John Edward Jacob, born on December 16, 1934, in Trout, Louisiana, and raised in Houston, Texas, was a prominent civil rights leader and advocate for economic and social justice. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Howard University. Jacob began his career as a social worker in Baltimore before joining the Urban League movement. In 1965, he became the director of education and youth incentives at the Washington, D.C., chapter. He later served as president and executive director of the San Diego Urban League. In 1979, Jacob was appointed executive vice-president of the National Urban League (NUL) under Vernon E. Jordan Jr. Following Jordan’s retirement, Jacob succeeded him as president in 1982, serving until 1994.

During his tenure as NUL president, Jacob advocated for social and economic progress for African Americans and other minority groups. He was outspoken against federal cutbacks in social programs and the weakening of civil rights enforcement during the Reagan administration. Jacob also promoted self-help initiatives, including tutoring programs to raise SAT scores, teenage pregnancy prevention plans, and male responsibility programs for fatherhood. ?

After retiring from the NUL, Jacob joined Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., as executive vice president and chief communications officer, where he directed public relations and communications strategies. ?

Jacob’s leadership and advocacy have left a lasting impact on the fight for civil rights and the pursuit of economic empowerment for underserved communities.