Greetings Brothers!
In the Fall of 2018, the History and Archives Committee featured as its Monday Pearl the contributions and accomplishments of Brother William A. Brower (1936 Upsilon), accomplished and trailblazing journalist (a couple articles from the Fall 2018 Monday Pearl are attached). After graduating from Wilberforce University, Brower began writing a column titled, “Omega’s Sports Profile,” that appeared regularly in the Oracle in the early- to mid-1940s, In the March 1942 Oracle, Brower wrote a piece on Brother John Borican, world-class track and field athlete who competed at Virginia State College (now Virginia State University), and then went on to win numerous national titles and set high marks as a pentathlete and decathlete. As Brower states in his column,
“Borican is a milestone in Negro track and field development, He is one of the first products of Negro schools to etch prominence in the national picture. Before his arrival, all sepia stars bore labels of White institutions. This great array included names like DeHart Hubbard, Ed Gordon, Eddie Tolan, Ralph Mecalfe, Corny Johnson and Jesse Owens. But Big John is ample proof that a Negro cinder path marvel, trained by Negro coaches,can do all right for himself.”
There’s more great stuff in Brower’s article so I won’t steal his thunder. I’ll simply invite you to enjoy the story of Brother John Borican and the Omega excellence therein (see column attached and accompanying photos). Also check out these contemporaneous news clippings featuring Brother Borican:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49688771/boricanpittcourier1939/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49688389/boricanbostoneglobe1940/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49687938/borican1941rochesterdemocrat/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49688610/boricanpittcourier1942/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49689090/boricanrichmondtimesdispatch1942/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49688089/boricancasperstar1942/
The following information about Brother Borican was also found online:
http://www.njsportsheroes.com/johnboricantf.html
https://theciaa.com/hof.aspx?hof=25
https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/john-borican?family=editorial&phrase=john%20borican&sort=mostpopular (great photo array that appeared in Life Magazine on November 24, 1941)
The committee would appreciate hearing from anyone who has information on Brother Borican, particularly the circumstances surrounding his initiation and his relationship with Nu Psi chapter. You’ll note that in his column, Brother Bower credits Nu Psi for “conducting Borican into the sacred realm of Omega”, with qualification. If you have information, please reach out to us at 3dhistoryandarchives@gmail.com.
Read More – Borican_March1942Oracle
Read More – William Brower – Newspaper Guild – Negroes in Newspaper
Read More – William Brower Biography
Make it a great week Brothers. Be Noble!
F.I.E.T.T.S.
3rd District History and Archives Committee
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The Monday Pearl is provided by the Third District History and Archives Committee and is a weekly sharing of fraternity content, commentary, and research of historical value we hope Brothers will enjoy and from which Brothers will draw inspiration. Previous “Pearls” can be found at http://3rddistrictques.org/about-us/overview/monday-pearl/. The Committee encourages your feedback. Should you have reactions, comments, information, anecdotes, documents, and the like, related to any of the content we share, we’d very much like to hear from you. Please send all communication to 3dhistoryandarchives@gmail.com.
