On Dec. 21, 2023, angels peacefully carried Eddie Rudolph Dillard away as he was awakened to eternal life from his home in Sacramento, California, after a fearless battle against complications of several medical issues. Eddie was 76 years old.

Born Sept. 27, 1947, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Ben Smith and Annie Lee Holmes-Dillard, Eddie’s journey was one of courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion.

After honorably serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, he channeled his leadership into academics, earning an A.A. from Oakland’s Merritt College before becoming one of only four Black students to graduate from the University of California, at Berkeley, in 1977 with a B.A. in Economics.

Eddie’s passion for giving small, minority-owned businesses an opportunity to do it big was kindled in 1980 as the Northern California delegate for the first ever White House Conference on Small Business Development under then President Jimmy Carter in Wash., D.C.

His pivotal role in the City of Oakland’s Office of Economic Development laid the groundwork for minority businesses to flourish. As the meticulous steward of the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development’s $25 million loan program for 15 years, he helped shape Oakland’s economic landscape into one of opportunity and growth.

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Eddie cemented his legacy and love for all things Oakland in 1997 when he established the Oakland Black Board of Trade and Commerce, where, as president and CEO, he transformed the prospects of local Black contractors, aiding them in securing over $100 million in contracts.

His efforts however were not confined to the boardroom; Eddie’s voice resonated in the corridors of power, influencing policy and local elections to reflect the needs and aspirations of the communities he championed.

Eddie wrote over 100 articles on politics, small business development, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In 2020, he moved to Sacramento and gave his grandchildren everything he had. His love for his family was boundless and there is no doubt he will continue to watch over them as the years pass.

Eddie’s passing calls for not just local or state recognition, but a national acknowledgment of his contributions. It is fitting for proclamations and commendations to honor a life so well-lived, one that has laid the foundation for future generations to continue the fight for economic equity and representation in the construction industry.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters and brothers; Bertha, Ada, Floyd, Elijah “Slim,” William “Chi,” Doug, Roger, and Nathaniel.

He is survived by his sister Lillie Yancey; daughter Frances Bost in Germany; sons Kevien, Jason (Damia), and Jesse (Stephanie) Dillard; eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Please join us on Jan. 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Oakstop Event Hall, 2323 Broadway in Oakland, to celebrate this beautiful life. Please come and share your stories of this incredible father, brother, business consultant and friend.

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