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N E W S R E L E A S E
January 18, 2024
A Fallen Giant | The Passing of Former President Benjamin K. Richmond
Louisville, KY, January 18, 2024 —On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, Former Louisville Urban League President Benjamin (Ben) K. Richmond passed away after a brief illness. Richmond served as President & CEO of the Louisville Urban League from 1987 to 2015. He was a champion for education and business among Louisville’s Black and underserved populations for over a quarter century. Under his leadership, the Louisville Urban League became a driving force in economic development in Louisville’s West End.
“Ben Richmond was a towering force in this city whose legacy will loom large over the progress we have made in ways some may never fully appreciate,” said Louisville Urban League President and CEO Lyndon Pryor. “Ben’s impact on minority inclusion rates in construction, workforce development, and affordable housing has changed the landscape and trajectory of opportunity for those most impacted by discriminatory policies and historic disinvestment.”
Richmond graduated from the historically Black Tougaloo College with a Bachelor’s degree in Music and later earned his Master’s from the University of Wisconsin. He worked as a Project Coordinator for the Urban League of Greater Madison, Wisconsin, then became President of the Urban League of Battle Creek (now known as the Southwestern Michigan Urban League) before his tenure as Louisville Urban League President & CEO following the retirement of the League’s longtime leader, the late Art Walters.
President Richmond opened the League’s current offices at 1535 W Broadway in 1990. The 19,000-square-foot building included a community meeting space, classrooms, and a job-training facility. The League invested $1.6 million in the project, which at that time was the largest development project in Louisville’s West End in more than fifty years and was a catalyst for further development in the area.
Under his leadership, the Louisville Urban League grew five times its size. Richmond tailored and expanded the organization’s programs to serve West End families better with more robust housing counseling services and youth development programs. His programmatic direction doubled the League’s reach and impact in Louisville, securing community partnerships in economic development, education, and civic affairs that survived beyond his three decades of leadership.
Anita McGruder, HR Director and one of the longest-serving employees of the Louisville Urban League, shared, “Ben believed in recruiting young talent and cultivating their capabilities. Over 34 years ago, Ben welcomed me to the Urban League family and displayed a genuine concern for my overall well-being. Within three months, I received my first promotion, as Ben knew the additional responsibility would craft my skills and expand my knowledge. He encouraged me to enroll in the League’s homeownership program and later to purchase a beautiful REBOUND home. He had a vested interest in my family, education, and professional development. When I earned my bachelor’s, while in the processional line, I noticed Ben standing there waiting on me. I ran out of the line to him, and he gave me the biggest hug and told me Congratulations! He truly cared for us, his community.”
In 1993, Richmond created REBOUND, Inc. (REBuilding Our Urban Neighborhood Dwellings) to increase community development and neighborhood revitalization. REBOUND was formed as a non-profit cooperative effort among the Louisville Urban League, the City of Louisville, and Main Street Realty, the private real estate firm of the late David A. Jones. Recognizing the need and desire for homeownership in the West End, the initial goal was to build and sell 90 quality homes in the historic Russell neighborhood. With more than 300 units completed to date, REBOUND continues to acquire underutilized land and abandoned properties, transforming them into safe, sustainable, and healthy homes–remaining influential in the growth of affordable housing and homeownership for Black families across Louisville.
“Ben’s focus on the affordable housing needs for Black families, primarily in West Louisville, was paramount in his vision for this city,” said REBOUND President and CEO Kevin Dunlap. “Ben was adamant about increasing Black homeownership as a tool for creating generational wealth. In recognition of his effort, the Board of Directors of both REBOUND and the Louisville Urban League unanimously approved the plan to build a new multi-family housing complex named in his honor. I was truly blessed to have the opportunity to unite with Lyndon Pryor and Sadiqa Reynolds to share this exciting news with Ben,” said Dunlap.
In 2007, Ben Richmond was presented with the Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award, an annual recognition given by Louisville Metro to persons dedicated to the principles of peace, equality, and justice. Even in retirement, Richmond remained committed to the movement.
“Ben was present during my first audit by the National Urban League,” said Sadiqa Reynolds, former President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League. “It was then that I shared the idea of building the sports and learning complex. He suggested that I get in touch with the National Development Council. Their work on the project proved to be crucial, and I’m not sure I would ever have heard of them if he hadn’t been in that room. He didn’t hesitate to offer his support and influence. He was always willing to work to help me and the League. He was a movement man.”
Ben Richmond was a giant in the Urban League Movement, not just in Louisville. As news has spread throughout our network, former and current leaders from across the country are fondly recounting his leadership and mentorship.
“The city of Louisville and the civil rights community have lost an incomparable champion,” said Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “When I was appointed to lead the National Urban League in 2003, Ben was a 24-year veteran of the movement, and his steady guidance and expert mentorship were invaluable to me. He embodied the Urban League mission of empowering communities and changing lives and leaves a powerful legacy. Our hearts are with his family and the entire city of Louisville as we mourn this tremendous loss.”
Ben Richmond was a statesman who loved his family, the opera, and the Urban League. He will remain one of the greatest examples of dignified leadership.
“As I got to know him over the last nine months in this role, I got to know a man who was, until the very end, deeply committed to equity and eliminating disparities across Louisville,” said Pryor. “I am incredibly privileged to have his ongoing support, perspective, and mentorship. He is a legend among Urban League CEOs around the country, and I consider it an honor to call him ‘friend.'”
In the fall of 2015, following his retirement, the Louisville Urban Board of Directors gifted the League with funds to establish an endowment in honor of Ben Richmond that would, in perpetuity, support targeted programs and services. In December of 2023, Per his wishes, the League announces that funds will be used to:
- Award the Benjamin K. Richmond Scholarship for Undergraduate Studies in Business, an Academic Scholarship of at least $10,000 to a deserving Black public school graduating senior in Louisville, Kentucky, who has been accepted into a 4-year degree program with a business or business development concentration.
- Award the Benjamin K. Richmond Small Business Development Grants, awards of no less than $5,000 to be used to support Black-owned businesses and Black entrepreneurs participating in Black business programs and training affiliated with the League.
Donations to the endowment or to the Louisville Urban League, in honor of Benjamin Richmond, can be made at lul.org/donate-now.
Final Arrangements for Benjamin K. Richmond are as follows:
Visitation
Friday, January 26, 2024 4:00 – 7:00 PM
St Stephen Baptist Church 1018 S 15th St Louisville, KY 40210
Memorial Services
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Viewing 10:00 – 11:00 AM
Service 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
St Stephen Baptist Church 1018 S 15th St Louisville, KY 40210
About the Louisville Urban League
The Louisville Urban League assists African Americans and those at the margins in attaining social and economic equality and stability through direct services and advocacy. For more information, go to lul.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@louisvilleUL), or Instagram (@louisville_ul).
About REBOUND, Inc.
REBOUND strives to create a positive impact on housing and economic development while helping low-to-moderate-income families have access to quality housing within our historic urban neighborhoods. For more information, go to reboundinc.org or follow us on Facebook.
