Raymond V. Haysbert
Encyclopedia
Raymond V. Haysbert Sr. was a prominent African-American business executive and civil rights leader during the second half of the 20th century in Baltimore, Maryland. During World War II
, he served in Africa and Italy with the renowned Tuskegee Airmen
. Haysbert joined Baltimore-based Parks Sausage Company in 1952, becoming CEO as it grew into one of the largest black-owned U.S. businesses. In later years, he was active in politics and the American civil rights movement. Haysbert was chairman of the Greater Baltimore Urban League
when he died at age 90 in 2010.
, in 1920 into a poor family. After working for a coal company, he earned a degree in accounting at Wilberforce University
. Following the outbreak of World War II
, Haysbert joined the acclaimed Tuskegee Airmen
, the first all-black fighter squadron, in Italy and Africa. After the war, he taught at Wilberforce University.
and Pizza Hut
. In 1991, he was named National Minority Entrepreneur of the Year, as Parks Sausage grew into a $26 million company employing 240 workers.
, the local affiliate of the National Urban League
, until his death in 2010, helping to restore the venerable civil rights group's financial viability.
Of his many organizational memberships, Haysbert was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, having been initiated at Wilberforce University (Xi Chapter) April 13, 1950 and was a member of Baltimore's Delta Lambda Chapter until his death.
He told a newspaper interviewer in 1992 that, although he "started in the ghetto, black, poor, on welfare ... in America, it's still possible for him to succeed, without a government subsidy." He also was a leader in the field of education, helping to develop the Leadership Development Program for Minority Managers at Johns Hopkins University
in the 1990s. The program provides an academic business environment for mid-level black professionals, bringing together the university's resources and Baltimore's business community. The Raymond V. Haysbert Research Center at Coppin State University
, an applied research
facility, was instituted and named in his honor in 2004.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served in Africa and Italy with the renowned Tuskegee Airmen
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
. Haysbert joined Baltimore-based Parks Sausage Company in 1952, becoming CEO as it grew into one of the largest black-owned U.S. businesses. In later years, he was active in politics and the American civil rights movement. Haysbert was chairman of the Greater Baltimore Urban League
Greater Baltimore Urban League
The Greater Baltimore Urban League was established in 1924 as a local affiliate of the National Urban League. Like the National Urban League, the Greater Baltimore Urban League is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower African Americans and promote economic and social equality in...
when he died at age 90 in 2010.
Early life
Haysbert was born in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, in 1920 into a poor family. After working for a coal company, he earned a degree in accounting at Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University is a private, coed, liberal arts historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans...
. Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Haysbert joined the acclaimed Tuskegee Airmen
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
, the first all-black fighter squadron, in Italy and Africa. After the war, he taught at Wilberforce University.
Business leader
In 1952, Haysbert moved from Wilberforce to Baltimore when he was recruited by Henry G. Parks Jr., founder of the sausage company there bearing his name, to serve as accountant and office manager. Haysbert was subsequently promoted to general manager, then executive vice president, before being named president and CEO of Parks Sausage Company. As CEO, he oversaw Parks' growth into one of the largest black-owned businesses in the U.S., becoming so successful that it was the first minority-owned company to have its shares traded on a stock exchange, in 1969. Under Haysbert, Parks Sausage became the supplier for such restaurant chains as Domino's PizzaDomino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza, Inc. is an international pizza delivery corporation headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America. Founded in 1960, Domino's is the second-largest pizza chain in the United States and has over 9,000 corporate and franchised stores in 60 countries and all 50 U.S....
and Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
. In 1991, he was named National Minority Entrepreneur of the Year, as Parks Sausage grew into a $26 million company employing 240 workers.
Civic activities
During the time of civil rights activism beginning in the early 1960s, Haysbert worked to elect black politicians, including Harry Cole as Maryland's first African-American state senator. In 1983, he started the President’s Roundtable for black business leaders to meet together. Haysbert was chairman of the board of directors of the Greater Baltimore Urban LeagueGreater Baltimore Urban League
The Greater Baltimore Urban League was established in 1924 as a local affiliate of the National Urban League. Like the National Urban League, the Greater Baltimore Urban League is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower African Americans and promote economic and social equality in...
, the local affiliate of the National Urban League
National Urban League
The National Urban League , formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. It is the oldest and largest...
, until his death in 2010, helping to restore the venerable civil rights group's financial viability.
Of his many organizational memberships, Haysbert was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
Fraternity, having been initiated at Wilberforce University (Xi Chapter) April 13, 1950 and was a member of Baltimore's Delta Lambda Chapter until his death.
He told a newspaper interviewer in 1992 that, although he "started in the ghetto, black, poor, on welfare ... in America, it's still possible for him to succeed, without a government subsidy." He also was a leader in the field of education, helping to develop the Leadership Development Program for Minority Managers at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in the 1990s. The program provides an academic business environment for mid-level black professionals, bringing together the university's resources and Baltimore's business community. The Raymond V. Haysbert Research Center at Coppin State University
Coppin State University
Coppin State University is a historically black college located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is part of the University System of Maryland...
, an applied research
Applied research
Applied research is a form of systematic inquiry involving the practical application of science. It accesses and uses some part of the research communities' accumulated theories, knowledge, methods, and techniques, for a specific, often state, business, or client driven purpose...
facility, was instituted and named in his honor in 2004.