The Atlanta Olympic story: are blacks getting any of the real gold?

Ebony, Feb, 1995 by Laura B. Randolph

Below, we profile several Black companies, colleges and communities getting a share of the gold.

CYNTHIA JONES, JONES WORLEY DESIGN, INC:

Though Cynthia Jones founded her graphic design company, Jones Worley Inc., just four years ago, the firm is participating in more Olympic projects than any other African-American company. Jones, 32, says she is particularly proud of the fact that her company is the youngest and the only female-owned company selected by ACOG to be a member of the "The Look of the Games" team, five design firms which will develop the visual concept for the 1996 Games and guide the design of everything from the Olympic medals and torch to the venue signs, street banners and staff uniforms.

"Defining 'The Look of the Games' is one of the highest goals we could set for the firm," says Jones, whose company was also chosen by ACOG to design the 1996 Olympic Games count-down clocks which hang over Atlanta's downtown highway connector and count down the days to the Games starting with the thousandth day.

The firm is also providing design and planning of comprehensive sign systems for eight 1996 Olympic venues, including the Olympic Stadium, the Tennis Center, the Aquatic Center, and the Field Hockey Stadium.

OSCAR HARRIS, TURNER ASSOCIATES/ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS

When Oscar Harris first opened his office in 1977, he often thought his phone was broken because it never rang. Because he never received any mail, he used to call the post office every few days to make sure they had his correct address.

Today, Harris is so successful he is inundated with phone calls and mail. In 1980, the 50-year-old architect bought out the Atlanta office of Washington, D.C.-based Turner Associates and now runs the largest Black-owned design firm in the country.

"It's a good feeling," says Harris, whose firm designed the $300-million international concourse at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport and is involved in three key Olympic projects: Turner Associates is overseeing the "Look of the Games" Team and designing both of the Olympic Hockey stadiums--a 15,000-seat facility on the Morris Brown campus and a 5,000-seat facility on the campus of Clark Atlanta. (After the Games, Morris Brown will use the stadium for football; Clark Atlanta for track and field and softball.)

The Olympic Preliminary Basketball Arena on the campus of Morehouse College is also being designed by an African-American-owned firm.

ROY AND RUDOLPH TERRY, TERRY MANUFACTURING

Fewer than 100 companies will be given the right to manufacture Olympic Games Collection merchandise and Roy and Rudolph Terry are among the chosen few. The two fortysomething brothers, both Morehouse graduates, were the first African-Americans to win a direct license from ACOG. (Of the 44 retail licenses ACOG has awarded to date, five have gone to African-American firms and four Black firms have sub-licenses.)

As a direct licensee, Terry Manufacturing will make and sell woven shirts, pants and shorts which will feature Olympic emblems, logos and symbols and will bear a label that says "Authentic Olympic Games Collection by Terry."