Earl G. Graves, Sr., founder of “Black Enterprise” —the media company focused on black entrepreneurship and black businesses—died Monday at the age of 85, according to CNN.
Graves “passed away quietly after a long battle with Alzheimer’s,” his son and current Black Enterprise CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. wrote on Twitter.
“I loved and admired this giant of a man, and am blessed to be his namesake,” he said in the tweet. “LOVE YOU DAD!”
“Black Enterprise” magazine also shared the news on social media.
“We will evermore celebrate his life and legacy, in this, our 50th Anniversary Year, and beyond,” the publication wrote in a tweet.
Graves first launched “Black Enterprise” in 1970, in an effort to cover black businesses and also provide business strategies to the magazine’s readership.
“My goal was to show them how to thrive professionally, economically and as proactive, empowered citizens,” Graves wrote in his 1997 book “How to Succeed in Business Without Being White.”
His efforts paid off—as of 2019, the magazine reaches four million readers, according to the publication.
Graves went on to create Earl G. Graves, Ltd., the parent company of Earl G. Graves Publishing Company, which produces “Black Enterprise” magazine. His son, Graves Jr., became the CEO of the company in 2006, though Graves Sr. remained a chairman, according to Black Enterprise.
In addition to his work in media, Graves also served as the CEO of Pepsi Cola between 1990 and
