Our Legacy and Mission
NGA HISTORY
History of NGA:
Nu Gamma Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Nu Gamma Alpha Fraternity, Inc., was founded and organized in Washington, D. C. in 1962, under the leadership of Ronald Gilkes, Robert Coates, and Curtis Hensley. These three brothers always had a tight bond and were seen around campus, and were at all events together. These brothers were instrumental in making NGA move forward. The brothers who were on the first lines were; Eddie Cleveland, John Tate, Arvelle Greenwood, Gary Cole, Judge Atlear Lester, Fred Dale, David Oggi, Ellis Bailey, Marty Johnson, Tony Johnson Dennis S. Houston, Luther McAdams, Eric Garrison, Dr. William Hall, Charles (CHIP) Lewis, Dr. Arnold Evans, Ronald Gilkes, Dr. Robert Coates, and most famous of them all was, Larkin Arnold (Sparky). Larkin Arnold went on to become the VP of Epic Records. Signing famous artists like Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Natalie Cole, and the list goes on. At times, Stokely Carmichael would hang with them, but he did not pledge. There were 13 or more men existing under a common bond, desiring to pledge Kappa Alpha Psi and other Greeks, but due to the university’s grade point average polices, they were denied the right to pledge a Greek organization. Therefore, this caused them to establish NGA.
This common bond and divine brotherhood promoted the founding of the Alpha Chapter of NGA, based on unbiased brotherhood in an atmosphere of unprejudiced environment. In addition, Nu Gamma Alpha was so popular on campus that the president at the time became very intrigued with them, and Dr. James Cheeks, the President of Howard University at the time, was made an honorary member. This event happened at an off-campus apartment of Luther Macadam, Marty Johnson, and Tony Johnson. However, the initial ceremony was not a routine ceremony, but more so, the opportunity to come together and fellowship, and they claimed the name NO G. D. AVERAGE. This did not mean they did not have the average, but due to the university’s standards of dropping the grade point average if you were late for class. If you missed classes or were late for class and their grade point would be dropped. They later changed the name to Nu Gamma Alpha after much request from others due to their popularity of those they identified as. This is when the name was changed to Nu Gamma Alpha Fraternity. Therefore, Nu Gamma Alpha, Inc., Gents, LTD, brought about a mystic and curiosity that indicated that admission into the organization was limited and exclusive to a select group of brothers who met their criteria.
The 15 or more brothers became very popular on campus, and soon everyone wanted to be involved with NGA. It should be noted that the 15 or more brothers were always well dressed, had money, and were professional, and some drove convertible cars around campus and the city. Therefore, this created a status symbol, in which everyone gravitated to NGA. They definitely had a certain mysticism, which created a high level of status, and people wanted to know more about them and wanted to be accepted into the organization. They had extremely high social and moral skills. They were very Brilliant gentlemen. Charles Powell designed and created the fraternity’s shield, and John Tate wrote the policies and procedures for the organization. In addition, the group used to hang out in front of Founders Library at Howard, watching the Que’s and the Kappa’s. They also decided one night to collect a boulder from Rock Creek Park, and they put it by the flagpole in the middle of campus, which remained there for years with Nu Gamma’s name on it.
According to Wikipedia, a clip from the “The Lincolnian Newspaper in Oxford Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, March 1st, 1966, an article was written titled “The New Breed.” They reported that for the benefit of all who did not know it, there exists at Lincoln University a chapter of Nu Gamma Alpha- Beta Chapter. The Magnificent Seven” embarked upon the traditional shores of Lincoln University clad in Burgundy and White. However, white was not one of the colors and could have been misguided in some kind of way, and the other color is grey. They were gallantly led by Lord Marvin Hughes; Vice Lord- Joel Hutchins, Lord Secretariat- Michael Claytor, Lord of Finance- Carlous Pitts. The leaders were supported by and united with brother Jesse McFarland, Ronnie Cole, and Tom McGill. Nu Gamma Alpha is not just an organization, but it is a fraternity, still erupting and being fertilized in its beginning stages. It roots. Like other fraternities on campuses, it stems from Howard University since 1962 with a requisite, official constitution and charter. The Beta chapter was young but determined. It has not yet been officially recognized at Lincoln University pending the approval of the Board and the proceedings of the Pan-Hellenic Council, but it existed spiritually and fraternally. According to the article, the purpose of the fraternity was clearly defined in the chapter’s constitution, and its purpose was to enable those who wish to participate in a fraternal organization to realize true fraternal spirit, and learn what it means to share and fraternize, and have an organization that serves these purposes and functions.
There was a real need at Lincoln for such an organization. First of all, those who did not have a 3.00 could still be a part of a frat. Secondly, the frat offers advancement. If one got his pledging average, as it was expected of them, they could freely join any campus fraternity they wished. Of the founding seven, all of them desired to pledge Que or Kappa.
In addition, there was a period where the fraternity went over to Morgan State University and considered joining forces with Grove Pho Grove, but their efforts were not positive, due to neither organization not being willing to give up their name.
To be qualified to join Nu Gamma Alpha, one must first of all be a man. The pledging period lasts four weeks with interactive weekends, and one would have to have an average of 3.01 to 3.50. The above surface fact was that NGA’s unity and spirit were not easily written down, but they were congratulated for their effort to better Lincoln University. A better Lincoln, for them all realized the importance of learning and the accompanying joys of sharing. Although they were called raddle, they found that imperfection and utilized it, and it became an addition to the academic standards for a fraternal goal and unity, which only introduced a self-introspection could be formed.
