J. Bruce Llewellyn facts for kids

James Bruce Llewellyn (born July 16, 1927 – died April 7, 2010) was a very successful American businessman. He was known for his great wealth, which was estimated to be over $160 million.

In 1963, he helped start an important group called 100 Black Men of America. This group helps people and does good things for the community. Later, in 1985, he and some business friends, including famous people like Julius Erving and Bill Cosby, bought a big part of the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company. This was a big deal because it was the first time a Black person or group owned a Coca-Cola bottling plant.

Early Life and Beginnings

Llewellyn was born in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. His mother was from Jamaica, and his father was from Guyana. Both of his parents came to the United States in 1921.

After a couple of years, his family moved to Westchester County, settling in White Plains. This area was mostly white and middle-class. However, Llewellyn went to schools where students of all backgrounds learned together.

As a young person, he worked in his father's bar and restaurant. He also sold magazines and products from Fuller Brush. In 1943, Llewellyn joined the US Army and became a first lieutenant.

Family Connections

James Bruce Llewellyn had a family with many notable members. His sister, Dorothy Cropper, became a judge in New York State. His middle daughter, Alexandra Marie Llewellyn, married the famous author Tom Clancy.

His wife of 30 years, Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn, was also a successful businesswoman. She was a vice chair at Philly Coke and at Jazz at Lincoln Center. She was also chosen by Michael Bloomberg to serve on the NYC Commission on Women's Issues. His youngest daughter, Jaylaan Ahmad-Llewellyn, went to Harvard and started her own music and clothing companies. Llewellyn's mother, Nessa F. Llewellyn, lived to be 102 years old.

Education Journey

James Bruce Llewellyn was a dedicated student and earned several degrees from well-known universities:

• City University of New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.
• New York Law School, where he earned a Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 1960.
• Columbia University, where he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
• New York University, where he earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree.

Career Highlights

Llewellyn had a long and impressive career, holding many important positions:

• 1952–1956: He owned a liquor store in Harlem.
• 1958–1960: He worked as a student assistant in the New York County district-attorney's office.
• 1962–1965: He was part of the firm Evans, Berger, & Llewellyn.
• 1964–1965: He worked for the Housing and Redevelopment Board of New York City.
• 1965–1967: He was the regional director for the Small Business Development Corporation.
• 1967–1969: He served as Deputy Commissioner of Housing for the New York City Housing and Development Administration.
• 1969–1984: He was the president of Fedco Food Stores.
• 1971 onwards: He became a board member of Freedom National Bank in Harlem, and from 1973 to 1975, he was its chairman.
• 1977–1981: He led the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
• 1982–1983: He was a partner at Dickstein, Shapiro, & Morin.
• 1985–2008: He became the chairman and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
• 1986–1989: He was the chairman of WKBW-TV.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his life, James Bruce Llewellyn received many honors for his achievements:

• 1993: He received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. This award was presented to him by Awards Council member Julius Erving.
• 2001: He was recognized by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the top Black business owners.
• 2004: He was inducted into the Black Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame.
• 2004: He received the President's Medal of Honor from New York University.
• He also received more than ten honorary doctorate degrees from various institutions.

Later Life and Passing

James Bruce Llewellyn passed away on April 7, 2010, in New York City. He was 82 years old. His death was caused by renal failure, which means his kidneys stopped working properly.