10 Black Business Power Couples In Black History

The Carters (Shawn “Jay-Z” and Beyoncé , the Smiths (Will and Jada), the Wests (Kanye and Kim) and the Obamas (Barack and Michelle) may come top to mind as the most powerful black couples over the past decade. They are brokering deals and laying down the law from Hollywood to the White House. But before Beyoncé was born or Jay-Z could spit raps, there were black couples who were self-made millionaires and billionaires. These power couples created some of the most iconic brands in the black community that are still around 30 to 50 years later–standing the test of time. Here’s a look at our top 10.

1. John and Betty Barfield: Barfield Companies. Together with his wife Betty, John Barfield formed the first of many companies, Barfield Cleaning Company, located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1954.  The Barfields sold the company in 1969 to International Telephone and Telegraph Company. John went on to form and sell several additional businesses, including Barfield Building Maintenance Company (acquired by Unified Building Maintenance Services, Inc.) and Barfield Manufacturing Company (sold to Masco Tech Industries).  In 1977, he incorporated John Barfield & Associates to provide technical staffing services to the Big Three automakers. In 1981 he turned it over to his son Jon, changing the name to The Bartech Group in 1984. The company became one of the nation’s first minority-owned and operated firms specializing in technical staffing. Today, under the leadership of the Barfields’ other son Dave, Bartech is an industry-leading professional services firm managing more than 26,000 workers daily and billing over $2.5 billion in annualized spend.

2. Bernard and Valerie Beal: M.R. Beal & Company. After successful Wall Street careers Bernard and Valerie Lancaster-Beal launched New York-based M.R. Beal & Co. in 1988. The company’s structure was based on a business plan that Bernard had written eight years earlier while studying for an M.B.A. at Stanford University. M.R. Beal & Company became one of the nation’s leading minority-owned investment banks specializing in municipal and corporate finance, with Bernard serving as chief executive while Valerie was the firm’s senior vice president and director of strategic planning. At its peak, M.R. Beal managed municipal financings totaling in excess of $400 billion, and served as financial advisor on over 60 financings worth in excess of $7 billion. In 1999, M.R. Beal expanded its equity research and participated in over $75 billion of equity and corporate debt financings. Blaylock & Co, a leading minority-owned investment bank and financial services firm, acquired M.R. Beal in 2014.

