Jordan, Vernon E. (Vernon Eulion), 1935-

Name Entries

Information

person

Name Entries *

Jordan, Vernon E. (Vernon Eulion), 1935-

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Name :

Jordan, Vernon E. (Vernon Eulion), 1935-

Jordan, Vernon E. (Vernon Eulion), 1935-

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Jordan, Vernon E. (Vernon Eulion), 1935-

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Jordan, Vernon E.

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Name :

Jordan, Vernon E.

Jordan, Vernon E., 1935-

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Name :

Jordan, Vernon E., 1935-

Jordan, Vernon E. Jr

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Name :

Jordan, Vernon E. Jr

Jordan, Vernon Jr.

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Name :

Jordan, Vernon Jr.

Jordan, Vernon Eulion, 1935-

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Name :

Jordan, Vernon Eulion, 1935-

Jordan, Vernon Eulion

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Name :

Jordan, Vernon Eulion

Genders

Exist Dates

Exist Dates - Date Range

1935-08-15

1935-08-15

Birth

Show Fuzzy Range Fields
Exist Dates - Single Date

19350815

19350815

Birth

Show Fuzzy Range Fields

Biographical History

Lawyer and Washington power broker Vernon Jordan was born on August 15, 1935, in Atlanta. Graduating with honors from David T. Howard High School in 1953, he went on to attend DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he was the only African American student in his class. At DePauw, Jordan participated in the student senate, won statewide honors in speaking competitions, played basketball and graduated in 1957. He then entered Howard University School of Law, receiving his J.D. in 1960.

Jordan returned to Atlanta starting his legal career working with the civil rights movement. In 1961, he helped organize the integration of the University of Georgia and personally escorted student Charlayne Hunter through a hostile white crowd. Over the next ten years, Jordan held various positions as a civil rights advocate. He served as the Georgia field secretary for the NAACP; director of the Voter Education Project for the Southern Regional Council; head of the United Negro College Fund; and as a delegate to President Lyndon B. Johnson's White House Conference on Civil Rights.

In 1971, Jordan was appointed president and CEO of the National Urban League, where he spearheaded the organization's growth. On May 29, 1980, a white supremacist attempted to kill Jordan. After a successful recuperation, in 1981 Jordan resigned from the National Urban League to take a position as legal council with the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld. His active practice includes corporate, legislative and international clients. Jordan's close friend is former President Bill Clinton and during Clinton's presidency, Jordan became one of Washington's most influential power brokers. Currently he is a partner in the investment firm of Lazard Frere & Company in New York.

Jordan has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Alexis de Tocqueville Award from the United Way of America in 1977 for his dedication to volunteerism. In 2001, Jordan published his autobiography,Vernon Can Read!to widespread praise. He has also authored a weekly newspaper column syndicated to more than 300 newspapers and serves as a frequent television guest and commentator. Jordan is an active on various corporate boards and has had various presidential appointments.

Jordan and his wife, Ann, reside in Washington, D.C. and have four children.

Jordan was interviewed byThe HistoryMakerson January 24, 2003.

From The HistoryMakers™ biography: https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/A2003.019

Lawyer, civil rights activist.

From the description of Reminiscences of Vernon Eulion Jordan, Jr. : oral history, 1980. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122513501 From the description of Reminiscences of Vernon Eulion Jordan, Jr. : oral history, 1981. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122343135

eng

Latn

External Related CPF

https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n92121447

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10573562

https://viaf.org/viaf/236406801

https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q3555993

https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n92121447

https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n92121447

https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/A2003.019

Other Entity IDs (Same As)

Sources

Loading ...

Resource Relations

Loading ...

Internal CPF Relations

Loading ...

Languages Used

eng

Latn

Subjects

African American lawyers

African Americans

African Americans

Educational fund raising

Lawyers

Nationalities

Activities

Occupations

Civil Rights Lawyer

NonProfit Chief Executive

Legal Statuses

Places

United States

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

New York (N.Y.)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Work

Washington (D.C.)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Residence

Atlanta (Ga.)

as recorded (not vetted)

AssociatedPlace

Birth

Convention Declarations

<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>

General Contexts

Structure or Genealogies

Mandates

Identity Constellation Identifier(s)

w60z7r41

7164768