Richmond Virginia – In recognition of Black History Month, Upsilon Nu Chapter recognizes the accomplishments of two of its members, The Honorable Brother John Charles Thomas and The Honorable Brother Roger Gregory.  Brothers Thomas and Gregory were initiated into the Upsilon Nu Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc in 1980 and 1981 respectively.

Brother John Charles Thomas is a retired former Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court.  Brother Thomas is the first African American to be appointed to this position.  Thomas received his Bachelors and Law degrees from the University of Virginia.

Brother Thomas was appointed to this position in 1983.  Not only was he the first African American appointee to the Virginia Supreme Court, he was also the youngest at age 32.  Brother Thomas retired seven years later and became the first African American law partner at Hunton and Williams, one of the South’s most prestigious Law Firms.

Other accomplishments for Brother Thomas include the NAACP Lifetime Award, named as member of Court of Arbitration for Sport and Board of Visitors at William and Mary University

Brother Roger Gregory currently serves as the Chief United States Circuit Judge of the United States, serving the 4th Circuit.  Gregory, a native of Philadelphia Pennsylvania received his undergraduate education at Virginia State University in 1975 and his Law degree from University of Michigan Law School in 1978.   In 1982 Brother Gregory served as an associate partner with Wilder and Gregory, a law firm with the Honorable Brother L. Douglas Wilder. Brother Wilder would later become the first African American Governor since reconstruction.

Brother Gregory also served as Rector at Virginia Commonwealth University and served on the Board of Visitors at Virginia State University.

Brother Gregory was nominated as the First African American to serve on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2000 by then President Bill Clinton.  Gregory was confirmed by President George W. Bush in 2001.

Sources: https://www.law.virginia.edu/faculty/adjunct-profile/jct2ub/2708803

https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/judges/judges-of-the-court/chief-judge-roger-l-gregory

https://columns.wlu.edu/chief-judge-roger-gregory-to-give-mlk-day-address-at-wl-law/

 

Fraternally Submitted by Brother Jerome A. Jackson

February 23, 2019