G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr.

G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr. (1913–2005[1]) was an African-American businessman and civic leader from Kansas City.[2] He served as the chairman of the Kansas City Black Economic Union for more than 14 years.

G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr.
Born(1913-09-08)September 8, 1913
DiedDecember 28, 2005(2005-12-28) (aged 92)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Pharmacist, business owner
Years active1944–2005
Known forBlankinship Distributors

Life

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Blankinship was born on September 8, 1913, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Mattie G. Blankinship and Lee Blankinship and was the youngest of three children and the only son.[1] He moved to Kansas City in his teens and graduated from Lincoln High School.[1] He later attended Kansas City College of Pharmacy and was told by an instructor that several white students in his class objected to his presence because he was black.[2][3]

He married Opal C. Blankinship in 1953 and they had two children, Adrian and G. Lawrence Blankinship Jr.[4]

Blankinship died on December 28, 2005, at age 92.[1]

Career

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In April 1944, he founded Blankinship & Meyers Jobbers together with Fred Meyers, a fellow manager within the Crown Drug Store chain.[1] The company was a wholesale supplier of African American beauty products.[1]

In 1947, Meyers decided to leave the newly formed company for personal health reasons, and the company became Blankinship Distributors Inc.[1][2] Blankinship went on to supply hundreds of sales outlets, primarily drugstores, with hair care and cosmetic products developed for the burgeoning African American markets.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "G. Lawrence Blankinship, Sr.: 'He Was a Great Mentor and Tutor'". The Kansas City Star. January 1, 2006. p. A-1. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Black History Stories". KCLINC.org. Greater KC LINC. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Hockaday, Laura Rollins (June 3, 1984). "Quiet power". The Kansas City Star. p. 143.
  4. ^ Hockaday, Laura R. (January 7, 1996). "Midwesterner's Club is still a place to bond". The Kansas City Star. p. 23.
  5. ^ Mansur, Michael (January 2, 2006). "G. Lawrence Blankinship Sr. Dies at 92". The Kansas City Star. p. A-1.

Further reading

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