Donald K. Anthony, Jr.

Fencer and entrepreneur Donald K. Anthony, Jr. was born on May 22, 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1975. Anthony then went on to attend Princeton University and fenced for the school’s varsity team. He graduated with his B.S.E. degree in systems and civil engineering in 1979 and later earned his M.B.A. degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1988.

After graduating from Princeton University, Anthony accepted a position at IBM as a systems engineer and marketing executive. In 1989, after ten years with IBM, he left to pursue a career as an entrepreneur. In 1996, Anthony founded the management consulting firm, Warrior Group, Inc. and became the company’s president and chief executive officer. He then became the national secretary of the United States Fencing Association in 2000. The same year, Anthony founded SwordSport LLC and served as the company’s president and chief executive officer. From 2008 to 2010, Anthony was executive director of After-School All-Stars Columbus. He was also the executive producer of the documentary film BlackBlades, which premiered in 2011 and focused on the history of African American Olympic fencers. The following year, Anthony was elected as president and chairman of the United States Fencing Association.

Anthony was a member of the National Black MBA Association’s Advisory Board since 1990, and was a trustee of the Ohio Society of CPAs Foundation. He also served as chairman of First Tee of Columbus from 2003 to 2012. He was co-chair of the Arnold Fencing Classic and a member of the executive committee of the International Fencing Federation from 2012 to 2016.

Anthony continued his fencing career after completing college and has won several accolades for his abilities. He competed in multiple World Championships and North American Cups, and earned multiple medals. Anthony also was at the U.S. Olympic Festival and the U.S.A. Fencing National Championship. In 1979, Anthony was awarded the Johnston Award for fencing at Princeton University.

Anthony and his wife, Karen, have one daughter.

Donald K. Anthony, Jr. was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on November 14, 2017.