Dempsey Travis Scholarship

The Dempsey J. Travis Scholarship was established to assist the students of City Colleges of Chicago. Mr. Travis was the founder and president of Travis Realty Corporation, a prominent Chicago real estate development firm committed to the revitalization of neighborhoods on the South Side. Mr. Travis believed that individuals can lift-themselves-up-by-their-bootstraps and become successful leaders in their communities. Scholarship funds can be used for tuition, books, fees and other education related expenses. Refundable.

Dempsey J. Travis (1920-2009) was born and raised in Chicago. He was a real estate magnate, civil rights activist, jazz musician, and author. He is the author of Views from the Back of the Bus and An Autobiography of Black Jazz, among many other books. He served as president of the Society of Midland Authors, as financial editor for Dollars and Sense magazine, and as a contributing writer to Ebony and The Black Scholar. Dempsey Travis loved Chicago, art and culture – particularly jazz music – and he had a deep commitment to civil rights and social justice. .