Photo: Leonard S. Coleman, Jr

While serving as Chairman of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Leonard S. Coleman, Jr came up with the historical idea to permanently retire Jackie Robinson's #42 Jersey. He says he suggested it to Bud Selig, then Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Bill Clinton was President at the time and took part in the Jersey retirement ceremony. After serving as Chairman of the Foundation for 18 years, Coleman is now the Honorary Chairman of the Foundation.

Ironically after being discriminated against as an athlete at Princeton University, later on in his career, he would become the President of The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs from 1994 -1999 and also served as Executive Director for Major League Baseball in 1992.

Coleman grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, and attended Montclair High School, where he was an outstanding athlete. He graduated from Princeton with a degree in History and obtained a Master's Degree in Public Administration(MPA) from Harvard University. From there, his career and success seem unstoppable. Leonard Coleman's outstanding career accomplishments are unique and unmatched, helping pave the way for the next generation of African Americans in Corporate America.

He presently sits on the board of Omnicom, Electronic Arts, Hess, The Metropolitan Opera, The Jackie Robinson Foundation, and the Schumann Fund. He was formerly on the board of Avis-Budget, Cendant, Aramark and Churchill Downs. He was also formerly the Chairman of the Bishop Tutu Scholarship Fund and a board member of the Children's Defense Fund.   

Coleman is a man that beat the odds especially considering the experiences he shared with Contemporary Approaches about the racial discrimination he experienced growing up in the 1960s during the start of the Civil Rights Movement. We are honored to interview this game-changer during this current climate since the death of George Floyd, where a new generation is fighting against systemic racism.

Q+A

1. CA: What was it like growing up in Montclair, New Jersey? What was your high school like and what was the racial breakdown, were you in the minority as an African American?

Leonard S. Coleman, Jr: Growing up in Montclair, my high school was about 30% African Americans and 5-10% Jewish people. Sports was an equalizer, we were fully blended together but in the town itself, although considered a liberal town, there was a de-facto racism to it. For example, most of Montclair was under the zip code 07042 but Upper Montclair zip code was 07043 with the dividing line being the street Watchung Avenue. There were no African Americans living in Upper Montclair under the zip code 07043. I remember when the first African American Dr. Robinson moved in 1965, and it was the talk of the town in every barbershop because it was the first time that line was broken.

There were pool clubs and one of the pool clubs did not take Italians, Jews or Blacks; while some pools took Italians and Jews but no Blacks. So there was that de-facto racism. Montclair was the first major suburban town to have a Black Mayor in New Jersey, but yet we still had that line Watchung Avenue, which was off limits for Blacks until Dr Robinson moved in.

2. CA: What honors did you receive in high school (both academically and in sports)? You don’t just end at an Ivy League School like Princeton especially during the 1960s without an impressive backstory; could you share that with us?

Leonard S. Coleman, Jr: I was awarded the top scholastic athlete in the state of New Jersey, and also got the award for the top scholastic athlete in Essex county, New Jersey. But at the award assembly, I didn’t get the award for best athlete at my own high school. At that time if you’re black, the schools just weren’t giving you the award. 

In my high school, graduating class I was the only student to get into Princeton, and many people in the school were not happy about that. They felt that Princeton was just taking a Black athlete and then the next thing I knew I was failing American History, my favorite subject, and was going to be given a zero. That would mean I’ll have to go to Summer school and wouldn’t be able to graduate in time from High School to go to Princeton. My mom had to go to the school to threaten them that they would face a NAACP lawsuit if I didn’t graduate on time. they would face a NAACP lawsuit 

3. CA: At Princeton you played on their baseball and football teams but you filed racial discrimination charges against them. What charges did you file against the University, and what were the consequences? Could you elaborate on that experience? 

Leonard S. Coleman, Jr: I started Princeton in the Fall of 1967 and in my class of about 800 students, they were only 14 African Americans. The following year there were about 50 of us. Because of the Civil Rights Movement, change was taking place. I played both baseball and football at Princeton for the Varsity team, but at the end of my Sophomore year, there were three of us who started a racial boycott against the football coach, which made national news. The University made changes and got a new coach, but we didn’t play anymore for the team.We filed charges and sent a letter to the President of Princeton who set up a commission to investigate the charges, but the commission found no racism and just reported that there were some insensitivities.

They were about 50 African Americans at the University during my time and we had an, “Association of Black Collegians.” We used to meet and we all knew each other. They were two people who took me under their wings. Paul Williams and Dean Buchanan who went on to be very successful in their careers. Williams had a successful career as a doctor in Chicago and Dean Buchanan had a very distinguished career in Law in Cleveland. They basically took me under their wings and were my mentors.

4. CA: It’s impressive that throughout your extensive career, you continue to sit on many prominent corporate boards, because it means you beat the odds for an African American in Corporate America. Can you tell us about some of these boards and how you reached this level of success in your career?

