Reginald F. Lewis (December 7, 1942 –
January 19, 1993) was an American businessman. He was one of the richest African-American men in the
1980s, and the first African American to build a billion-dollar company, Beatrice Foods.
In 1993, Forbes listed Lewis among the
400 richest Americans, with a net worth estimated at $400 million.
In January 1993, Reginald's remarkable
career was cut short by his untimely death at the age of 50 after a short illness. 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. Reg Lewis departed us paid in full."
Even after his death, Reginald's
philanthropic endeavors continue. During his illness, he made known his desire to support a museum of
African American culture. In 2002, the Vice President of the foundation read an article in the Baltimore
Sun describing a museum of Maryland African American History and Culture slated to be built near
Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
After further research and discussion,
especially relative to the partnership between the museum and the Maryland State Department of Education
to develop an African American curriculum to be taught in all public schools in the state of Maryland,
the foundation made its largest grant to date to the proposed museum: $5 million dollars. The money is
an endowment with the interest to be used for educational purposes.
Lawyer,
entrepreneur, philanthropist, Chairman, CEO, husband, father, son, brother, nephew, cousin,
friend—Reginald F. Lewis lived his life according to the words he often quoted to audiences around the
country: "Keep going, no matter what."
