It had been the dream of some of the men on Tennessee A&I State College to have a chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated on its campus. For many years State men were taken into Delta chapter at Meharry Medical College. Among the first State men to become Omega were Dr. Reginald Neblett, Broughton Jones, Prof. J.H. White and James Nance. In 1927, an Omega chapter was established at Fisk University. Tennessee A&I State College men then began to file application for that chapter and among the men to make Omega were Coach T.D. Upshaw, Mr. Alton Jackson, and Prof. Julian Belle. Between the years of 1928 and 1930, it was very difficult for any State men to get in any chapter.

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On April 11, 1930, Rho Psi Chapter #39 was founded on the Tennessee A&I State College campus through the efforts of College President William J. Hale, Professor James F. McClellan, Delta, Gamma Phi and Eta Psi chapters. Rho Psi chapter was the first chapter of a Greek-Letter organization established on the campus and the only chapter of Omega Psi Phi organized in 1930. Robert E. Clay amiably called "Daddy Clay" was the instigator of this movement. The chapter was chartered with Brothers Ned Rawls, George Hale, Halton Williams, William Harris, Kurtis Clay, Thomas Withrow, James Taylor, and John Wallace. Since its beginning the chapter has progressed wonderfully, boasting the highest scholastic average of any organization on the campus, remaining represented in the student government association and all extra curricula activities to date.