REGINALD LEWIS
December 7, 1942 – January 19, 1993
United States of America First African- American Billion Dollar Businessman
Lawyer, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Humanitarian, Chairman and CEO
Education:
Virginia State University
Harvard University,
Harvard Law School,
“Keep Going No Matter What”(RL)
“The leader that never let the color of his skin be his handicap for success, a Man that dream and spoke with integrity success into existence”. (NS miempowerment.com)
Listed on the Forbes top 400 in 1992, Lewis was considered the richest African-American man in the 1980s. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he founded the TLC Group L.P., a venture capital firm, in 1983. Through the firm, he bought the home sewing pattern business McCall Pattern Company for $22.5 million, and then sold it three years later for $65 million. In 1987, he bought Beatrice International Foods for $985 million and renamed it TLC Beatrice International; the snack food, beverage, and grocery store conglomerate became the largest, black-owned and -managed business in the country. In that same year, the company reported revenue of $1.8 billion, making it the first black-owned company to have more than $1 billion annual sales.
With all of his success, Reginald did not forget others; giving back was part of his life. In 1987 he established The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, which funded grants of approximately $10 million to various non-profit programs and organizations.
In the last few years, Mr. Lewis became deeply involved in philanthropy, donating millions of dollars each year to a number of institutions, from homeless shelters and neighborhood churches. In New York, he gave large contributions to Abyssinian Baptist Church and the scholarship foundation of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Mr. Lewis was a member of the boards of WNET in New York and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. He was also a member of the Business Roundtable and the Economic Advisory Committee of New York City. At that time the first ever elected African – American New York Mayor David N. Dinkins had nominated him to be a member of the city’s Municipal Assistance Corporation.
Reginald Lewis after being diagnosed with a brain tumor and battling the ailment for six months. During his ailment he made known his desire to support a museum of African American culture. Sadly on January 19, 1993, the husband, father, son, scholar, humanitarian, philanthropist ,businessman and iconic leader passed away at the age of 50 from a cerebral hemorrhage as a result of the cancer.
At his funeral, a letter from his longtime friend, David N. Dinkins, former mayor of New York, was read. In the letter, Dinkins wrote “Reginald Lewis accomplished more in half a century than most of us could ever deem imaginable. And his brilliant career was matched always by a warm and generous heart.” Dinkins added, “It is said that service to others is the rent we pay on earth. Reginald Lewis departed us paid in full.”
His daughter stated “let there be a commotion, let there be a loud noise because we are sending off a great man today, So Dad I Love you good bye.”
Reginald Lewis is survived by his wife, the former Loida Nicolas, two daughters, Leslie and Christina; his mother, Carolyn C. Fugett, and stepfather, his half-brother Jean, of Baltimore, Mr. Jean S. Fugett, both of Baltimore; two other half-brothers, Joseph M. Fugett of New York City and Anthony S. Fugett of Baltimore, and two half-sisters, Rosalyn Fugett Wiley and Sharon M. Fugett, both of Baltimore. married to Loida Nicolas-Lewis took over the company a year after his death
Reginald Lewis was a force that can never be stopped even in death. His pursuit for equality and education will live on. He spoke never say never always there is a yes I can. He is and will ever be an icon in life for he did everything with the best integrity.