Welburn, Edward Thomas Jr.

1950-present · Contribution: 1972-2016

Industrial & Mechanical

Became the first Black automotive designer hired by General Motors in 1972 and rose to Vice President of GM Global Design from 2005 to 2016, making him the highest-ranking Black executive in the history of the global automotive industry and overseeing the design of vehicles from the Chevrolet Corvette to the U.S. presidential limousine

Industrial & Mechanical: collage image
Industrial & Mechanical

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Quick facts

Born
1950-present
Active since
1972-2016
Category
Industrial & Mechanical

Impact on the world

Welburn broke into and then led the design of one of the world's largest automakers, shaping the look of iconic American vehicles for four decades.

An alternative history

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Sources

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    National Museum of African American History and Culture

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