For the majority of his 28 years at the helm of the Urban League, President and CEO, Henry M. Thomas III, has managed to stay clear of the controversy and adversity that seems to eventually catch up with all those who travel in the public eye. Every now and then, some minor controversy gets associated with his name, but like teflon, nothing really seems to stick.  And Henry, who used to be a football running back, just keeps running with the ball toward the goal line.

 So, it is not uncharacteristic of his style that in the midst of the battle over the closing of several of the neighborhood libraries, the Mason Square library among them, Henry seized upon what seemed to him the perfect solution to two problems and just kept moving forward.  After all, the Urban League had to move—that was a given.  And the Mason Square Library needed help.   

And in the heat of the battle, Henry refused to get negative.  He kept a positive attitude and tried to come up with a plan that he felt would be a win-win for both sides.  He describes his plan for the library as “value added”.  And whether we agree with him or not, time will tell.

 One could say that “value added” is an appropriate descriptor that really could serve as Henry’s philosophy of life.  From his days as a student activist at American International College (“A.I.C.”) and throughout his years at the Urban League, Henry has tried to add value to everything that he does.

 At 15, he became inspired by Malcolm X’s, Message to the Grass Roots, and upon attending A.I.C. on an academic scholarship his first year and then continuing on a football scholarship, he remained a scholarship athlete determined to make a difference on campus.  And when he graduated, he left behind some concrete value added changes at the college that continue to this day. 

 He was co-founder of PRIDE (Persons Ready In Defense of Ebony) and responsible for the creation of the cultural center.  On the recommendation of Andy Griffin, who was Henry’s college advisor, he gave Ray Jordan the job as coordinator of the center.  Henry says that, “This was Ray’s first job outside of the factory, Savage Arms.”  And although they laugh about it now, at the time Henry thought Ray was an “Uncle Tom” and had to be persuaded to give Ray the job.  And the rest, as we all know, is history.

 Henry’s student activism didn’t end there.  When he entered A.I.C. in 1968, there were only seven Black students and by the time he graduated in 1971, he had helped to convince the college to recruit over 100-150 Black students.  Also of significance is the fact that Henry married Devonia J. Meek upon graduating from college and she has been at his side ever since supporting his efforts, offering sage advice and direction, raising their two very accomplished children, Perren and Shadae, and contributing in her own right to their successes.

 Henry ended up at the Urban League through a fluke.  He had planned to play pro football after college but got hurt. He ended up taking a summer job with the Urban League and never left.  In a turn of fate, when it came time for the board of directors to vote him in as the new head, Ray Jordan was on the board, along with Andy Griffin.  I guess payback can be sweet.

Which brings to mind another quality that Henry is a master at.  He knows how to network in the truest sense of the word.

 Certainly his tenure at the Urban League has opened up many doors for him but Henry always seems to be able to step right in those doors and come out with something.  Take the time he worked for Hugh Price at the national Urban League as vice president for youth development, responsible for getting that whole effort off the ground.  It’s true that he learned a lot and met a lot of influential people but more importantly, he came back to Springfield with a new focus and 1.2 million dollars, which he used to underwrite the Springfield Urban League’s Campaign for Youth Achievement.

 When asked about the accomplishments he proudest of, Henry cites the following:  re-opening of Camp At Water, establishment of New Leadership Charter School, a new initiative called, Step Up Springfield and the move to the Mason Square Library.  Certainly with every one of these accomplishments, Henry’s goal has been, not only to add a new program to the Urban League, but to leave the community with value added to projects that are bold, meaningful and capable of being sustained when he retires—if that time ever comes.