Sam Logan: Scholarship to honor inspiring leader

A picture hangs in the Hall of Honor on the main floor of the Commerce and Finance Building.

It's a picture of a man who came from humble beginnings to become a giant in the Detroit community.

The man is of Samuel Logan Jr., and it serves as an inspiration for some – a sign that they can achieve anything.

Now, the longtime publisher of the Michigan Chronicle will be honored in a different way.

Logan, 78, died Dec. 28, and after his passing, his family set up a scholarship in his name at UDM.

The Samuel Logan Scholarship will offer assistance to students with limited financial resources so that they too may attend UDM.

After working on his degree sporadically over 15 years, Logan graduated in 1973 with a bachelor's in business administration.

"He was extremely proud of his education here and showed his ring proudly to everyone," said his daughter, Diane Taylor.  

Logan was honored with a three-hour funeral service at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, with hundreds of people in attendance.

Such notables as Gov. Rick Snyder, Mayor Dave Bing, Michigan Chronicle senior editor Bankole Thompson and UDM President Antoine Garibaldi spoke at his funeral service.

A few things are clear about Logan: He was outspoken and hardworking, and he loved Detroit.

In 1961, Logan took a job as a salesman with the Michigan Chronicle, an African American-run newspaper based in Detroit.

He would hold several other positions at the Chronicle before becoming publisher in the 1980s.

In 2000, Logan founded the Michigan FrontPage, a sister paper to the Michigan Chronicle.

Logan co-owned Real Times Media, parent company of the Michigan Chronicle and the Michigan FrontPage.

Logan also co-owned the Chicago Defender, the New Pittsburgh Courier and the Memphis Tri-State Defender. He also cofounded Seymour, Leatherwood, Cleveland, and Logan, the first black-owned advertising agency in the area.

Logan received a great number of awards and honors in his lifetime.

He was named Publisher of the Year three times by the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

According to his obituary, Logan was honored with an induction into the Joe Louis Hall of Fame, the International Institute Foundation, the West Indian American Association, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Optimist Club and the Black Caucus Foundation, to name a few.

The Sam Logan Lifetime Achievement Award, named in Logan's honor, is given out annually by the Michigan Chronicle.

He was an inspiration to many.

"He was fearless when it came to taking a stand, and he did so out of genuine love of Detroit and our state," said Gov. Snyder at his funeral service.

His Titan community was proud to call him their own.

"He was an amazing community leader," said Gary Lichtman, director of media relations, marketing and public affairs at UDM. "We are very proud that he graduated from UDM."