Ralph Kennedy Frasier, born on September 16, 1938, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and passing away on May 8, 2024, in Jacksonville, Florida, led a remarkable life dedicated to justice, equality and corporate leadership.
Attorney and executive Ralph Kennedy Frasier’s journey to the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law is a significant chapter in civil rights history. In 1955, Frasier, his brother LeRoy, Jr. and John Brandon applied to the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, only to be denied admission under the “separate but equal” doctrine established by the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision. In response, Frasier and his peers filed a class action lawsuit against the UNC Board of Trustees, challenging the exclusion of African Americans from UNC’s undergraduate programs.
This lawsuit argued that the Board’s actions violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The case, Frasier, et al. vs. University of North Carolina, sought to extend the principles of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, which had begun dismantling segregation in primary and secondary education, to higher education.
Prominent civil rights attorneys, including NCCU Law School alumni and notable figures like Thurgood Marshall, represented Frasier and his co-plaintiffs. Despite opposition from North Carolina’s political and educational leadership, the case marked a pivotal moment in the fight for educational equality, leading to significant legal victories that contributed to the broader civil rights movement. After serving in the army, Frasier received a bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from NCCU.
Ralph’s professional journey led him to become the first African American in a management role at Wachovia Bank, where he was the founding member of its Legal Department, serving over ten years in roles such as Legal Counsel and Vice President. His leadership and influence in banking regulation in North Carolina drew the attention of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. In 1975, after a national search, he became their General Counsel, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary.
In 1975, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated recruited Frasier to move to Columbus, Ohio, where he enjoyed an extraordinary career spanning more than 30 years as General Counsel, Senior Counsel, Executive Vice President and Director of Diversified Financial Institution.
After retiring in 1998, Frasier continued to influence the legal field at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, L.L.P., advocating for diversity and corporate governance until his retirement in 2005. His legacy is marked by his visionary leadership and commitment to advancing equality and diversity.
Ralph Kennedy Frasier dedicated his life to serving numerous non-profit and public institutions across North Carolina, Ohio and Nevada. He held leadership roles such as Chairman of the Winston-Salem Transit Authority, Vice Chair of North Carolina Central University and Trustee of the Columbus Urban League and the Ohio Board of Regents, among others. From 2002 to 2003, Ralph served as Of Counsel to his children’s law firm, Frasier & Alston, P.A. and later to Frasier & Griffin, L.L.C. A Life Member of the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Ralph was also a W.E.B. Du Bois Fellow. He mentored young professionals, earning the nickname “Mufasa” for his wise and courageous leadership. Ralph’s legacy of resilience, integrity and service continues to inspire many.
Ralph Frasier is survived by his wife of 42 years, Jeannine Marie Quick-Frasier (Jacksonville, FL); his children, Kären Denise Frasier (Abu Dhabi, UAE), Gail Spaulding Cox (Ira; Charlotte, NC), Ralph Kennedy Frasier, Jr. (Durham, NC), Keith Lowery Frasier (Jocelyn; Chesapeake, VA), Marie Kennedy-Frasier Coleman (Columbus, OH) and Rochelle Doar Frasier (Marlon; Columbus, OH).