Earl G. Graves Sr.
Earl Gilbert Graves Sr. | |
---|---|
Born | Earl Gilbert Graves January 9, 1935 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
Died | April 6, 2020 White Plains, New York, U.S. | (aged 85)
Alma mater | Morgan State University |
Occupations |
|
Spouse | Barbara |
Children | 3 including Earl G. Graves Jr. |
Earl Gilbert Graves Sr. (January 9, 1935 – April 6, 2020) was an American
Background
Born in
Having written a letter to the Democratic National Committee, he became a volunteer for the 1964 presidential campaign of Lyndon B. Johnson. His work with the party gave Graves the opportunity to serve as administrative assistant to newly elected Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1965. Following the assassination of the senator, Graves would land a seat on the advisory board of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in 1968.
Business ventures
He undertook his first job at the age of seven selling boxed Christmas cards for his uncle. His territory was severely limited due to his father's rule that he could only sell to people living on their side of the block.
While at Morgan State University, Graves made a name for himself as an entrepreneur. Realizing that there was a big market for flowers during Homecoming Week, he went to two competing local florists and cut deals with both to sell flowers on campus. For a percentage of the profits, the florists provided the flowers while Graves covered the campus.
His time serving on the SBA's advisory board and his direct work with the agency would lead Graves to his belief in the need for advice to businesses in economic development and urban affairs, which convinced him to create an annual newsletter that would chronicle issues relevant to black business people, and raise awareness of the importance of black consumer power. At the suggestion of then SBA Director Howard J. Samuels, Graves would expand the concept of a newsletter into a full-fledged magazine.[3]
Graves started Earl G. Graves, Ltd, and under that holding company he began the Earl G. Graves Associates management consulting firm. In August 1970, the first issue of Black Enterprise magazine would hit newsstands. Earl G. Graves, Ltd would grow to include a number of divisions including publishing, marketing, radio, television and event coordinating arms. The firm is the co-owner of the private equity fund Black Enterprise Greenwich Street Corporate Growth Fund, an equity partnership formed with Travelers Group, Inc. The fund aims to invest and promote minority operated businesses.[4]
In 1990, Graves and
Awards and other accomplishments
Graves received the
Graves was appointed by the administration of
In his honor, Morgan State University's business school was named Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management. It was opened in 2015.
A "special thanks" to Mr. Graves is included in Bayer Mack's documentary No Lye: An American Beauty Story.[9]
Death
Graves died in White Plains, New York, on April 6, 2020, from complications of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 85.[10][11][12]
References
- ^ a b Earl "Butch" Graves Jr. (March 10, 2015). "Women of Power: My Mother's Legacy". Black Enterprise.
- ^ "Earl Gilbert Graves Sr". History Makers.
- ISBN 9780199882861– via Google Books.
- ^ "Earl G. Graves LTD". Hoovers.
- ^ Derek T. Dingle (August 31, 2017). "45 GREAT MOMENTS IN BLACK BUSINESS – NO. 30: EARL GRAVES SR. AND MAGIC JOHNSON CLOSE $60 MILLION DEAL TO CREATE LARGEST BLACK PEPSI FRANCHISE". Black Enterprise. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ Black Enterprise founder Earl Graves Sr. dies at 85 eu.usatoday.com, Brett Molina, 7 April 2020
- ^ "Earl G. Graves Associates". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 17, 2010.
- ^ "Scouts In The Big Office". Forbes. September 4, 2007.
- ^ "Earl G. Graves Sr". IMDb.
- ^ Slotnik, Daniel E. (April 10, 2020). "Earl G. Graves Sr., a Voice for Black Entrepreneurs, Dies at 85". The New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ "Earl Graves Sr., Founder of Black Enterprise And Ultimate Champion of Black Business, Passes Away At 85". BlackEnterprise.com. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Asmelash, Leah (April 7, 2020). "Earl G. Graves Sr., founder of Black Enterprise, dies". CNN. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
External links
- "Profile". blackenterprise.com. March 10, 2015.
- "Black History MonthProfile". CNN.com. 2002.
- "Opening Convocation". Howard University. 2002.
- Appearances on C-SPAN