Orange County California - - Mu Alpha Alpha and Phi Lambda Chapters Providing
Service Over Four Decades.
Story and Photography by Brother Myron E. Reed
Concept by Brothers Dr. Ernest Bridges and Dr. Theron Smith
Since being chartered on March 15, 1980, Mu Alpha Alpha (MAA) graduate
chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has been providing service to Orange
County California and surrounding areas. Over the course of many decades, Mu
Alpha Alpha Chapter has cultivated and maintained a long and successful
relationship with the Brothers, and interests, of Phi Lambda undergraduate
chapter. Phi Lambda was chartered at California State University Fullerton but it’s
membership historically consists of Brothers that matriculate at several colleges
and universities throughout Orange County and the Inland Empire.
Also chartered in 1980, Phi Lambda chapter has the unique distinction and honor
of earning, and being named the perennial 12th District Undergraduate Chapter of
The Year for the last consecutive half-decade or longer. In addition to chapter
honors, Phi Lambda has produced numerous individual 12th District and
International Scholarship Award winners during this period as well.
A fun, unique, and rather interesting fact is that a father and son legacy duo are
currently the Baseli of Mu Alpha Alpha and Phi Lambda Chapters respectively.
Brother Eugene (“Gene”) Pettiford, Jr. is currently Basileus of Mu Alpha Alpha
Chapter and his son, Brother Eugene (“Tre”) Pettiford, III is Basileus of Phi
Lambda. This is a first of its kind feat for Mu Alpha Alpha and Phi Lambda legacy
Brothers to concurrently lead their respective chapters as Baseli. As if that were
not enough, Tre was recently elected to the office of 12th District Second Vice
District Representative. Kudos and congratulations to Gene and Tre, job well
done! Gene was initiated in 2011 via Iota Nu Chapter, 3rd District, and Tre was
duly initiated via Phi Lambda in 2020.
While not a charter member of Mu Alpha Alpha, Brother Dr. Ernest Bridges (’75
Kappa Tau, 4th District) has a special place in the history of the chapter since its
inception. Ernie, as he is affectionately known, was the Southern California Area
Representative circa 1979-80. Ernie was dispatched by then 12th District
Representative Brother Arnold Butler to work with a group of graduate military
Brothers, primarily from Marine Corps Airs Station (MCAS) El Toro, that were
interested in forming a new chapter in Orange County California. The rest as they
say, is history. Ernie later transferred his financial membership to Mu Alpha Alpha
Chapter. Since it’s conceptualization in 1979 through today, every Brother that
has ever called MAA his fraternal home owes a debt of gratitude and respect to
Brother Ernie Bridges. Keeping with the theme of Omega family legacy, both of
Ernie’s sons, Brother Eric Bridges and Brother Evan Bridges, were initiated into
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. via Mu Alpha Alpha Chapter in Spring 2000. Having
served in literally every capacity in the chapter over the years, Brother Ernie
Bridges remains active in Mu Alpha Alpha and is currently chapter
Parliamentarian.
While not necessarily all Mu Alpha Alpha or Phi Lambda related, one of the
strongest Omega family stories is that of current Mu Alpha Alpha Brother Mark
Smalls who was initiated in 1977 via Omega Zeta Chapter, 6th District, Duke
University. Brother Smalls family legacy is the following: Henry Smalls, father,
Omega Chapter; Terrence Smalls, son; Lenard Smalls, uncle, Omega Chapter;
Byron Smalls, brother. Omega runs deep in the Smalls family!
The intriguing family legacy of service story is rounded out by the following list of
Brothers from seven (7) additional families with ties to either Mu Alpha Alpha, Phi
Lambda or both: Morris P. (Big Mo) O’Kelly and Morris (Mo Kelly) O’Kelly; Warren
Williams and Jeffrey Williams; Undray Baker and Brandyn Baker; William Thomas
(Omega Chapter) and William Thomas, III; Bernard Hardy, Sr. and Bernard Hardy,
II; Gilbert Melton and Byron Melton; Napoleon Singletary, III and Napoleon
Singletary, IV.
