Vernon Jordan '57 On Cover of Urban Influence Magazine

August 23, 2010

August 23, 2010, Greencastle, Ind. — "My time at the Urban League was to me the greatest opportunity in my life to be of service," says Vernon E. Jordan Jr., the 1957 DePauw University graduate who served as president of the National Urban League from 1971-81.  Featured on the cover of the latest issue of the Urban League's magazine, Urban Influence, Jordan notes, "It was within those years an opportunity for me to give back, to serve, to help, to be a leader.  It was 10 of the most satisfying years of my life."

As the Urban League celebrates its 100th anniversary, Jordan states, "We have a lot to celebrate because dramatic changes have taken place in those 100 years and fortunately the Urban League had a hand in it.  The first 100 years convinced me that for the next 100 years, if there was no Urban League, we would have to invent one.  So 100 years later, the Urban League is as needed and necessary as it was 100 years ago."

A close adviser to former President Bill Clinton, Jordan is senior managing director of Lazard LLC and senior counsel at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. The article notes that Jordan is active on many boards, including DePauw's, which he serves as an advisory member.

In December 2009, Jordan was one of eight individuals presented with the Du Bois Medal, the highest honor awarded by the Harvard University Institute of Politics' W.E.B. Du Bois Institute. He's also been honored with the Spingarn Medal, the NAACP's highest honor for achievement, and the Trumpet Award.

On June 9, 2007, Vernon Jordan delivered the silver anniversary address at his Class of 1957's 50th reunion. His address to DePauw's Class of 1993 is embedded below.

Learn more about Vernon Jordan, author of Vernon Can Read!: A Memoir and Make It Plain: Standing Up and Speaking Out, in this recent story.

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