SKIP'S STORY

In 1941 Skip arrived in Chicago from Memphis, Tennessee. At the young age of 14 and only 20 dollars in his shoe, he had an abundance of hopes and dreams. He found a home at I.S. Berlin Press, where he worked for twenty years with a break to serve in the Air Force under the command of General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. of the World War II Tuskegee Airman.

 

At I.S. Berlin Press, he got the nickname “Skip” because he never seemed to walk while doing his job. He moved and worked so fast he appeared to be “Skipping.” 

 

To supplement his income and support his growing family of seven children, Skip also sold household products door to door, took up hat making as a secondary trade, went to night school to further his education, and even spent a brief period as a prizefighter. 

 

Skip left Berlin in 1963 to open Fidelity Bindery Company, the first minority-owned bindery in the Mid-West. Earl “Skip” Williams currently serves as Chairman & CEO for FPC. His current focus is on guiding the 2nd and 3rd generation to ensure that FPC remains focused on its mission and a leader in the Graphic Arts Industry.

 

Today, Skip is a minister, an accomplished public speaker, a businessman, mentor, and a beloved great-grandfather.​

 

There’s plenty more to learn about Skip, so be sure to check out the book: “Getting It Together, Black Businessmen in America”, by John Seder