Speaking on behalf of the Most Powerful 100, Thompson said that “it’s great to be recognized by your own” and that all of the executives honored were able to reach the upper echelons of corporate American by “standing on the shoulders of giants.” He used the opportunity to pay homage to African American business trailblazers including Black Enterprise Founder and Publisher Earl G. Graves, Sr.
Publisher Graves recently wrote in his Publisher’s Page column: “The progress of African American executive talent in corporate America is undeniable, as evidenced by our list of top black corporate leaders, which has grown from the inaugural 25 to 100 talented men and women drawn from a pool of several hundred candidates. It’s great to list 100 but it should be 1,000 with 100 CEOs.”
Inspired by the 1988 roster and deeply honored to make two recent lists, Elliott J. Lyons, group president of commercial vehicle products of Leggett & Platt Inc.: “As long as we keep exposing the achievements of executives like those in this room, I see the day when we will reach 1,000.”