The Original Story
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Prepared by: Ronald E. Carrington

Hampton Institute University

Class of 1973

AUGUST 11, 2006

Dear Classmate/Ogre Phi Ogre,

During our 2003 Class reunion I asked Sidney “Mundy” Ricks to send me his version of the origins of O phi O. Per usual, he followed up with a handwritten letter with his recollection of the events leading to the establishment of what is now a Hampton legend and an ongoing class tradition…Ogre Phi Ogre.

Little did we know back in 1969, when, we, the 100^th freshmen class graced Ogden Hall’s front steps, walked and laid on the water front, burned buildings, closed HI three consecutive years and blocked the board of trustees had trials and people put in jail, that we were setting a tradition of naming each entering freshman class, when every forth year that freshman class would be named Ogre Phi Ogre part____. This is an effort to tell the tale, as we know it.

I have met younger Ogres. They do not know the origins of the fraternal order. We must preserve our history and tradition in order to enhance our future. This is an effort to do just that. As you read this document…a history of one of Hampton’s modern traditions and legacies, please fell free to add or correct information and send it to me. We all have our perceptions and memories of what happened more than 30+ years ago. Let the story ring to the ears of our children.

From Sidney Ricks’ letter dated 2003, and I quote:

The History of Ogre Phi Ogre (Mundy’s Version)

As I write the events that took place, as best I recall, I want you to understand that this has been truth before but do to the true nature if the founding of Ogre Phi Ogre, names and events were never put to pen. To this day, the true principle of Ogre Phi Ogre is in the hearts and minds of each of you.

In the beginning, we were all freshman. This meant wearing beanys, singing in front of Ogden Hall and generally, staying out of upperclassmen’s way. There had been a couple of events were some of the freshmen Brothers had forgotten their places and a delegation of upperclassmen visited James hall to set the freshman straight. Then there were multiple reports of freshman arriving at parties, the best way they could, only for the ladies to be allowed to enter and the Brothers turned away. Throughout James hall discontent was beating. Now, I am not going to act like our class was unique but Hampton Institute has assembled some of the best minds (for anything) O ever had the privilege to be a part of and many of us thought a like. It was out of the common struggle that Ogre Phi Ogre was born. And now the events as I remember them…

It was a late night in James Hall, I had just settled in bed. My room faced the stairwell on the second floor, right across form the phone. As I drifted off to sleep, I seem to recall how you could always hear someone talking in James hall. As I was about to count the last sheep, a loud knock can at the door. Who is it, I asked. Dino came the reply. As I put my robe on, I kept asking myself, Dino? When I opened the door, he started right in one me. “We need you up in the fourth floor, right away,” he said. “What’s going on,” I asked. We need you to settle an argument. So I closed the door and followed the Brother upstairs to the room on the fourth floor. Before we got near the room, I could hear the shouting. Whatever I was going to was serious. There must have 10-12 guys in the room. Tonard Tims, NY; Tumbleweed, NY; Sears, NY; Rap Brown, NJ; Dino, DC; Sandy, VA; Charles Harris, VA; Doc Smith, PA; RoRo, DC and me, VA. Somebody said, “Go ahead, ask him.” DJ said,” Can a Willobeast (Wildebeest) beat a Ogre?” You must understand, I went through a summer program with these Brothers but it was after twelve and besides I did not know what an ogre or a Willobeast was. I was quickly verbally assaulted and Dino went into an explanation. An Ogre was the toughest thing on earth but had one weakness, a Willobeest. Hey, these Brothers were serious. Someone countered, but no one

could out shout DJ (David Jones, Snow Hill North Carolina). One thing led to another, and we started talking about the struggle of the Black man and our struggle as freshmen. Someone, Dino, compared our spirit to that of an Ogre. I wish I could recall “Tonard from the Boulevard’s comment because you know he was so colorful and funny and Tumbleweed put in two cents, Rap gave change, Sandy and Charlie both cited instances and the consensus was – things had to change. We decided to form our own organization with one qualification- you did not care. You did not care about status, who had what, who knew what. It was truly all for one and all for one. Everyone thought this was a great concept. Now, to sell it to our freshmen Brothers. How could we assemble the class, could we get a scheduled meeting? It was then that Dino (Little Dino as he was affectionately known behind his back) said are we Ogres or not? What do you mean? We need to get the brothers together tonight and talk about this. It was also during this time a freshman had been arrested for being at the ROTC building with a bow and arrow. Now it was obvious to us what the Brother was doing but the school did not buy it, recreating events of the American legacy that was a part of Hampton’s early history. The Brother was being detained by Hampton’s finest. Remember, Vietnam was still raging. The next events will have to go nameless, I hoe the statue of limitations is in effect. Some one said how are we going to get the entire freshmen class together tonight. One of the Brother said, that in case of fire, we all have to assemble in Bemis till Dean Campbell could account for everyone. Then someone said that pulling the fore alarm would send everyone to Bismis. Some said that tampering with a fire alarm was a federal offense. Before the word offense was out of his mouth, the alarm was ringing and the dorm was alive. There was already a bounty out for the “phantom screamer” now people were filing out of James Hall, in all kinds of sleep attire and using as assortment of language to express their discontent.

The guy I felt for was Dean Campbell. You see, Dean Campbell, the Dean had to check each floor to ensure that everyone was out. All I could hear him say

was, “ This is a grave situation.” As the boys filed into Bemis, Dino went to work explaining the Ogre concept. No dues, no constitution, no meeting just the proper attitude. Looking back on it now, what was expressed was a lot more colorful than equated to “Be yourself” now. It was watching Dino that night that I saw some real meaning to the principles of natural leadership and the power of persuasion. It was that night and later events that would earn him the title of “King of the Ogres.” Anyway, the concept of O Phi O was well received and to show support for the idea we all went over to the president’s house (Cotton) and knocked on his door. We wanted to know what was going to be done about our Brother in bondage. Once satisfied with the president’s reply we ended the evening’s events with toilet paper trashing Harkness hall. That evening started the tradition that each of us has carried throughout our four years to the present day. An Ogre tee-shirt was a part of the freshman wardrobe. It was the common thread. There is a classic picture in the “73 yearbook of O Phi O. I was everybody. I was approached one homecoming by students who were sincerely interested in the story of O Phi O. I could not believe it. In riding around campus, I was surprised to see banners proclaiming O Phi O. The spirit lives. There is even a home coming float.”

Thanks Mundy for the history…Who Knew?