Front doors of the James H. and Louise Hayley Gilliam Concert Hall, which Gilliam Jr. named in honor of his parents.
Left to right: Former President William J. Clinton, Linda G.J. Gilliam and the late James H. Gilliam Jr., during opening night ceremonies for the New Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center. Soprano Jessye Norman was guest performer.
Left to right: The late James H. Gilliam Jr., Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, Dr. Earl S. Richardson and Sen. Paul Sarbanes of Maryland.
Celebrating James H. Gilliam Sr.’s 80th birthday, outside the construction site of the New Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center, home of the theater named for him (from left to right): Dr. Earl S. Richardson, James H. Gilliam Sr., Louise Hayley Gilliam, Morgan Franklin, Alexis Gilliam and the late James G. Gilliam Jr.
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and Louise Hayley Gilliam Concert Hall in the Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center was named for Gilliam's parents, in recognition of his gift. When asked about his generous donation, Gilliam explained to the Baltimore Afro American, "As a family, we truly believe in giving back to institutions that have made a difference, not only in our lives, but in the lives of others as well." Gilliam graduated from Morgan in 1967 and received a law degree in 1970 from Columbia University's School of Law. After practicing law in New York, he later joined a law firm in Wilmington. During his illustrious career, he served in the administration of Delaware Governor Pierre S. Dupont IV as Secretary of Community Affairs and Economic Development, and became Delaware’s first black Cabinet Secretary. In 1979, Mr. Gilliam joined the Beneficial Finance Corporation, where he was executive president and general counsel until 1998, when Household International Corporation acquired the company. He served as chief counsel of Knickerbocker LLC, a private investment firm, until the time of his death. Gilliam will undoubtedly be remembered as a selfless individual who dedicated himself to public service. Among his many accomplishments, he served as an active board member and trustee of numerous corporations and foundations. He was a member of the Boards of Directors of Household International, Inc., Bell Atlantic Corporation, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., Delmarva Power & Light Company, and the Delaware Community Foundation. Additionally, he was a trustee of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the National Geographic Society, the Hodson Trust, the CTW Foundation
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and the Christiana Care Corporation. He was also Chairman of several organizations, including The Gilliam Foundation, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, the United Negro College Fund, the Delaware Campaign, the Capital Campaigns for the Chesapeake Bay Girl Scouts Council, the Walnut Street YMCA and the founding Chairman of Wilmington 2000, a privately funded organization established to assist in redevelopment of the City of Wilmington. Although a dedicated Morgan alumnus, his commitment to excellence in education extended beyond the walls of his alma mater. Gilliam was also a member of Baltimore City College’s Hall of Fame and an Honorary Life Trustee of GoldeyBeacom College. And, as a proud member of Morgan’s Alumni Hall of Fame, he was the perfect choice as the university’s "Alumnus of the Year" in 2002. In addition to his wife, Linda, he is survived by his parents, Louise and James Gilliam, Sr., one sister, Dr. Patrice Gilliam Johnson, and three daughters, Alexis, Leslie and Morgan. His father and sister are also Morgan graduates. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of James H. Gilliam Jr. to the MSU Foundation, Gilliam Endowment Fund, Truth Hall, Room 201, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251. Mr. Gilliam will never be forgotten, and we salute his proud legacy as co-chair of "New Horizons: The Campaign for Morgan State University."