our founderS

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., January 9, 1914, by three young African American male students. The Founders, Honorable A. Langston Taylor, Honorable Leonard F. Morse, and Honorable Charles I. Brown, wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.

The Founders deeply wished to create an organization that viewed itself as “a part of” the general community rather than “apart from” the general community. They believed that each potential member should be judged by his own merits, rather than his family background or affluence…without regard to race, nationality, skin tone or texture of hair. They desired for their fraternity to exist as part of an even greater brotherhood which would be devoted to the “inclusive we” rather than the “exclusive we”.

From its inception, the Founders also conceived Phi Beta Sigma as a mechanism to deliver services to the general community. Rather than gaining skills to be utilized exclusively for themselves and their immediate families, they held a deep conviction that they should return their newly acquired skills to the communities from which they had come. This deep conviction was mirrored in the Fraternity’s motto, “Culture For Service and Service For Humanity”.

Today, Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed into an international organization of leaders. No longer a single entity, members of the Fraternity have been instrumental in the establishment of the Phi Beta Sigma National Foundation, the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union and The Sigma Beta Club Foundation. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, founded in 1920 with the assistance of Phi Beta Sigma, is the sister organization of the Fraternity.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. was founded on January 9, 1914 at Howard University, Washington, D.C., changing lives through service for 107 years. Our Noble Founders, Honorable Charles I. Brown, Honorable Leonard F. Morse and Honorable A. Langston Taylor felt a need to establish a fraternal organization based on the principals of Brotherhood and Scholarship. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. also has a sister organization, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. founded January 16, 1920 at Howard University, Washington, D.C. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. has chapters all over the United States, in Africa, Europe and the Far East.

One of our Honorable Founders Brother Leonard F. Morse was the founder of our Graduate Chapter here in Orlando. Morse was the President of Edward Waters College. In the fall of 1951 Founder Morse who then resided in Jacksonville, Florida oversaw the initiation of nine charter members. Those individuals were Stanley Muller, Marion Price, Preston Lamb, William McKinney, W.M. Holland, Samuel Smith, Theodore Charlton, Willie J. Brown and James Wilson. Bro. Wilson is the only surviving charter member. These original members were responsible for laying the foundation of a chapter that has made major contributions to the central Florida community.

Throughout the past 60 plus years Gamma Delta Sigma has embodied the spirit of its motto “Culture for Service, Service for Humanity”. The Chapter has sponsored many events in the education, social and business communities and continues to do so by living out the out the ideals of the fraternity. Some of the signature events sponsored by the chapter are the 12 for 12 Thanksgiving Give-Away, the Christmas Pick a Family and the Scholarship Luncheon. These events have garnered literally thousands of dollars in monetary and other donations to deserving individuals of the Orlando community. 

Additionally the Chapter has sponsored a youth football team for more than a quarter of a century, mentoring boys and providing them with an opportunity to grow athletically and academically. Gamma Delta Sigma looks forward with great anticipation to the future and will endeavor to continue its great tradition as our cause speeds on its way.