In the summer of 1981, Keith Lavone Jackson was determined to get his name on the map. Tony Hopson and Ray Leary, the ’72 state basketball champs from Jefferson High, were starting something called Self Enhancement. It was a week-long basketball camp for players from around the city. Keith wanted to compete with the best of the best, so he signed up.

It turned out that competition was only part of the camp. Ray and Tony wanted their players to dream big, asking them to figure out what steps they needed to reach their goals.

Keith was being raised by a single mom; Ray and Tony provided positive male role models. “They helped fill the gap I needed as a young man. The confidence they exuded and the wisdom they imparted were long lasting. Their first motto, ‘Life without Education is a Long Shot’ set the standard.”

After excelling as an All-American athlete in college, Keith returned to SEI and asked for a job. Tony and Ray had other ideas—pushing Keith toward the world of finance instead. Over the years, Keith feels he has broken many racial barriers in the world of finance, creating a standard for African Americans in the industry. One of his proudest achievements is having arranged finances through his own company, 5 Star Management Group, for his church to purchase a bigger building.

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