3. Joe L. and Eunice M. Dudley: Dudley Products Company. Joe and Eunice Dudley sold Fuller hair care products door-to-door in Brooklyn New York before settling in Greensboro, North Carolina, where there was a shortage of Fuller products. So, they began manufacturing and selling their own line under the Dudley Products label in 1967. Unlike many hair and skin care providers, the Dudleys marketed their product line directly to salons rather than to retailers. By 1975, the enterprising duo had a sales force of more than 400, a beauty school, and a chain of beauty supply stores. Under the urging of her father, Ursula Dudley Oglesby launched Dudley Products Cosmetics, a full line of cosmetics for the multi-cultural woman, in 1992. Then in 2008, the Dudleys restructured the firm and turned over all day to day responsibilities to Ursula, who began Dudley Beauty Corp. Today, Dudley’s is one of few African-American family owned hair companies remaining in the United States.
4. Edward and Betti Ann Gardner: Soft Sheen Products. Ed and Betti Gardner launched Soft Sheen Products in 1964, from the basement of their home on the south side of Chicago, with one product–a hair and scalp conditioner. The couple created one the nation’s largest African American hair care empires with Soft Sheen grossing nearly $100 million annually at its height. As the company and its name grew to become a national brand, so did its product line, to include items like shampoos and conditioners, relaxers and gels such as Care Free Curl, Let’s Jam, Frizz Free, Sportin’ Waves, Wave Nouveau and Optimum Care. After over 30 years in business, the Gardners sold Soft
   Sheen to L’Oreal in 1998. Soft Sheen-Carson was born from the merger of the Carson and SoftSheen companies within the L’Oréal Group in 2000. Founded in 1901, Carson’s Dark & Lovely no-lye relaxer kit led to the company becoming leading hair relaxer brand worldwide.
5. Earl G. and Barbara Graves: Earl G. Graves Ltd. (Black Enterprise).
   Earl G. Graves Sr. and his wife Barbara, created a newsletter that gave birth in 1970 to Black Enterprise magazine, the first publication devoted to African-American entrepreneurs and corporate executives. Earl G. Graves, Ltd served as the holding company for Earl G. Graves Associates Management Consulting and Earl G. Graves Publishing. Today, under CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., Earl G. Graves Ltd is a $25.5 million media empire that encompasses publishing, digital, and events arms, including the Entrepreneurs Summit, Golf & Tennis Challenge, and Women of Power Summit, co-founded in 2005 by Barbara, who held major positions at Black Enterprise
   from editorial director to chief financial officer. Other events include the African American Festival and American Black Film Festival, while broadcast properties include the Women of Power television series and the syndicated show Our World With Black Enterprise. The firm also co-owns the Black Enterprise Greenwich Street Corporate Growth Private Equity Fund.
6. George E. and Joan B. Johnson: Johnson Products. George and Joan Johnson started one of the nation’s largest black-owned companies together in 1954. Johnson Products Co., headquarted in Chicago. The Johnsons reportedly borrowed $250 from a bank and another $250 from a friend to finance the venture. The company’s first product was Ultra Wave, a hair relaxer for men. In 1957, Ultra Sheen, a hair straightener that could be used in the home, was introduced for women. Other popular brand names were Classy Curl and Sta Sof Fro. Johnson Products went public in 1969 and in 1970 became the first black-owned firm to be listed on the American Stock Exchange. The couple preserved the company after their divorce in 1989 with Joan becoming chairman and CEO in 1989.  In 1993, Ivax Corp purchased Johnson Products for reportedly $60 million and merged Johnson Products with its Flori Roberts subsidiary, maker of skin care and cosmetic products for black women.
7. John H. and Eunice Johnson: Johnson Publishing Company. Chicago-based Johnson Publishing Company was founded in 1942 by John and Eunice Johnson and is the curator of the African-American experience — past, present and future.  Johnson began his publishing conglomerate with a mere $500 dollars, borrowed against his mother’s home furnishings. The Negro Digest similar to the Reader’s Digest was the first publication (it folded in 1951).The couple’s second publication, Ebony, a pictorial news magazine fashioned after Life magazine first appeared in November 1945. Jet magazine was launched in 1951 to highlight news of African-Americans in the social limelight, politics, entertainment, business and sports (it shifted to a digital only format in 2014). A touring fashion show in 1958 gave birth to the Ebony Fashion Fair and in 1973 the Johnsons started their Fashion Fair Cosmetics line for their fashion show models, who were having trouble finding makeup for African American skin complexions. Johnson Publishing also operates a book division.
8. Robert L. and Sheila Johnson: Black Entertainment Television (BET). Robert and Sheila Johnson co-founded Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 1979, the first cable network targeting an African American market. BET officially launched in 1980, initially broadcasting for two hours a week. Nearly a decade later in 1989, Sheila abandoned her music business to join BET full time as head of community relations; she also developed and produced the talk show, Teen Summit.  BET continued to grow, reaching tens of millions of homes and expanding to include other traditional and digital channels. It was among the first black-controlled companies to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1991. Two years before their divorce, Viacom announced plans to purchase BET in 2000, finalizing the sale a year later for reportedly $3 billion. Bob remained as BET’s chairman and CEO until 2006 before leaving launch the RLJ Companies. Today, both Johnsons are billionaires, ranking among the wealthiest African-Americans in America.
9. Robert P. Ross Sr. and Norma Ross: The Bob Ross Automotive Group.
   The evolution of the Bob Ross Auto Group began in 1972 after Bob became the first graduate of the General Motors Minority Dealer Academy to be approved as a dealer. In 1974, he purchased Vivian Buick, Opal and International Harvester Trucks in his hometown of Richmond, Indiana. Another game changer came five years later, in 1979, when Bob and Norma purchased Davis Buick and Mercedes-Benz in Centerville, Ohio, becoming the first African American Mercedes-Benz dealer in the world. Following up on that successful move, the Ross’ purchased a GMC truck franchise in 1981. Then in 1997 upon the untimely death of her husband, Norma assumed command of the Bob Ross Dealerships. Today, the Bob Ross Auto Group is under the leadership of the Ross children, CEO Janell Ross and her brother Robert Jr., and ranks No. 34 on the BE 100s to auto dealers list with $66.7 million in revenue.
10. Reggie and Rene Webb: Webb Family Enterprises (McDonald’s Franchisees). Rene and Reggie are best known as one of America’s most successful entrepreneurial couples. The Webb Family Enterprises was founded by 20 years ago the husband and wife team who now own 17 McDonald’s restaurants. Providing a legacy for future generations was part of the reason the couple became business owners. Reggie had worked12 years in McDonald’s corporate chain, including as a regional vice president, before deciding to own the golden arches franchise. He and his wife purchased two McDonald’s restaurants in Pomona, California in 1985 and steadily growing into master franchisees. Following in their parents footsteps, daughter Kiana Webb Severloh, owns three McDonald’s franchises and serves as chief operating officer for Webb Family Enterprises, while the Webbs’ oldest son Karim owns three Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar restaurants in Los Angeles. He also was named the 2014 Black Enterprise Small Business Award Franchise Company of the Year.