Dr. William Lee Grant

William, the son of Leotis and Angilee (Keyes) Grant, was born on September 28, 1932, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Dr. Grant graduated from Langston High School. He obtained his Bachelor of Science and his Masters Degree from Western Illinois University. He was awarded his Doctorate in Education in 1974 from Illinois State University in Normal. He did additional studies at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Bradley University in Peoria, LaVerne College in California, and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Dr. Grant was the first African American (Negro) elementary principal in Peoria, Illinois and served in various administrative capacities, until he joined the cabinet of Supervision and Development, as an Assistant Superintendent for the Department of Federal and State Grants. The cabinet became the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

After retiring from the ISBE, Dr. Grant became an assistant professor in the Educational Administration and Supervision Department at Western Illinois University. He also started William L. Grant Educational Services. Inc.

Dr. Grant’s 91 years of life was one of volunteerism and civic engagement. He was Past-President of the Rotary Club of Springfield, as well as a recipient of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Paul Harris Fellow; board member of Young Men’s Christian Association Board; Vice-President of Springfield Urban League; member of the Peoria Urban League; member of the Springfield United Way Funding Panel; member of the Downtown Rotary Club, Peoria; member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; board member of Hope School for the Blind, Springfield; Trustee, Bethel United Methodist Church Peoria; trustee and member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church; and a 32 Degree Mason.

He is survived by his sons, Timothy “Tim” L. Grant of Peoria, IL, and William L. Grant, II of Springfield.

Visitation and Funeral: The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 908 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Springfield. Funeral will follow at 11:00 a.m., with Dr. William DeShone Rosser officiating.

Interment at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to: YMCA Strong Kids, 601 North 4th St., Springfield, IL 62703.