Bob Booker exemplified his fraternity's motto of service and humanity | Opinion

The Honorable Dr. Robert J. Booker was one of a kind. He was a man of integrity and was a renowned influence in his community and the world.

Dr. Booker joined Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at Knoxville College in the late 1950s, where he soon became a pillar of academic and social influence. Dr. Booker was instrumental in highlighting the fraternity’s three national programs of Bigger Better Business, Social Action, and Education on a larger national platform. He lived the true meaning of the fraternity’s motto, “Culture for Service and Service for Humanity.”

In 2003, Dr. Booker was awarded the highest honor bestowed upon any member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He was the 141st inductee into the Distinguished Service Chapter. This honor is awarded only to brothers who show dedication and outstanding contributions at the local, state, regional and international levels of the fraternity. He blazed trails as a historian and curator and was unofficially appointed as keeper of Knoxville's Black History.

Dr. Booker thought it was important that Black history is taught in schools and shared with everyone. He is credited with authoring the first history of the fraternity for the Southeastern Region, comprising North Carolina, South Carolina and Eastern Tennessee.

In 2022, the local alumni chapter, Phi Sigma, named its essay contest after Bro. Booker ‒ The Robert J. Booker Essay Contest. This contest will continue to help support young writers and students as they pursue postsecondary education. The scholarship will be renamed the Honorable Dr. Robert J. Booker Memorial Scholarship.

Dr. Booker was a man of service. His acts of service and his commitment to social justice were unprecedented. Dr. Booker will be missed by many in the community, but most assuredly by his fraternity brothers. This wondrous band of brothers has lost a good and faithful brother. We will forever miss his gentle spirit and kind heart. We will forever miss his gentle spirit and kind heart. Rest well our good and faithful Brother! We will continue to hold high the banner of Sigma. “Our Cause Speeds on its Way.”

Michael Rodgers is president of the Phi Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Opinion: Bob Booker exemplified his fraternity's motto