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

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
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.
Sources
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
1 more sources and references are available to members.
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