Vernon Jordan, Legendary Civil Right's Activist in Greenburgh, was memorialized extensively in an article by Greenburgh Town Historians Felicia Barber and Riley Wentzler. 

Here's the full article they wrote here, text copied below. 

A Legendary Civil Rights’ Activist in Greenburgh: Vernon Jordan Jr.

By: Riley Wentzler & Felicia Barber

Vernon Jordan Jr. (1935-2021)

Introduction:

February is Black History Month. 

In the past, for Black History Month, we have covered: 

• The History of the Parkway Gardens/Parkway Homes Community, 

• Greenburgh’s African-American Town Board Members Past and Present.

• and Greenburgh’s First African- American Police Officers.

Now it’s time to zoom out a bit and examine Greenburgh’s connection to the larger American Civil Rights’ Movement. Perhaps no one better exemplifies this connection than one former Greenburgh resident, civil rights’ activist, Vernon Jordan Jr. Greenburgh recognizes many different African- Americans, but what sets Vernon Jordan apart is that he was a nationally respected recognized civil rights leader. He was truly a mover and a shaker, whose influence was so profound that businesses and politicians alike sought his advice.

 Early life:

Vernon Eulion Jordan Jr. was born in Atlanta Georgia in 1935. His father, Vernon Eulion Jordan Sr. was a postal clerk, and his mother was a caterer. He sometimes went with his mom to work, and on one of these trips, he gained life-long inspiration. When he went with her to the Lawyer's Club in Atlanta, he came away very impressed with how these lawyers spoke and dressed. He began to visualize himself as a lawyer.

He attended David T. Howard High School, from which he graduated with honors in 1953. Then he went to DePauw University in Indiana from 1953-1957. During this time, he was the university’s only African-American student. He excelled in all of his classes (Tuttle in Encarta Africana 1993-2003).

Law Career:

After graduation, he decided to follow through on his childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. Therefore, he attended law school at Howard University, from which he graduated in 1960. As a lawyer, he was intensely passionate about civil rights. His biggest accomplishment in his early days was that he helped organize the desegregation of the University of Georgia in 1961. He even personally escorted one African-American student, Charlayne Hunter, to her classes. Thanks in part to his efforts in helping her complete her education, she is now a famous journalist, Charlayne Hunter-Gault (Tuttle in Encarta Africana 1993-2003).

National Urban League& the Move to Greenburgh:

Later in the 1960’s he joined the National Urban League, a civil rights organization which among other things, put together scholarships for African-Americans. From there, he went on to become the field director of the NAACP (Tuttle in Encarta Africana 1993-2003). On July 1, 1970, he and his wife Shirley moved to The Town of Greenburgh, purchasing a house on 34 Barnwell Drive (Property deed Liber # 6934).

In 1971, he became the leader of the National Urban League (Tuttle in Encarta Africana 1993-2003). They sold their Barnwell Drive house on June 28, 1974 (Property deed Liber # 7206). Membership in the National Urban League increased dramatically under his leadership. This fundraising experience gave him many business connections which he used to great effect to get positions on the boards of Xerox and American Express. He used his tremendous influence to get these companies to hire more African-Americans and women (Tuttle in Encarta Africana

1993-2003). He and his wife then purchased a house on 14 Barnaby Lane in Hartsdale on June 25, 1974 (Property deed Liber # 7204) and sold it on May 8, 1979 (Property deed Liber # 7554). He led the National Urban League until 1981(Tuttle in Encarta Africana 1993-2003).

Post- Urban League Life & Death:

That year, he resigned shortly after being shot by a white supremacist. While recovering from his wounds, he took a job with the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, and Hauer.

He was good friends with Bill Clinton and his connections in the legal world and in the business world made him one of Bill Clinton’s closest advisors when Clinton became President of The United States in 1993 (Tuttle in Encarta Africana 1993- 2003).

Vernon Jordan Jr passed away at his home in Washington D.C in March of 2021 (Lewis 2021).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Vernon Jordan Jr. lived in Greenburgh from 1970-1979. He was a civil rights’ activist. During his lifetime he: helped organize the desegregation of the University of Georgia, led the National Urban League, held a position on the boards of Xerox and American Express where he used his influence to get these companies to hire more African-Americans and women, and was a close advisor to President Bill Clinton. He was truly a mover and shaker. Greenburgh is proud to honor this great man during Black History Month!