Building brotherhood and community in Cleveland Heights

The Brothers were founded November 8, 1978, by Gregory Ford, Ronald Williams, Timothy Starks, Charles Veasley, Paul Owens, Darryl Ray, Andre and Michael McGruder. These eight young men all played on the football team together and they shared a great friendship. Their friendship became like a bond between them and they became like brothers. They decided that the only name that expressed what they were was The Brothers. These original eight young men were not planning on becoming an organization, they were simply a group of young teenagers who decided to be with one another, grow with one another and love one another in a way normal to all God’s children.

After their first year they then decided that they had a good concept and they wanted to expand on their idea of brotherhood. On December 10, 1979, five young men were chosen to become members of this group, but before they were accepted they had to go through eight days of proving that they were worthy of the Brothers name. These young men were Jimmie Hicks, William Freeman, Brent Watson, Kevin McIntyre and Stanford Hill. They were the first start of a new era. They were the first edition to the continual additions that followed.

The lucky five new members of the Brothers were all chosen unanimously. This was one thing that the originals stressed during the early years; a vote against someone meant that person was not allowed to become a member. As the group expanded a unanimous vote became less and less likely, so the majority vote was adopted.

Expansion

Time began to take its toll as the original eight found themselves graduating in 1980. As they looked back they saw a seed which they had planted and had no intention of abandoning it. Progressing forward they encountered a new atmosphere and wondered if it could include the Brothers. On March 17, 1982, the question was answered when 17 members of the Brothers who attended Kent State University were informed by the Dean of Students that the group fulfilled the guidelines established for