TAU Chapter was chartered on May 1st, 1922 at Atlanta University for undergraduate men seeking membership into Omega Psi Phi.
Brother Harold H. Thomas, 8th Grand Basileus, and Brother Walter "Big Chief" Aiken, famed Atlanta University football coach, are the chapter's founders.
The Camp Howard War Chapter was instrumental in bringing Omega Psi Phi to Atlanta, GA. Established in early 1918, Camp Howard War Chapter initiated 27 men.
Significantly, three War Chapter initiates - Laurence R. Harper, Horace A Hodges, and Harvey M. Smith - were Atlanta University undergraduates.
Brothers Harper, Hodges and Smith helped charter Eta chapter on December 27, 1919 for students at Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Clark College.
Tau would emerge from Eta in 1922 along with Psi at Morehouse College and Eta Omega (for graduate men), followed by Beta Psi at Clark College in 1923. Eta was reassigned to undergraduates at Alcorn University in 1950.
The earliest documented Tau chapter activity appeared in 1927. Led by Basileus Amos Williams, Tau had 22 active brothers and boasted a strong Achievement Week program. The chapter roster included Brother William D. Long who, along with six other Atlanta University undergraduates, was initiated at Tau on April 26, 1926. During the 1990s, brother William D. Long was one of Omega's oldest living members. Brother Long entered Omega chapter in January 1997.
Founded in 1865, Atlanta University became an exclusively graduate and professional institution in 1929, the first with a predominantly black student body. Atlanta University conferred its first Master of Arts degree in 1931.
Accordingly, the Tau chapter designation changed from undergraduate to intermediate and Tau would now serve Atlanta University men in pursuit of graduate professional degrees and Omega Psi Phi. Also of note, Jessie O. Thomas (Eta Omega) founded the Atlanta University School of Social Work. Brother Thomas served as First Vice-Grand Basileus under William E. Baugh from 1937 to 1939 and as the Tau chapter advisor while matriculating at Atlanta University.
Tau chapter became the intermediate chapter of Atlanta in 1969 when Omicron chapter was reassigned to Columbia University in NYC, initially opening its membership to men at the interdenominational Theological Center (ITC).
Tau chapter expanded efforts between 1969 and 2000 to initiate collegiate men pursuing graduate degrees from other Atlanta area professional schools including Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Tech, Emory University Law School, Georgia State, and Devry. Although Omega officially decided at the Indianapolis Conclave in July 2000 to do away with the intermediate status, Thunderin' Tau chapter will remain true to the mission of servicing Omega and young professional men in metro Atlanta.
Currently, Thunderin’ Tau Chapter has a member roster which exceeds 200 men and functions as one of several Graduate Chapters in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Due to its charter as an undergraduate chapter at AU in 1922, an intermediate chapter from 1931 until 2000, and current status as a Graduate Chapter, Tau is the only Chapter in the Fraternity history to have been categorized as all three genres. Tau is definitely a thriving Pearl of Omega Psi Phi and a home for all Brothers who love Omega Dear.
