Theodore Lamont Cross (1924-2010)

Theodore Cross, the founder and editor of The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, died in late February, 2010. He was 86 years old.

A native of Wellesley, Massachusetts, Ted Cross was a graduate of Amherst College and Harvard Law School.

After a long and successful career in professional publishing, Cross devoted the last two decades of his life to increasing the opportunities of African Americans in higher education. In 1993 the first issue of the quarterly, The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education was published. To the time of his death, Cross maintained an active role in writing and editing the journal. In 2003 he began an online weekly edition of JBHE.

A veteran of the 1960s civil rights marches and protests, Cross’ efforts on behalf of African-American higher education were not restricted to publishing. He was an active member of the board of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Also, in 1981 Cross established an endowed professorship in the sciences at Amherst College with the stipulation that the chair’s first occupant be an African American.

Cross was the author of two books, Black Capitalism and The Black Power Imperative. He also published two critically acclaimed books of his bird photography, the latest being Waterbirds, which was published in 2009.

All of us at JBHE are extremely saddened by the passing of our leader and dear friend. He will be deeply missed.