Reatha Clark King—2004-05 Louis W. Hill, Jr. Fellow

The Louis W. Hill, Jr. Fellowship for 2004-05 was awarded to a woman who, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune (1999), is one of the most influential Minnesotans of the twentieth century. She has been included in nearly all the lists recognizing powerful women and influential Americans. That woman, Dr. Reatha Clark King, has achieved a place in history as an outstanding scientist, an outstanding educator, an outstanding philanthropist, and an outstanding corporate and community leader.

A sharecropper’s daughter born in rural Georgia, Dr. King realized early in life that “education is our best enabling resource.” She won a scholarship to attend Clark College (Atlanta), where she was inspired to pursue a career in chemistry. In her senior year, she was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, which enabled her to attend the University of Chicago’s graduate school to earn her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in physical chemistry, with a focus on thermodynamics.

Upon completion of her studies, she obtained a position as a research chemist with the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C. It was there that she worked to determine accurate heats of formation of gaseous fluorine compounds—work that was extremely important to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) because of its relevance to the space program. After five years with the Bureau, she moved to New York (where her husband, N. Judge King, had found a new position), and began her academic career at York College of the City University of New York, first as assistant professor of chemistry and later as associate and full professor of chemistry and associate dean for academic affairs. While on sabbatical, she earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Columbia University.

In 1977, she left York College to become the president of Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, where she served a distinguished eleven years. Under her leadership, the small, “alternative” university was transformed into a major educational institution, serving the urban communities of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Though Dr. King had no inclination to leave her position in academia, she reconsidered when General Mills sought her out to bring her leadership skills to the corporate world. In 1988, she accepted a position with the company, serving in a dual position as Vice President of the General Mills Corporation and as Executive Director of the General Mills Foundation. The foundation, established in 1954, makes grants to tax-exempt organizations in the areas of education, family life, cultural affairs, arts, and health and nutrition. Under her guidance, the philanthropy and community service of General Mills gained international respect as the leader in the field. During her tenure, she initiated many special programs and projects to serve not only the local community, but the General Mills communities throughout the nation as well. In 2002, Dr. King retired from her position at General Mills, having served for fourteen years. Her involvement continued there an additional year (through May 2003) as a General Mills Foundation Trustee.

Dr. King’s leadership has extended to numerous boards as well (several of which she chaired). These include Exxon Mobil Corporation, Wells Fargo, Minnesota Mutual, H.B. Fuller, Clark Atlanta University, International Trachoma Initiative, American Council on Education, Minnesota Council on Foundations, Hispanics In Philanthropy, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, National Association of Corporate Directors, and many more. She is also a life trustee of the University of Chicago, and a member of the Executive Leadership Council in Washington, D.C.

In addition to the Louis W. Hill, Jr. Fellowship, numerous other honors have been bestowed on Dr. King, including fourteen honorary doctorates, the Exceptional Black Scientist Award from CIBA-GEIGY Corporation, distinction by Ebony magazine as one of the top 50 black executives in America, and many more awards and citations. Recently, the National Association of Corporate Directors named Dr. King 2004 Director of the Year.

Dr. King’s work as the second Louis W. Hill, Jr. Fellow (focusing on “Philanthropy and Public Policy: Working Together to Make a Bigger Difference”) culminated in a symposium at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs in December 2004.