ALPHA ATHLETES - The Sphinx Magazine

the Standard, or is Greatness the Goal?” Brother Pinkett stated, “To me,
success reflects what you accomplish for yourself, whereas greatness
reflects what you accomplish for others. Success is making a difference
in your life; while greatness is making a difference in other lives.”
During the Public Program, CNN anchor and special correspondent
Soledad O’Brien was presented with the Alpha Award of
Honor—the highest recognition bestowed upon a non-member—
88
102ND ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION
BROTHER SKIP MASON ELECTED 33RD GENERAL
PRESIDENT AT 2008 CONVENTION IN KANSAS CITY
At the Fraternity’s 102nd Anniversary
Convention, held July 17-21, 2008
in Kansas City, Missouri, the election
of Reverend Brother Herman “Skip”
Mason, Jr. as the organization’s General
President was announced.
Brother Mason officially becomes
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s 33rd General
President when he takes the oath of office
the weekend of January 23-25, 2009. The
Inaugural Celebration for Brother Mason
will take place at downtown Atlanta’s
Marriott Marquis Hotel and on the campus
of Morehouse College. Former U.S.
Ambassador to the United Nations Brother
Andrew Young; Atlanta Mayor Shirley
Franklin; Retired U.S. Justice Department
Community Relations Director and 26th
General President Ozell Sutton; and Congressman Brother
David Scott are honorary co-chairs of the Inaugural. Vice
President of the United Negro College Fund Brother Maurice
Jenkins was appointed chairman of the Inaugural Celebration.
“Alpha Phi Alpha has always led on the great issues of the
day—in America and around the world,” Brother Mason said
after release of the election results. “My election as General
President will provide a unique opportunity to further that part
of our work and I look forward to the challenge.”
In 2010, Brother Mason will lead a delegation of thousands
of Alpha members to Washington, D.C. for the dedica-
By Rick Blalock
Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr.
Fall • Winter 2008 The Sphinx: www.APA1906.net
tion of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National
Memorial. The Fraternity has spearheaded
the memorial project to honor Brother
Dr. King.
Brother Skip Mason—who was
named National Alumni Brother of the
Year in 1989 and is past president of the
Atlanta’s Eta Lambda Chapter—was elected
for a four-year term. He succeeds
General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.
Initiated into the Fraternity in 1982
while at Morris Brown College, Brother
Mason received his Bachelor’s degree
from Morris Brown and holds a Master of
Arts degree in Library and Information
Science from Clark Atlanta University. He
is Interim Vice President of Student
Services at Morehouse College. He also is
a noted historian, author and documentary producer. Brother
Mason was nominated for the office of General President at the
Fraternity’s Orlando Convention in August 2007, along with
Brother Darryl Peal of Columbus, Ohio.
Brother Mason is married to Harmel Codi Mason. They are
the parents of three children and reside in Ellenwood, Georgia,
just outside of Atlanta.
Brother Rick Blalock is a news anchor for CBS Radio, book
author and regular contributor to The Daily Voice and the
Atlanta Tribune newspapers
for her tremendous work in covering issues affecting the African
American community.
In accepting the honor, Ms. O'Brien said, “I would like to
extend my sincere thanks to the members of the Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity for bestowing this award upon me during this year’s
Convention. Being a part of the advanced “Black in America”
screening was as rewarding as it was enlightening. Seeing the