The newest addition to my Memorial List is Harry Greene Risher, originally in the Amherst College Class of 1934. Harry's name was not on my list because it appears that he did not graduate from Amherst College. This may be the same reason why his name does not appear in Harold Wade's Black Men of Amherst. We know about Harry Greene Risher because of his inclusion in the Remembering Dunbar article which list him as being one of the Dunbar High School graduates who attended Amherst College but did not graduate. The Amherst Alumni Directory mentions that Harry Greene Risher was on the Cross-Country team while at Amherst College. The Directory also mentions that Risher was employed as the manager of Korvetts, a large department store of the mid 20th century
The Directory also indicates that his career came to an end in January of 1983.
Based upon this limited information, one might assume that Harry Greene Risher was only a minor player in African American history but that would be mistake. A separate listing provides additional information about Harry Greene Risher that gives clues to a much richer profile
Based on this listing, one soon finds that Harry Greene Risher comes from one of the most prominent African American families in American history. Initially one notes that Harry Greene Risher is listed as having been employed as the manager of the historic Whitelaw hotel in Washington, D. C.
But one also notes that Harry Greene Risher appears to have been the oldest of seven children born to John T. Risher and Annie Louise Risher. One of his siblings was Doris Johnetta Risher. Doris would marry Monroe Glover Gregory, the son of James Francis Gregory, Amherst College Class of 1898, who was the captain of the 1898 Amherst College Baseball team.
Another sibling of Harry Greene Risher was John Robert Risher, Sr. Not much is known about John Robert Risher, Sr. However, we know of his son John Robert Risher, Jr., because he served as the District of Columbia Corporation Counsel in the critical years of 1976 to 1978.
and because John Robert Risher, Jr. served as the first president of the newly reconstituted District of Columbia Jewish Community Center
We also know of the son of John Robert Risher, Jr. because he is David Risher, the current CEO of Lyft.
Harry Greene Risher may not have graduated from Amherst College, but for as long as I am here he will be remembered whenever we read my Memorial List.
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Class of 1975
Fairfield, California
December 8, 2024
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