Dr. Theadore (Ted) Pryor

     Dr. Theadore (Ted) Pryor - A Practical Visionary



On April 6, 2008, Theadore M. (Ted) Pryor peacefully departed this life.  With his passing, the world lost a rare visionary who knew how to fashion his dreams into practical realities.  His drive, ambition and abilities enabled him to rise from humble origins to serve as a model of service and leadership. Theadore Marcus Pryor was born on July 27, 1921, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to James Pryor and Angele Bourgeois Pryor. He loved to relate stories of the fond memories he cherished of growing up with his sisters, Dorothy and Irma.  Early in his life, his father, a WWI veteran, was permanently committed to the mental health unit of the Veterans' Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama.  Ted had not yet reached six years of age. The ensuing struggle brought about by his father's illness, and his need to assume the mantle as the man of the house, instilled in him the strength and fortitude that would propel his never ending desire to achieve greater things for himself, and others. When WWII began, Ted Pryor enlisted in the U.S. Army, and found his first career as a soldier. He retired from the service in 1965, and settled with his wife and four children in Hartford, Connecticut.  Having previously attended Xavier University in New Orleans for two years, he spent his first two years in Hartford completing his education, and earning a degree in economics from Central Connecticut State College (now Central Connecticut State University). His wife, Sophornia, recalls that Ted began to voice the need for economic development to follow in the wake of the strides made by blacks during the civil rights era. In 1966, in furtherance of his desire to bring his message to the black community, he joined an effort to establish Connecticut's first black bank. In keeping with his hope for the future of black America, the new financial institution bore the name "Unity Bank". Assuming responsibility for securing pledges, Ted raised almost all of the half million dollars required for issuance of the bank's permit in less than six months. In 1967, he organized Hartford's approximately thirty black-owned businesses under an umbrella organization known as the Ebony Businessman's League (EBL). As Executive Director of EBL, Ted Pryor staged America's first National Black Business Exposition in June 1970. More than 130 black owned businesses showcased their products, including a doll manufacturer from California, a Chicago soap maker, a Dallas chemical company, a textile company from Alabama, and a bicycle manufacturer from Massachusetts. He contracted with musical giants Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and the Friends of Distinction to perform at the 3-day event. Apollo Astronaut Jack Swigert and Rev. Jesse Jackson were among the featured speakers. Ted took special joy in the fact that the more than 65,000 attendees included 4,000 school children. Ted Pryor organized Hartford's black building contractors into the Unity Contractors Association, enabling them to utilize their collective economic power to bid on projects which were beyond the reach of individual black contractors. To ensure the stability and sustainability of black business, he arranged for business start up and management classes for existing and beginning black entrepreneurs. He helped companies prepare business loan applications, often taking the applications to the lenders himself and discussing loan potential with the Small Business Administration. Ted also organized a ladies auxiliary of the EBL, and sponsored father-son breakfasts in an effort to encourage family orientation. Under his leadership, EBL issued food baskets to indigent families every Thanksgiving and toys to indigent children at Christmas. By 1971 the number of black businesses in the Hartford area had grown to 400. Having seen his dreams become reality, Ted resigned from EBL. During the 1970s, Ted Pryor served on several Federal and state commissions. In recognition of his contributions to the Connecticut Republican Party, including the administration of Governor Thomas J. Meskill, the administration of President Richard M. Nixon offered him a position. He declined, however, choosing instead to continue serving the Greater Hartford Community. He would go on to receive citations from the City of Hartford and from the Connecticut Society of Public Accountants in recognition of his business leadership and civic outreach. After retiring and moving to Atlanta in 1981, Theadore Pryor turned his energies to writing and public speaking.  Giving credit to Booker T. Washington as the source of his inspiration, Ted Pryor wrote Wealth Building Lessons for a New Black America.  The companion book, Ten-Year Initiative for the Empowerment of Black America, soon followed. Both works describe projects he believed Washington would have undertaken had he lived longer. In 2004, Theadore Pryor delivered the keynote address at Tuskegee University's 87th Annual Founder's Day Convocation celebrating the life of Booker T. Washington.  For his exemplary public service, the University awarded him a doctorate in humane letters.  Thereafter, Ted would be known as Dr. Pryor. Dr. Theadore Pryor is predeceased by his sister Dorothy Dennis and granddaughter Amber Pryor. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sophornia Laurent Pryor; his children, Zylpha Pryor-Bell, J.D., Jampa K. Pryor, Ph.D, Tedra M. Pryor, and J. Xavier Pryor, J.D.; son-in-law, Charles T.Bell, Jr., J.D.; daughter-in-law, Sarah Mims Pryor; sister, Irma Mason;  grandchildren, Meiyen, Martene, Nikole, Erin, Alexis and Xavier; three great grandchildren; and countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.