Culture For Service, Service For Humanity

After much conversation brothers, Lanier and Reed set out to find if the city of Springfield was home to other men of Sigma.  The call was answered by Brother Bobby Hall, Brother Myrel Simmons, Brother Willis Bailey, Brothers Larry Dillard, Brother Duwain Bailey, and Brother Anthony Ware.

The above brothers united for the cause of Sigma and put the wheels in motion to establish an Alumni Chapter, of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.  On July 27, 1981 the charter was granted for Eta Psi Sigma Alumni Chapter, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. The charter members of the Eta Psi Sigma Chapter were: Brother Dr. James E. Lanier, Brother Bobby Hall, Brother Myrel Simmons, Brother Willis Bailey, Brother Larry Dillard, Brother Duwain Bailey, and Brother Anthony Ware.

Chapter lore tells us that in the summer of 1978 Brother Dr. James Edward Lanier was relocating to Springfield Illinois from Tampa, Florida. As we believe that our steps are ordered by the Lord and nothing is left for chance, Dr. Lanier experienced car problems and pulled over to the side of the highway.  Brother Jimmy Reed pulled over to offer assistance. Brother Reed noticed the blue and white fraternity hat sporting the distinguished Phi Beta Sigma letters in the rear window.  After a moment of “challenge”, the brothers embraced and Brother Lanier ended up finding refuge and shelter with Brother Reed for about a week until he was able to find a place of his own.

Chapter History

The brothers did not stop with just chartering the graduate chapter of Eta Psi Sigma they also saw an opportunity to further the cause of Sigma, with an undergraduate chapter.

 Brother Stan Brown who had begun his education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale as a member of the Delta Tau chapter, had relocated to Springfield Illinois.  The brothers of Eta Psi Sigma, newly relocated Brother Duwain Bailey and Brother Stan Brown. These two brothers chartered Mu Eta undergraduate chapter as a city wide chapter headquartered at University of Illinois at Springfield formerly known as Sangamon State University.

​​Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

Eta Psi Sigma Chapter