Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? How Reginald Lewis Created a Billion-Dollar Business Empire

by Lewis, Reginald F.; Walker, Blair S.

• ISBN13: 9781574780369
• ISBN10: 1574780360
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-10-13
• Publisher: Black Classic Press

Summary

Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? is the inspiring story of Reginald Lewis: lawyer, Wall Street wizard, philanthropist — and the wealthiest black man in American history.

When six-year-old Reginald Lewis overheard his grandparents discussing employment discrimination against African Americans, he asked, “Why should white guys have all the fun?" This self-assured child would grow up to become the CEO of Beatrice International and one of the most successful entrepreneurs ever. At the time of his death in 1993, his personal fortune was estimated in excess of $400 million and his vast commercial empire spanned four continents. Despite the notoriety surrounding Lewis's financial coups, little has been written about the life of this remarkable man. Based on Lewis's unfinished autobiography, as well as scores of interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, the book cuts through the myth and media hype to reveal the man behind the legend. What emerges is a vivid portrait of a proud, fiercely determined individual with a razor-sharp tongue — and an intellect to match — who would settle for nothing less than excellence from himself and others.

Table of Contents

Prologue	xiii
A Kid from East Baltimore	1	(15)
Lewis's ``Demon Work Ethic'': The High School Years	16	(16)
``I'm Going to Be a Millionaire'': Lewis at Virginia State	32	(18)
No Application Needed: Breaking Down the Doors of Harvard Law	50	(22)
Building His Own Law Practice: The Years of Struggle	72	(25)
``Masterful'' Man: Winning Loida Nicolas	97	(13)
``I Was Not Ready''	110	(22)
Drexel, the Bear, and the $18 Million Race: Closing the McCall Pattern Deal	132	(25)
Piloting McCall for a 90-to-1 Gain	157	(30)
The Biggest Deal of All: The Billion-Dollar LBO of Beatrice	187	(31)
International Headaches and Domestic Roadblocks	218	(12)
Bravura and Brinksmanship: Closing the Beatrice Acquisition	230	(21)
Taming a Business Behemoth	251	(22)
A Door to a New Universe	273	(10)
Connoisseur, Philanthropist, Citizen of the World	283	(10)
``I Am Not Afraid of Death''	293	(15)
Epilogue	308	(4)
Sources Interviewed	312	(3)
Index	315