Tau Tau Chapter was founded in Compton, California in February, 1961. Tau Tau was the third chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity to be chartered in the Los Angeles Area. Brother Rowland Powell spearheaded the inception of Tau Tau.  Brother Powell was initiated into the fraternity through Lambda Chapter at the University of Southern California.  Brother Powell had recently returned to the Compton area after distinctively serving his country in the Korean War.  Upon his return to Compton, Brother Powell discovered an overwhelming amount of inactive Omega Men in the Compton and Los Angeles area.  Through perseverance and commitment, Brother Powell was able to bring together interested Omega Men with a willingness to start a new chapter. Brothers instrumental in founding the new included Brothers John Snead, Huey Dread, James Stansil, McKinley Exum, Sidney Purdle, Marco Vallery, Johnson Maner, Sylvester Ward, Thomas Gibson, and Wilfred Smith.  Shortly after inspiring the local brothers to rededicate them to the business of Omega, Brother Powell moved to Jackson, Mississippi where he established a successful veterinarian practice.  The chapter was founded with 25 members.  The first installation of officers was performed at the Ran Roundup Restaurant.  Brother Wally Daniel did the honors.  The first five Basilei of the chapter were:

 1st: Sylvester Ward
 2nd: Huey Dredd
 3rd: Wilfred Smith
 4th: Emmitt Cox
 5th: Marco Vallery

Those five men administered the reigns of leadership used to shape the young chapter and it’s community.  General meetings rotated between brother’s homes.  During the sixties, the brothers of Tau Tau were active in several local civil rights activities in both Compton and Los Angeles.  Brother Stansil organized several voter registration drives while Brother Paine established himself as an active participant in community affairs.  There was also a strong crew of Quettes within the chapter that assisted the brothers in many community activities.  The sixties also saw Tau Tau develop a positive working relationship with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at California State University Los Angeles.  The sixties recorded the acceptance of Willie Alexander, Daniel Davis, and Charles Banks into the Lampados Club and later initiation into the fraternity through Tau Tau.

During the seventies, the brotherhood maintained its high level of visibility within the community.  Brother Dredd was elected PTA President at Willowbrook Junior High School, while Brother Albert Robinson became President of the Greenmeadow Boy Scouts and an active member in the chapter.  The chapter roster reached record high 30 brothers midway through the decade and the location of general meetings was rotated among area hotels and restaurants.  One of the chapter’s most successful events during the years was the Omega Boat Ride out of San Pedro.  The seventies witnessed ups and downs among the brotherhood.  Brothers slowly began to leave the Compton and Los Angeles areas by way of promotions and job transfers.  The result was better opportunities for brothers and major fluctuations in chapter membership.  Through the determination and faith of Brothers Stansil, Purdle, Exum, Cox, Vallery, and Jimmy Evans, Tau Tau was able to endure a dwindling membership and met the challenges awaiting it in the eighties.
 

The eighties welcomed the addition of Brother Joe Cole Sr. who was instrumental in the recruitment of Brother Mark Iles.  Brother Iles, who was initiated into the fraternity through Mu Kappa Chapter at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, helped revitalize the chapter and chartered its current progressive path.  It was during the administrations of Brothers mark Iles and Marcus Bedford, a charter member of Mu Kappa Chapter, that Tau Tau began the practice of regular meeting attendance.  The brotherhood’s belief that information should come first hand prompted Tau Tau to have representation at all 12th District Meetings, Grand Conclaves, and Leadership Conferences during the decade.  The tremendous job done by these two distinctive administrations created a niche for Tau Tau at the forefront of local fraternal affairs.  The latter part of the eighties welcomed Brothers Dan Kurtz, Kary Pounders, Kenneth Willis, and Joe Turner to the fraternal fold through the Selection and Education process.
 

The nineties welcomed Brothers Michael Cooper, Donta Montgomery, John M. Hardin II, Kenneth Lear Jr., and David Crowder also by way of the Selection and Education process.  Their crossing symbolized the last time the fraternity would use their traditional method to initiate Brothers into its international family. For Tau Tau, the early nineties proved to be business as usual.  Tau Tau developed a reputation for being progressive in addressing the mandated federal programs as well as the social ills of its surrounding community.  Subsequently, the Mighty Tau Tau was awarded the 12th District Chapter of the Year two consecutive years in 1991 and 1992.  Tau Tau is also home of two consecutive Omega Man of the Year recipients.  Brothers Ricky Lewis and Chris Tyiska brought the award back to Compton in 1991 and 1992 respectively.  During the 1992 Grand Conclave held in Atlanta Georgia, Brother Marcus Bedford was recognized as the Fraternities Superior Service Award recipient.  During Brother Lewis’ administration as Basileus, the chapter developed a business approach to its fraternal obligations.  It has been its regular submission of articles to the Oracle and proven ability to implement the various mandated that has led Tau Tau into the national spotlight.  In 1991, the brotherhood witnessed the introduction of the Membership Intake Program as Omegas accepted method of initiation.  The new fraternal program resulted in the additions of Brothers Vernard Owens, Lucious Wilder, Devin Rodriguez, and Jesse Boyce in 1992. November 1, 1992 began the Chris Tyiska administration at Tau Tau.  Brother Tyiska, along with Brothers Franklin Love; Vice Basileus, John Hardin II; Keeper of Records and Seal, and Dulaney Hill; Keeper of Finance, publicly committed themselves to the 32 year tradition of Excellence established by the charter members.  Once again, the entire chapter rededicated itself to the principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift as envisioned by the fraternity’s four founders.  Now more than fifty brothers strong, the thoroughly immersed Brothers of Tau Tau are prepared to claim the decade of the nineties in the name of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.