A Legacy Defined: Remembering Warren E. Logan, Jr.

"The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example." - Benjamin Disraeli

Warren E. Logan, Jr., longtime leader of the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN), has died at 73.

Warren Logan, served as President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga for the past 25 years, putting forth great efforts toward working to upgrade public services in the minority community and the lives of the underserved.  Warren served as Chair, Tennessee Urban League Affiliates (TULA), a state-wide collaborative focusing on leveraging TULA’s impact for social and economic changes throughout the state of TN and in particular the major urban centers (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville).

Warren served for two years as President, Association of Executives (AOE), National Urban League (NUL), and as a member of the NUL Board of Trustees and Executive Committee. He led a national African-American Leadership Delegation to Beijing, China in 2012, a relationship-building and collaboration visit established by the NUL-led Trade and Cultural Mission to China, Warren was a member of the Academy of Fellows, and the NUL Quarter Century Club.

He was a graduate of Tennessee State University and the Joseph Business School. In addition, he completed leadership development and continuing education training at the Duke University Center for Executive Leadership and a host of other institutions. A sampling of his community service activities include the Electric Power Board (Vice Chairman), SunTrust Bank Board (Chattanooga), Tennessee Workforce Development Board, Bright Bridge Board of Directors/River Gorge Capital Board (NMTC), and the Memorial Health Care System Foundation Board.

Prior to joining the Urban League Movement, Warren served in various Management capacities at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Division of Power. For several years he served as Executive Director of the Office of Minority Business

While serving at the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, Warren once stated history is repeating itself.  “We are repeating the ‘60’s and ‘70’s – that was my generation.”  “From the standpoint of social issues, in in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, we had the same thing.  We had riots, civil disobedience, dissatisfaction with society.”  It’s not violent now in Chattanooga like it was then, he said.  And there’s another difference he sees.  It’s one that he said gives him comfort. 

The beauty now in comparison with the past is that you see a larger diversity of people protesting, he said.  “There’s a great diversity of people who are sensitive to these issues.  They are saying, “we are all concerned, we all want to see this improve.”

Warren thought that a part of the systemic issues was not just police violence, but inequality in education, health care disparities, housing and more, and we must look at the broader picture.

Warren had been honored on Equal Opportunity Day on Dec. 17 with a virtual tribute for his "years of service in civil rights and social and economic empowerment."

When he was recently honored, Mr. Logan said, “I’m deeply humbled by the outpouring of love as I close this cherished chapter of my life. When I stepped into this role more than two decades ago, I never imagined how profoundly our organization would shape the journey to racial equality in our community. It has been a tremendous honor to serve my brothers and sisters in pursuit of equal opportunity for all.”
 
Candy C. Johnson was named to succeed Mr. Logan as President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga. She assumed all duties on Jan. 5, 2021.