Magazine publisher Rodney J. Reynolds was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the University of Cincinnati (UC) where he studied graphic design and advertising. Reynolds undertook his first publishing venture with a national, general purpose publication targeted towards African American men, Spectrum Magazine.

He attended John F. Kennedy High School in Cleveland where he excelled in football as a tight end.

While in high school, Reynolds had printing class tought by Mr. Kenneth Raglin. Raglin would give Reynolds speeches about the streets and coming around on “his turf.”

For three years he instilled in Reynolds how to use the dark room, burning plates, typesetting as well as a multitude of things involving printing. Reynolds kept the bug and went to UC and took it to another level.

In 1992, Reynolds and Corporate Cleveland Magazine developed Minority Business, a quarterly publication where he served as publisher and editor. He went on to publish New Visions and Renaissance Magazine.

Being a family man, Reynolds developed Today, a magazine that focused on African American families. Reynolds founded RJR Communications, Inc. in 1992. In 1995, Reynolds, along with Forbes, Inc., began publishing American Legacy Magazine, which centered on African American history and culture.

The magazine had a circulation of 500,000, 80 percent of which was free distribution via schools, Black churches, and other organizations. In February of 2001, RJR Communications and New Millennium Studios, founded by entertainer Timothy Reid, launched American Legacy Television, a nationally syndicated television program.

For his contributions, during Black History Month we honor Rodney J. Reynolds for writing about our Black History through his publication. He has never forgotten his roots here in Cleveland and often comes in to check on his family and friends.

Rodney and his wife Lillian regularly returns to his hometown to educate the community about Black History.

“I am so proud of my friend and brother Rodney, he has accomplished much. He was on line with me and we crossed together,” said former high school and college class mate and Kappa Alpha Psi brother Howard Drake.

Drake would visit Reynolds mother whenever he went to see his own mother before Mrs. Drake passed. “It was great to have Rodney stay with me sometimes while we were in college since I stayed alone,” said Drake.

This is the 20th year for his American Legacy publication and Reynolds feels blessed to still have the doors open. Today the magazine remains the only national publication whose editorial content focuses exclusively on African-American history and culture. Recognizing the ever shifting world of new technology and today's rapidly changing atmosphere, the company has expanded its product line to include a digital edition available through www.zinio.com.

Reynolds has served on the board of directors for the Mount Vernon Public Library, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Central & Northern Westchester, the Harriett Tubman Home, and the Rye Country Day School. He was appointed as the diversity chairperson for the New York Blood Center – Westchester Region. In addition, Reynolds is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

In 1998, Reynolds received the “Forty Under 40 Award” from The Network Journal. In addition, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. honored his work with the Lillian Award. He received the Percy E. Sutton Award from the Harlem Business Alliance; the Visionary Award from the African American Men of Westchester; the National Business Leader of the Year Award from the African American Chamber of Commerce of Westchester & Rockland County; and the 2002 Triangle of Service Award from the Southeast Regional African American Preservation Alliance. In 2004, Reynolds received the inaugural Earl G. Graves Entrepreneurial Award; and, in 2005 he was the recipient of the W.O. Walker Community Excellence Award.

Over the years, American Legacy has created a multitude of products developed from the magazine including www.americanlegacymag.com, its website, The “Know Your History Board Game,” the family board game about African American history and culture; a 18-wheel "Mobile Truck Tour,", "The American Legacy Challenge" a trivia competition for high school students and a “Black History Curriculum Guide,” a resource for educators seeking to integrate multicultural studies into their curriculum in the classroom. These additional products strengthen the magazine's opportunity for growth and create several alternatives for national advertisers who are seeking to reach a wider audience through its partnership with the magazine.

The Call and Post Newspaper salutes one of Cleveland’s own Rodney J. Reynolds for sharing the history of Black people in all of his professional endeavors.

Source: 

http://callandpost.com/news/2015/feb/24/rodney-j-reynolds-respected-promoter-black-history/