A BRIEF HISTORY OF COLOSUS

The idea of a regional organization originated during a monthly meeting in July, 1981 by the Albert B. Travell and Spencer E. Browne Administration of the Liberian Community Association of Oklahoma City and Parts Adjacent. Because of its cordial relationship with Tulsa, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and Little Rock, an invitation was extended to these Liberian communities to form a regional organization. Mr. M. Tennikay Sayeh, Foreign Secretary of the Travell and Browne Administration was given the task of promoting the idea to the Liberian Communities mentioned. He succeeded with tremendous effort in bringing along other community associations on board.

It was agreed upon after a series of meetings in Tulsa and Oklahoma, that this regional organization be named the Conference of Liberian Organizations in the Southwestern United States, Inc. (COLOSUS, Inc.). A Constitution Committee was organized to draft the By-Laws and Constitution headed by Robert Knuckles. The agreed upon objectives were based on being non-political, and the promotion of unity, equality and freedom. In unity, all Liberian Associations would become one great entity to promote friendship, understanding, goodwill, tolerance and progress among its member chapters. Freedom entails doing what we believe is right for our local associations without external interference, but at the same time not contravening COLOSUS's Constitution aims and objectives. Equality means that all Liberians are equal and thus the past to which we had been subjected be forgotten in order to build a new Liberia- a Liberia where a new order would be based on equality, justice and freedom for the common good of all Liberians.

Early in 1982, COLOSUS suffered a temporary setback after The Travell and Browne Administration (LCA-OKC) withheld support due to continued internal struggle. COLOSUS was therefore dormant until 1988. In March 1988, LCA-Tulsa under Comelius Geegbae, Sr, (deceased) decided to revitalize COLOSUS from the six -year dormancy. Mr. Geegbae invited the Liberian Community Associations (LCAs) of Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa to a meeting held with the OKC chapter. LCA- Tulsa idea was to have COLOSUS celebrate the Liberian Independence Anniversary on a rotational basis among its member chapters. The idea was in the affirmative with the understanding that each member chapter would contribute morally and financially.

The same ideas that formed the bedrock of CO LOS US were acknowledged and accepted by the invitees. Mr. Fayia Sicarr, President of LCA-OKC at the time and host was appointed interim Chairman of COLOSUS. His task was to revitalize COLOSUS, complete the constitution, find a new name and hold elections. The Constitution was revised, with the name "COLOSUS "retained.

In June 1990, Mr. Tennikay Sayeh of Houston, Texas was elected Secretary-General, Mr. Tumu E. Nimene (deceased)' of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas was elected Recording Secretary; Mr. Edwin Chea, Treasurer, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Loraine Mason Houston, Texas Protocol and information Officer; Cooper Kanwhen (deceased) Tulsa, Oklahoma, Financial Secretary; and Melvin Maycole, Oklahoma City, Social Secretary. Immediately upon his election as Secretary ­General, Mr. Sayeh brought back Little Rock, Arkansas as a member chapter of COLOSUS.

In 1991, COLOSUS cognizant of the civil war in Liberia amended its objectives to include working for peace, repatriation, rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction of post war Liberia.

In 1994, the Liberian Community Association of Denver, Colorado became a member chapter. At a meeting on June l1, 1994 in Denver, Colorado, Mr. Aurelius Weeks of Houston, Texas was elected Secretary-General. Mr. Weeks was visionary but his vision did not materialize. He had to

 relinquish the position due to his new job assignment. The Rev. Tabe Brownell of Oklahoma City, at that time Chairman of the Board of Directors, assumed temporary leadership of CO LOS US. Rev. Brownell, presently the Chairman of the Board of Directors, had served for six months as ad hoc Secretary-General of COLOSUS.

After Rev. Tabe Brownell had served as Temporary leader of CO LOS US, election was held in /Tu1sa, Oklahoma. Mr. Chancy C. Bolo of Dallas/ Fort Worth, Texas was elected Secretary­ General to complete the term of Mr. Weeks. Mr. Bolo did not seek re-election after completing the term. Mr. Steve N. Joe of Dallas, Texas served in the administration as Financial Secretary. During Bolo's administration, the Liberian Community Association of Denver, Colorado hosted the Independence Anniversary. The Bolo administration tried hard to settle the internal strife of Liberian Community Association of Houston, Texas but the effort did not materialized.

On June 1, 1996 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Mr. Fayia Sicarr of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was elected Secretary-General with Mr. Cornelius Geegbae (deceased) his Deputy. Upon the passing away of Mr. Geegbae, Mr. Albert B. Travell of Dallas, Texas assumed the Deputy position.

In July, 1998 Dr. Charles Wesley Ford, Jr. of Little Rock succeeded Fayia Sicarr for a two-year term. Rev. Tabe Brownell of Oklahoma City was his Deputy. Dr. Ford represented COLOSUS at the National Conference of Peace and Unity-Vision 2000 held in Monrovia, Liberia in July, 1998. Dr. Ford's administration experienced growth and development of CO LOS US; and today, COLOSUS's meetings for instance are conducted in an atmosphere of respect and decorum. In an effort to capture the essence of oneness, the one-day COLOSUS Conference and Liberian Independence Day Celebration is now a two-day celebration. The structure for funding the Independence Day Celebration has been modified for progress.

Mr. Koboi Goyah of Dallas, Texas succeeded Dr. Ford at the July 2000 election held in Tulsa. His Deputy was. Mr. Lindsay Deline of Oklahoma City. On July 28,2002 Dr. Wede Elliott-Brownell of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was elected as Secretary-General and Mrs. Mariah Chibli of Dallas/Fort Worth Texas as Deputy Secretary-General. Dr. Elliott-Brownell served two terms, July 2002 - July 2006. Dr; Elliott-Brownell's Administration was focused on providing aid to the people of the war-torn Liberia. The following projects: providing chair/desks to G.W. Gibson School and medical supplies to the Redemption Hospital, New Kru Town, Liberia. During her administration, she visited Liberia in order to donate 350 chairs to the G.W. Gibson School on behalf of CO LOS US.

At the July 26, 2006 Independence Day Celebration in Oklahoma City, Mrs. Mariah Johnson-Chibli was elected Secretary-General with Willie K. Kamara her Deputy. Mrs. Johnson-Chibli's administration continued some of the policies of her predecessor. Mrs. Chibli's administration worked hard towards increasing Chapters' participation.

Willie Kim Kamara succeeded Mariah at the July 2008 Independence Day Celebration with the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas chapter. His Deputy is Zoe Darling of Denver, Colorado. Mr. Kamara is working arduously to up keep the standard of CO LOS US. His goal is to bring all of the dormant chapters back into the fold of CO LOS US and expand its boundary. At the present the only viable chapters in COLOSUS are Colorado, Dallas/Fort Worth and Oklahoma. Mr. Kamara hands are full with his local chapter. A new Liberian Community Association is forming in North Dallas and Mr. Kamara is working to bring this Chapter into COLOSUS.