Reginald Lewis, America’s First Black Billion-Dollar Dealmaker, is Larger Than Life in New Book
A captivating new memoir is set to be released on May 6, 2025, shedding light on the extraordinary life and untimely death of Reginald Lewis, a pioneering African American entrepreneur. Titled From Manila to Wall Street: An Immigrant’s Journey with America’s First Black Tycoon, the book is authored by Butch Meily, a close confidant and public relations strategist to Lewis.
Reginald Lewis: A Trailblazer in Business
Reginald Lewis made history in the 1980s as the first Black businessman to execute a billion-dollar leveraged buyout. He led the largest Black-owned company in the U.S., achieving annual sales exceeding a billion dollars. Despite facing racial barriers, Lewis’ tenacity and business acumen propelled him to unprecedented success.
A Life of Luxury and Struggle
Meily’s memoir offers an intimate look at Lewis’ lavish lifestyle, which included private jets, a chauffeured Bentley, and residences in Paris. It also delves into the ethical dilemmas and personal sacrifices that accompanied their rise to prominence in the high-stakes world of corporate takeovers and IPOs.
A Lasting Legacy
Lewis’ legacy endures through institutions named in his honor. Harvard Law School, his alma mater, christened a building as the Reginald F. Lewis Law Center, and Virginia State University named its business school the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business.
About the Author
Butch Meily, who currently heads the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, Ideaspace Foundation, and QBO Innovation Hub, brings a unique perspective to Lewis’ story. His memoir not only chronicles the life of a Black American trailblazer but also highlights his own journey as a Filipino-American striving to achieve the American Dream.
Publication Details
From Manila to Wall Street: An Immigrant’s Journey with America’s First Black Tycoon will be published by Heliotrope Books, an independent publishing house. Naomi Rosenblatt, the founder and manager of Heliotrope Books, describes the memoir as a dual history of two dreamers from different backgrounds.
For more details, visit PR Newswire.