Julius Rosenwald (August 12, 1862 – January 6, 1932) was a prominent Jewish American business executive, entrepreneur, and philanthropist born in Springfield, Illinois, to German Jewish immigrant parents Samuel Rosenwald, a clothier, and Augusta Hammerslough. He received his education in Springfield's public schools, graduating in 1878, before entering the garment trade. At age 17, he moved to New York City to work as a clerk for Hammerslough Brothers, where he quickly advanced. In 1885, he relocated to Chicago and founded his own clothing manufacturing business, Rosenwald & Weil, which produced affordable clothing for Sears catalogs. His most significant business achievement came in 1895 when he invested $37,500 in Sears, Roebuck and Company, becoming a partner to Richard W. Sears and Alvah C. Roebuck. As the legendary leader of Sears, under his presidency from 1908 to 1925, the company transformed into one of America's largest retailers through innovative catalog sales, mail-order systems, and urban department stores. He retired as president but remained chairman until his death. Beyond business, Rosenwald was a dedicated philanthropist who established the Julius Rosenwald Fund in 1917, which provided millions in grants to build nearly 5,400 schools for African American children in the segregated South between 1917 and 1932, significantly advancing Black education during the Jim Crow era. He donated over $62 million during his lifetime through time-limited, matching-fund initiatives rather than perpetual endowments. He also served on the Chicago Commission on Race Relations in 1919, contributing to the landmark report 'The Negro in Chicago,' founded and served as president of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago from 1927 until his death, and supported Jewish causes through organizations like the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Despite his wealth, Rosenwald lived modestly and faced financial challenges late in life, including a 1920s tax valuation dispute over his Sears stock. At his death from uremia in 1932, his estate was valued at approximately $17 million after accounting for $31 million in debts, largely philanthropic obligations. He was married to Augusta Nusbaum in 1890 and had five children, including a son whose daughter Nina Rosenwald is his granddaughter. Rosenwald was known for his progressive views on race and social justice, and his legacy endures through his business innovations and commitment to social justice, influencing generations in education and civil rights.