The Southern Regional Chapters had their beginnings from a brother by the name of Baxter “BB” Wright, who organized a chapter on the campus of Livingston College in Salisbury, North Carolina. The Southern Region’s first chapter is Gamma, which was conceived through the initiation of 12 brothers in the fall of 1967, during the months of November at Livingston College.
In the Spring of 1968, the second Southern Regional Chapter was formed on Johnson C. Smith University’s campus in Charlotte, North Carolina. The chapter was given the name Delta Chapter. The charter line had twelve pledgees who became brothers of Nu Gamma Alpha in March of 1967, under the leadership of Brother James Baxter (BB) Wright.
In the Fall semester of 1968, two chapters were founded by Brother Harold Parks of Delta Chapter (President), and Brother Rubin Wilson of Gamma Chapter (President). Harold Parks became a brother in March of 1968. He is a charter member of the Nu chapter, formed at New York City College, New York.
There were two other chapters formed in 1968. They are Epsilon at A & T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Omicron Chapter at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Gamma Chapter at Livingston College initiated the Epsilon Chapter charter line, with Brother John Satterwhite presiding.
The Omicron Chapter at Shaw University was officially formed in 1968. However, they had an underground chapter that went over at Howard University in 1967.
In the Fall semester of 1969, Brothers at A&T State University formed the Zeta Chapter at Winston-Salem State University.
In the Fall semester of 1970, Brothers at Shaw University formed the Kappa Chapter at St. Augustine University. The first chapter at St. Augustine consisted of one outstanding Brother.
In the Spring semester of 1970, Brothers at Shaw University formed the Theta Chapter at North Carolina Central University. The first chapter at North Carolina Central consisted of five outstanding Brothers.
In 1976. Raymond Johnson pledged alone on a line at Shaw University.
In 1977, Shaw University had an underground line, which consisted of Curtis Williams, Christopher Johniken, Dr. Alton B. Byrd, Percell Gregory, Michael Bowe, Derrick Adams, *Ron Little, and they combined with about seven brothers from Saint Augustine College at the time, which is now Saint Augustine’s University.
The Iota Chapter of Nu Gamma Alpha Fraternity, Gents, Ltd. (NGA), began on the campus of Agriculture, Mechanical and Normal College (AM&N) on October 5, 1971. The Fall 1971 date is a transitioning date for former members of the Wine SI FI Society (WSF) that started in 1966. The desire to become brothers of Nu Gamma Alpha was to provide a legitimate foundation and noble cause for a band of brothers seeking organizational structure to amplify ideology on social issues and academic acceptance at AM&N College. A mention of the WSI Society is essential to highlight the ultimate founding brothers of the soon-to-be Iota Chapter of Nu Gamma Alpha. Inspired by WSF’s founding Brothers, Lancing Chace and Calvin Hill, WSF desired to become a more acceptable organization to students and faculty on the AM&N campus. After a review of established fraternal organizations, Nu Gamma Alpha was desired, and brothers George Howard and Andrew Bishop traveled to North Carolina A&T University to obtain a charter that would establish the NGA chapter on the campus of AM&N College. In the fall of 1973, AM&N College became a member of the University of Arkansas system of universities, and AM&N College became the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
In the Spring semester of 1974, Brothers at St. Augustine University formed the Omega Chapter at NC State University. The first chapter at NC State consisted of eight (8) brothers.
In the Spring of 1977, Brother Andre Crawford of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff formed the Beta Kappa Chapter at Chicago State University. The first chapter at Chicago State consisted of 25 brothers.
In the Spring of 1978, Brothers at Chicago State University formed the Sigma Nu Chapter at Aurora University, Aurora, IL
In the Spring of 1979, Brothers at Chicago State University formed the Tau Sigma Chapter at Northeastern University, Chicago, IL
In the Spring of 2010, Brothers at Chicago State University formed the Tau Omega Chapter at Robert Morris University, Chicago, IL
Since the NGA National Conclave in 2022, the following lines have been over:
In the Fall of 2022- Atlanta Chapter- Brother Richard Dunn- The Magnificent One Line.
In the Fall of 2023- Raleigh Chapter-Stephon Lawrence, Kevin Hicks, Michael Johnson, Rodney Singletary, Stanley Wilson, Emanuel Chapman- Southside Six.
In the Fall of 2023- Raleigh Chapter- International- Japan- Brother Kedric Tolbert- Japan 23. First virtual online pledgee from Japan.
In the Fall of 2024- Dr. Vincent Howell- Dynamic One.
On November 9th, 2024, at the National Conclave, Brother Tywanza Sanders, age 26 at the time of his death, was inducted into NGA as an Honorary Nu Gamma Alpha Member. Tywanza was one of the nine victims who were assassinated during the shooting while attending bible study at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015.
In the Fall of 2024, Brother Corbin Ingraham formed the Beta Chapter in Southern California the Fall of 2024 Shaw University completed its first line since the 1970s with 2 pledgees: Isaiah Foreman and Myles Stubblefield- Impact 24.
On September 20th, 2025, an NGA Retreat was held, and this was an opportunity for some of the brothers from the first three lines to meet some of the current brothers. The event was held at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Greenbelt, Maryland. There were approximately 36 brothers in attendance, and some brothers attended by Zoom.
This is the NU BEGINNING OF NU GAMMA ALPHA.