Leonard S. Coleman, Jr: I was appointed to be the Commissioner of Energy at the age of 32 by the New Jersey Governor’s cabinet. That position really thrust me into the public spotlight. Also, Governor Thomas Kean (NJ Governor 1982-1990), chose to put me into a discipline that was not the typical field for an African American. I was responsible for law on utilities companies and energy policies. After that I served as Commissioner of Community Affairs, so those two positions put me in the public spotlight and put me in the situation where I would be noticed by Corporations who were also attempting to change.

When I was the Commissioner of Energy one of the policies I put through around 1983, was that the utility companies had to add minorities and women to their board of directors otherwise I was going to intervene and rate cases against them. That was a big deal back then. So the utilities in New Jersey all added minorities and women.

I am the Lead Director at Omnicom Group and on our Board of Directors there are nine members, four are African Americans, 6 are women and one white male-John D. Wren, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. So we are ahead of the times and have a very diverse board.

At the Boca Executive Golf Outing hosted by John Utendahl in Boca (which is a networking event for Black men in different industries), I sat next to Ronnie Hawkins. I was so impressed with him that I recommended him and got him on the board of Omnicom Group. If I did not meet him at that event he would not have been on the board. That’s why it is important to have those kinds of networking events. 

5. CA: You served as Chairman on the Board of the Jackie Robinson for 18-years. Now you serve as the Honorary Chairman. What are some of your accomplishments in that role and why do you think it is important to become a board member with influential organizations?

Leonard S. Coleman, Jr: We have a 98% graduation rate and our students pick their own colleges. Very proud of our students who all go on to have successful careers. We also maintain great relationships with them. Our current Chairman Gregg Gonsalves (a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs) is actually a Jackie Robinson scholar.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Program

“The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) Scholarship program addresses the financial needs of college students and provides extensive, hands-on mentoring and support services. Once chosen from a national, selective application process, Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars receive a generous four-year grant to attend the undergraduate school of their choice and enroll in JRF’s celebrated “42 Strategies for Success Curriculum”. This four-year program guides JRF Scholars to effectively navigate their college environments, explore career options, develop leadership skills, and embrace a commitment to service. The program also promotes the values and character traits embodied in the heroic life of the Foundation’s namesake, encouraging Scholars to positively impact the lives of others.” -source: https://www.jackierobinson.org/our-programs/scholarship-program

We are working on launching a museum which will be the first Civil Rights Museum in New York City. Hopefully we will be done collecting funding this year. Plans have already been drawn up so hopefully we can get it completed by next year.

 “The Jackie Robinson Museum is designed for learners of all ages with an interest in learning sports and civil rights history while considering contemporary issues through the lens of Robinson’s legacy. Visitors will explore key moments of his life through narrative, interactives, media, and artifacts, including game worn uniforms, Jackie’s 1949 Major League Baseball MVP award, and his military service records. Interactive, thought provoking activities and events will be designed for a wide array of audiences—from innovative workshops and special events for students and teachers, to intergenerational and adult public programming featuring celebrities and renowned experts, and more. Location: A short walking distance from both Tribeca and Soho in lower Manhattan, the museum is centrally located and easily accessible by subway and bus.” Source: https://www.jackierobinsonmuseum.org/

6. CA:What advice would you give to anyone who would like to create change which will help to pave the way for others?

Leonard S. Coleman, Jr: Each person has to define what their contribution is. Some people have talent in one area and other people in another area. Decide personally how you can contribute. You also have to have a plan and to strategize. For example, Mayor Andrew Young a top aide to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said they would not go through governance in the South, because the senate and congress back then were segregationist. So they decided they would have better success in the courts, and they basically defeated the political system through the courts. So that was a clear defined strategy.  

TAKEAWAY

Coleman continues to beat the odds, and his career highlights have undoubtedly set a new precedent and paved the way for the next generation of African Americans in Corporate America. A true game-changer.

BELOW ARE SOME OF LEONARD COLEMAN’S OTHER IMPRESSIVE CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

FROM 1976 TO 1980, MR. COLEMAN WORKED IN AFRICA IN MISSION SERVICE FOR THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDING MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT SERVICES IN HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND CHURCH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN 17 AFRICAN COUNTRIES. HE IS A FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PRESIDING BISHOP’S FUND FOR WORLD RELIEF AND THE UNITED STATES CHAIRMAN OF THE BISHOP TUTU SCHOLARSHIP FUND. HE WAS A MUNICIPAL FINANCE BANKER FOR KIDDER, PEABODY & COMPANY. HE SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HACKENSACK MEADOWLANDS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THE NEW JERSEY HOUSING AND MORTGAGE FINANCE AGENCY. HE WAS THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON ETHICAL STANDARDS AND A MEMBER OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONE AUTHORITY, URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, STATE PLANNING COMMISSION AND NEW JERSEY PUBLIC TELEVISION COMMISSION. MR. COLEMAN ALSO HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER NEWARK URBAN COALITION. -ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SOURCE CREDIT: JACKIE ROBINSON FOUNDATION WEBSITE.