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Draft:Robert C. Embry Jr.

Robert C. Embry Jr.
BornSept. 7, 1937
Baltimore, MD
EducationB.A. Williams College J.D. Harvard Law School
Occupation(s)President, Abell Foundation
SpouseMary Ann Mears
ChildrenElizabeth Embry, Katherine Embry, Claire Embry, Julia Embry
Parent(s)Robert C. Embry Sr., Frances Embry

Robert C. Embry Jr. (born Sept. 7, 1937 ) is an American civic leader and president of the Baltimore-based Abell Foundation.

Biography

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Robert C. Embry Jr. was born in Baltimore, the son of Frances Embry (née Cockerham) and Robert C. Embry Sr. A 1955 graduate of Baltimore City College High School, he earned his bachelor's degree with honors from Williams College in 1959 and his juris doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1964.[1] After initially considering a career in the foreign service, Embry returned to Baltimore. He clerked for Chief Judge of the 4th Circuit Simon Sobeloff[2] and practiced law before winning the 3rd District City Council race in 1967 at the age of 30.[3] He was also named a member of the Baltimore Planning Commission and was soon recruited by then-Mayor Thomas J. D'Alesandro III to head the city's newly created Department of Housing and Community Development.[4] He would continue in that position for nearly a decade, playing a leading role under D'Alesandro's successor, Mayor William Donald Schaefer, in completing some of Baltimore's signature initiatives of the era, including the Dollar House program, the development of Harborplace, and the construction of landmarks such as the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center.[5] [6]

He served in President President Jimmy Carter's administration as assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community Planning and Development,[4] and after President Ronald Reagan's election, he returned to Baltimore and joined up with his high school friend, the developer David S. Cordish, to work on urban redevelopment projects nationwide.[7]

In 1987, Embry was approached by the trustees of the newly reconstituted Abell Foundation, whose assets had increased significantly after the sale of The Baltimore Sun to the Times-Mirror Co., to discuss what the foundation's focus should be. He presented a vision of philanthropy focused on Baltimore City with the central mission of addressing racial disparities. The trustees offered him the job of president, a role he has held ever since.[7]

Under his leadership, the Abell Foundation has helped start or scale up a number of initiatives in education, workforce development, health and human services, and community development, including the Collegebound Foundation,[7] Thread,[8] the Center for Urban Families,[9] Roca Baltimore[10] and the Ingenuity Project.[7] Abell has also spearheaded litigation resulting in greater state funding for Baltimore City Public Schools[7] and support for Baltimore City public housing voucher recipients to move to less economically and racially segregated neighborhoods in the suburbs.[11]

Boards and commissions

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  • Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, 1983-1986 (president 1985-1986)[12][13]
  • Maryland State Board of Education, 1989-1995[14] (vice president 1989-1990[15], president 1990-1995[16])
  • Greater Baltimore Committee, 1996-present[17]
  • CollegeBound Foundation, 1989-present[18]

Honors

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  • Harvard Law School Ames Moot Court Competition winner, 1964[19]
  • Time Magazine 50 Faces for America's Future, 1979[20]
  • Greater Baltimore Committee Regional Visionary Award, 2000[21]
  • The Daily Record Influential Marylanders, 2017[22]
  • Baltimore Business Journal Power 10, 2018[23]
  • Baltimore Sun Business and Civic Hall of Fame, 2019[24]

References

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  1. ^ By (2004-02-22). "A MAN FOR ALL CAUSES". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  2. ^ "R. C. Embry, Jr., Aims At Council". The Baltimore Sun. 1967-05-17. ProQuest 539412795. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  3. ^ "Democrats Sweep City". The Baltimore Sun. 1967-11-12. ProQuest 540401995. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  4. ^ a b Record, Special to The Daily (2019-12-18). "Robert C. Embry Jr". Maryland Daily Record. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  5. ^ GameChangers, Rebecca Kirkman | Baltimore (2020-01-15). "Q&A with Robert C. Embry Jr". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  6. ^ By (2004-02-22). "A MAN FOR ALL CAUSES". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  7. ^ a b c d e Board, Baltimore Sun Editorial (2019-06-07). "Baltimore Sun's 2019 Business and Civic Hall of Fame honoree: Robert C. Embry Jr". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  8. ^ Joslyn, Heather (2017-07-19). "Fighting Poverty the Hard Way". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved 2024-05-21.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Striving To Make A Difference: Joseph T. Jones, Jr. '06 - UMBC: University Of Maryland, Baltimore County". 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  10. ^ Charles, J. Brian (2021-06-10). "Inside One Baltimore Group's Effort to Stop Youth Violence Before It Starts". The Trace. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  11. ^ Donovan, Doug (2015-12-15). "Housing policies still pin poor in Baltimore, but some escape to suburbs". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  12. ^ "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0181, Page 0512 - Maryland Manual, 1983-84". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  13. ^ Banisky, Sandy (1986-11-23). "Embry resigns school job, considers mayoral bid". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 910669804. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  14. ^ "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0186, Page 0225 - Maryland Manual, 1994-95". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  15. ^ Lally, Kathy (1989-07-27). "Md. school board elects Parran as its president". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 1637442034. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  16. ^ "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0185, Page 0227 - Maryland Manual, 1991-92". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  17. ^ "Our Board". Greater Baltimore Committee. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  18. ^ "Board of Directors". CollegeBound Foundation. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  19. ^ "Past Winners of the Ames Competition". Board of Student Advisers. 2011-11-11. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  20. ^ TIME (1979-08-06). "Special Section: 50 Faces for America's Future". TIME. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  21. ^ Kobell, Rona (2000-05-16). "City a long way from halving crime, GBC says But progress is being made, business leaders say". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 406458107. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  22. ^ "2017 Influential Marylanders". Maryland Daily Record. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  23. ^ Eichensehr, Morgan. "CEO of the Year and the Power 10 Awards 2018". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  24. ^ "Baltimore Sun's 2019 Business and Civic Hall of Fame honoree: Robert C. Embry Jr". Baltimore Sun. 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
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