On September 19,1963, at Morgan State College
(now Morgan State University), 12 undergraduate men
formed what is now the fifth largest predominately
African American Fraternity in the United States:
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. The founders of Iota
were: the Honorable Charles Briscoe, Charles Brown,
Frank Coakley, Elias Dorsey, Jr.; Charles Gregory,
Albert Hicks, Louis Hudnell, Webster Lewis, John Slade, Lonnie Spruill, Micheal Williams, & Baron Willis. This group of men were unique for several
reasons. First of all, many were long-time friends.
Bros Coakley, Dorsey, and Gregory had known each other
since grade school, & Coakley and Spruill's friendship
extended to pre-school. What made them even more unique was the fact that many of these men were
"Non-Traditional" students. Briscoe, Gregory, & Willis
were all military veterans. Briscoe, Brown, and Hicks
were married and had children. Several of the Honorable Founders were also working full-time, and all were
full-time students. Based upon their ages, backgrounds, heightened
responsibilities, and increased level of maturity, this group had a slightly different perspective than the
average college student. They were ready, willing, and
able to accept the challenges of being an Asiatic man in America, being a new African American greek-lettered Fraternity (the first in 49 yrs), and being fighters
for Civil and Human Rights in the era of The Civil
Rights Revolution. The Honorable Founders of Iota Phi Theta started an organization that was INNOVATIVE and fought for Positive Change in Cultural, Economic, Educational, and Political arenas. Where others dared not go, what others dared not do, Iota went and did. For all of this the founders of Iota Phi Theta, and future members became known as The
"Sons of the Revolution!" Today Iota Phi Theta is a national social service
organization consisting of over 10,000 members and 110+ chapters in 29 states. Iota Phi Theta promotes and
prepetuates Brotherhood, Citizenship, Fidelity,
Leadership, and Scholarship. Iota is comprised of men
from many economic, ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds. Iota Phi Theta is the choice for the collegiate and professional man who believes in Brotherhood,
contributing to the betterment of Humankind, and
desires high academic & personal acheivement! Iota
Phi Theta is an organization for leaders, leaders who
wish to keep their personal identity, while working with others to accomplish great things! The men of Iota Phi Theta continue to uphold our Founders' Vision & Motto:
Beginnings
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