Historic Perspective

The National Business League (NBL) was founded on August 23, 1900 by Booker T. Washington, in Boston, MA.  At that time, it was named the National Negro Business League.  The organization was renamed and reincorporated in Washington, DC in 1966, when it became the National Business League.  The NBL is currently headquartered in New Orleans, LA.

The Fayetteville Business and Professional League (FB&PL), a chartered member of this national organization, was founded in 1967 under the leadership and guidance of its first president, Miles B. Austin with a board consisting of:

• Attorney Arthur Lane (deceased)
• Bill Bowser (deceased)
• Simon Melvin (deceased)
• Sippio Burton (deceased)
• George King, Jr.
• L.L. Campbell (deceased)
• Dr. W.T. Holland, Sr. (deceased)
• James Ratchford (deceased)
• Charles Owens
• Thomas Bacote (deceased)
• Dr. Watson Fowler (deceased)

The FB&PL was chartered for the purpose of promoting and increasing the opportunity for racial and ethnic minorities to participate in the free enterprise system through the formation and development of competitive minority-owned and managed firms.  Some major accomplishments achieved by the League are:

• Formation of United National Bank, the first and only minority-owned bank in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
• Development of the Fayetteville Minority Business Development Center.