Reuben K. Harpole Jr. will lead Milwaukee’s Juneteenth parade as grand marshal — an honor many say is decades in the making.
At 91 years old, Harpole has spent more than six decades helping shape Milwaukee through education, community development, youth mentorship, philanthropy, and the preservation of Black history.
Over the course of his career, he helped develop more than 25 community centers and programs, supported the growth of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, helped establish initiatives including Homework First and Community Partnerships for Youth, and played a role in the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. Through his work with the Helen Bader Foundation, he also helped direct millions of dollars into Milwaukee neighborhoods and organizations.
For many, Harpole’s legacy is measured not by buildings or programs, but by the lives he touched along the way…