitting the important achievements of today’s Black people to go unnoticed or un-
dervalued, but continue with perseverance while heroes yet to be recognized do the same.
Brother Rev. Dante’ Jackson said, “Throughout my almost 8 years in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,
Incorporated, this Achievement Week was most meaningful not because it began at the church where I am
blessed to serve as pastor, but because it began in the city and church where Brother Dr. Carter G. Woodson
himself served while on his journey to Black heroism.”
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(Bro. Elam-Continued from Page 3)
He expressed his belief in Jesus Christ and the role that his church plays in his life. He never misses Sun-
day service, he regularly attends Sunday school, and he attends bible study on Wednesdays. He sets a pi-
ous example of an upright man through his devotion and service to God. Brother Elam is a wealth of
knowledge, and I thank him for sharing the afternoon with me. I look forward to spending more time with
him learning about the fraternity, Central State University, and life in general.
Col. Charles Young Historical Marker dedicated
on the Campus of Wilberforce University
Wilberforce, Ohio– April 6, 2013
On a brisk spring afternoon in Wilberforce, Ohio, Colonel Charles Young was honored for
his many contributions. One could say he was being honored for his military service, or for organiz-
ing the Military Science Department at Wilberforce University. It could also be argued that he was
being honored for being the highest ranking African American Officer in the United States Army
during his lifetime. The invited guests and speakers told stories and read history of how Colonel
Young was awarded the NAACP Spingarn Medal in 1916 and how he served the Wilberforce com-
munity as he worked with his friend, W.E.B. DuBois. The accomplishments of Colonel Charles
Young were many, so there is much for which he could have been recognized. As members of
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, we are most proud that “The Colonel” is and will always be one of us.
Though he is a member of Omega Chapter, Brother Young lives in our hearts and in our history. He
serves as a shining light in the bright crown of Omega.
The unveiling of this marker is symbolic that The Colonel’s contributions are not only recog-
nized by the Fraternity, but by the State of Ohio. On hand to commemorate this auspicious occasion
were representatives from the Governor’s Office, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio His-
torical Marker Committee, and the President of Wilberforce University, Dr. Patricia Hardaway.
Among the myriad brothers of Upsilon Chapter who were on campus to celebrate their 90th anniver-
sary was Brother Dr. Jim Elam, representing the Buffalo Soldiers.
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In the next issue:
Presidential Proclamation-The Youngsholm Estate National Park
Upsilon Celebrates it’s 90th Anniversary
The 72nd Annual District Meeting and Conference hosted by Beta Iota Chapter
Introducing the new 4th District officers
Thank you to the Brothers of the Fourth District for the chance to
serve as your District Director of Public Relations
May God continue to bless you, your families, and your endeavors
Brother Christopher Welch
http://www.oppf.org/leadership-conference.asp