Franklin A. Thomas
Franklin A. Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 27, 1934 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 22, 2021 (aged 87) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | President and CEO of the Ford Foundation (1979–1996) |
Franklin Augustine Thomas (May 27, 1934 – December 22, 2021) was a prominent American entrepreneur and philanthropist who led the Ford Foundation as president and CEO from 1979 until 1996. Following this role, he assumed executive positions within various U.S. companies and served on the board of the TFF Study Group, which focuses on advancing development in South Africa. Between 2001 and 2004, Thomas chaired the nonprofit September 11th Fund and directed the U.S. operations of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.
Early life and education
Thomas was born on May 27, 1934, in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant district as the youngest child among six siblings raised by his mother Viola, an immigrant from Barbados. He completed his secondary education at Franklin K. Lane High School and graduated from Columbia College in 1956, where he made history as the first African-American to captain an Ivy League basketball team. After serving as a navigator with the Strategic Air Command, he earned his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1963.
Career
Thomas launched his professional journey in 1963 as a lawyer for the Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency (now known as HUD). The following year, he was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Beginning in 1965, he served for two years as Deputy Police Commissioner overseeing Legal Matters for the New York City Police Department, marking a milestone as the first African-American to hold this position.
Between 1967 and 1977, Thomas was appointed the inaugural president and CEO of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (BSRC), a nonprofit organization focused on community revitalization. During his leadership, BSRC refurbished 3,682 building facades, aided 123 businesses, and generated approximately 3,300 jobs within a 96-block area. These accomplishments elevated his reputation nationwide as a pragmatic and effective leader.
Following his tenure at BSRC, Thomas directed a Rockefeller Foundation study examining U.S. policies on South Africa, where he advocated for peaceful transformation. In 1979, after serving on its board since 1977 and being selected from a pool of 300 candidates, he became the first African-American to head a major foundation by assuming presidency of the Ford Foundation. His leadership commenced during a period marked by financial difficulties stemming from the stock market slump of the 1970s along with internal organizational issues.
While leading the Ford Foundation, Thomas implemented operational and financial restructuring through a comprehensive six-point strategy that included significant staff reductions in 1982. Under his guidance, foundation assets grew beyond $6.5 billion. He spearheaded key initiatives such as founding the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which became the largest community development support entity nationwide, while also enhancing the foundation’s international outreach. Thomas championed gender equality by promoting nonsexist educational materials, supporting rural agricultural groups, increasing female representation among Ford’s professionals, and introducing paid paternal leave policies.
In 1996, Thomas resigned to dedicate himself to South African development efforts as a consultant with the TFF Study Group, maintaining his commitment to anti-apartheid causes. In 2001, he was named Chairman of the September 11 Fund, where he managed $534 million raised and oversaw distribution of $528 million in grants by 2004.
Thomas was inducted into the American Philosophical Society in 2006.
Board of directors
According to Fowler, Fronmueller, and Schifferdecker, Thomas was among eight directors at Citigroup Inc. who participated in interlocking directorates.
Thomas served on the boards of several major corporations, including Cummins, Inc., Lucent Technologies, Inc., Alcoa, CBS, and PepsiCo, Inc.. Additionally, he was the second African American to join the Board of Trustees at Columbia University, succeeding alumnus M. Moran Weston.
Legacy and awards
In 1979, Columbia University honored Thomas with an honorary degree.
The Franklin A. Thomas Professorship in Policing Equity was established in 2016 at John Jay College, supported by a $2.5 million contribution from the Ford Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies.
In 2020, Thomas was the recipient of Columbia Law School’s Medal for Excellence.
That year also saw his portrayal by Jay Ellis in the FX and Hulu miniseries Mrs. America.
Personal life
Thomas was married to Dawn Conrada, with whom he had four children before their divorce in 1972. Between 1971 and 1974, he had a relationship with Gloria Steinem following her interview for New York magazine. Subsequently, he married Kate Roosevelt Whitney, who is the daughter of James Roosevelt and granddaughter of both Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harvey Cushing.