James S. Avery, Sr. (1923-2011) |
So now belatedly I am posting this as a tribute to his life and extend my sympathy to Joan (Showers) Avery and the Avery family.
Jim had a remarkable life story. He studied engineering at Columbia University and played for its football team.
He was an early African-American executive of a Fortune 500 company, Exxon, and headed two national organizations. He was a leader in local education in Union County, NJ with a focus on getting more disadvantaged youngsters to seek high education and find their place in it.
Jim's life story (2006). Available here. |
The purpose of the Council was to generate better measures of performance of state and local government to permit greater fiscal accountability and management efficiency.
The book we wrote together, published by Facts on File. |
I benefited also from our many conversations about American business and governments, American history, his family, and my family.
When Alice and I went to Japan with our two children under the auspices of the Japan Society, he arranged with a friend for the use of what they call in Tokyo a gaijin palace - an American-sized apartment in a city where people are used to living in half the space.
Jim was clear-eyed about everything he did and read. He was an inspiration to me as well as to so many others.
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