Age, Biography and Wiki

Franklin A. Thomas (Franklin Augustine Thomas) was born on 27 May, 1934 in New York City, New York, U.S., is an American businessman and philanthropist (1934–2021). Discover Franklin A. Thomas's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 87 years old?

Popular As Franklin Augustine Thomas
Occupation Businessman, philanthropist
Age 87 years old
Zodiac Sign Gemini
Born 27 May 1934
Birthday 27 May
Birthplace New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of death 22 December, 2021
Died Place New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 27 May. He is a member of famous Businessman with the age 87 years old group.

Franklin A. Thomas Height, Weight & Measurements

At 87 years old, Franklin A. Thomas height not available right now. We will update Franklin A. Thomas's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
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Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

Family
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Wife Not Available
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Children Not Available

Franklin A. Thomas Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Franklin A. Thomas worth at the age of 87 years old? Franklin A. Thomas’s income source is mostly from being a successful Businessman. He is from United States. We have estimated Franklin A. Thomas's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Businessman

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Timeline

1934

Franklin Augustine Thomas (May 27, 1934 – December 22, 2021) was an American businessman and philanthropist who was president and CEO of the Ford Foundation from 1979 until 1996.

After leaving the foundation, Thomas continued to serve in leadership positions in American corporations and was on the board of the TFF Study Group, a nonprofit institution assisting development in South Africa.

Franklin Augustine Thomas was born on May 27, 1934, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.

After the death of his father, his mother, Viola, an immigrant from Barbados, headed the household, where he was the youngest of six children, as a housekeeper and waitress.

Thomas attended the Franklin K. Lane High School.

1956

He then graduated from Columbia College in 1956, where he was a star basketball player and the first African-American captain of an Ivy League team.

1963

He later graduated from the Columbia Law School in 1963 after serving as a navigator in the Strategic Air Command.

Thomas worked as an attorney for the Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency (now HUD) in 1963.

1964

Thomas was named Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in 1964.

1965

He later served as Deputy Police Commissioner in Charge of Legal Matters for the New York City Police Department for two years, starting in 1965; he was the first African-American to hold the position.

1967

Thomas was the first president and chief executive officer of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (BSRC), a non-profit community development corporation, from 1967 to 1977.

As president and CEO, Thomas led the organization renovating the exteriors of 3,682 buildings and 123 established businesses, and helped create 3,300 new jobs in the 96-block area.

His successes at BSRC raised his profile nationally and he was well-regarded for his pragmatism and persuasiveness.

After leaving the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Thomas headed a study of US policy toward South Africa for the Rockefeller Foundation recommending peaceful change.

Alan J. Pifer, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, considered Thomas's direction of the study "brilliant."

1970

His role came at a time where the foundations assets and resources were limited due to the stock market downturn in the 1970s and a large, cumbersome administration.

1971

From 1971 to 1974, Thomas was romantically involved with Gloria Steinem after she interviewed him for an article in New York magazine.

He later married Kate Roosevelt Whitney.

Whitney is the daughter of James Roosevelt, granddaughter of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harvey Cushing.

1972

Thomas married Dawn Conrada, later divorcing in 1972.

The couple had four children: two boys and two girls.

1977

He was chosen out of 300 candidates; he had been a member of the Ford Foundation's board of trustees since 1977.

1979

In 1979, Thomas became the first African-American to head a major foundation when he became president of the Ford Foundation, succeeding McGeorge Bundy.

In 1979, he was awarded an honorary degree from Columbia University.

1982

As president, he examined the organization's structure, financing, and grant-making practices, and initiated a six-part agenda that was intended to regain managerial and financial control which led to mass firings in 1982, prompting criticism from the trustees.

During his tenure as president, he grew the foundation's portfolio of assets to over $6.5 billion; established new programs including the nation's largest community development support organization, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC); and expanded its global reach.

He also worked to improve the lives of women through the production of nonsexist textbooks, forming farm organizations in rural areas, increasing the number of female professionals at the Ford Foundation, and instituted paid paternal leave.

1996

In 1996, he left the Ford Foundation to concentrate on the problems and opportunities of South Africa as a consultant to the TFF Study Group, which built on his anti-apartheid efforts at the Ford Foundation.

2001

Thomas was chairman of the nonprofit organization September 11th Fund from 2001 to 2004 and was involved in the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, having served as the manager of its American office.

In October 2001, Thomas was appointed the Chairman of the September 11 Fund, which was formed to support the victims, families, and communities affected by the September 11 attacks.

2004

He held the position until 2004, overseeing the collection of $534 million and awarding 559 grants totaling $528 million.

2006

Thomas was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2006.

In their article published in the Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics, Fowler, Fronmueller and Schifferdecker argued that Thomas was one of eight Citigroup Inc. directors who served on interlocking directorates.

Thomas served on the board of directors of Cummins, Inc., Lucent Technologies, Inc., Alcoa CBS, and PepsiCo, Inc.

He was also the second African American to be elected to the Board of Trustees of Columbia University, after fellow Columbia College alumnus M. Moran Weston.

2016

In 2016, John Jay College established the Franklin A. Thomas Professorship in Policing Equity with $2.5 million in grants from the Ford Foundation and the Atlantic Philanthropies.

2020

In 2020, he was awarded the Medal for Excellence by Columbia Law School.

In 2020, Thomas was portrayed by Jay Ellis on the FX and Hulu series Mrs. America.