Richard H. Glanton, Esq.

Richard H. Glanton, an influential lawyer, corporate executive, and civic leader who built a distinguished legal and business career while maintaining deep ties to public service, died June 21, 2026, at his home in Princeton, N.J. He was 79. He was widely respected for his strategic insight, steady leadership, and commitment to strengthening institutions in Philadelphia and beyond.

Born November 21, 1946, and raised in Villa Rica, Georgia, Mr. Glanton was one of eleven children born to Herbert and Norace Glanton; the others being Willie Gene, Effie, Daisy, Rhonnie, Donald, Herman David, Gennette, Anthony, Derek, and Barrett. The fourth child and second son in his large and close-knit family, he carried throughout his life the values of hard work, resilience, and ambition that shaped his early years. He was predeceased by his siblings Willie Gene, Donald, Herman David, and Gennette.

He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of West Georgia (then West Georgia College), being the first black student to graduate from that institution.  He then went on to receive his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1972, beginning a legal career that would span more than five decades and leave a lasting imprint on both the public and private sectors. The University of West Georgia would later recognize his legacy by awarding him an Honorary Doctorate in 2005.

Mr. Glanton began his career in Atlanta before moving into increasingly prominent federal and corporate roles. In Washington, D.C., he served as executive assistant to the chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, acting as a key liaison to Congress and the White House and helping coordinate the agency's public and legal agenda.

He later joined United Airlines as a staff attorney, where he handled employment and labor matters, including litigation and arbitration involving major airline unions. His work there foreshadowed a career marked by the ability to navigate complex regulatory and institutional environments.

In 1979, he entered public service in Pennsylvania, serving as executive deputy counsel to Governor Dick Thornburgh. In that role, he became one of the governor's top legal advisers, supervising agency counsel and helping guide policy and administrative decisions at the highest levels of state government.

Mr. Glanton went on to build a distinguished career in private practice, serving as a partner at WolfBlock LLP (formerly Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen) and later at Reed Smith LLP (formerly Reed Smith Shaw & McClay), where he advised clients in the energy, insurance, and real estate sectors and became known for his expertise in corporate and administrative law.

From 2003 to 2009, he served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Exelon Corporation, leading mergers, acquisitions, and major strategic transactions during a period of significant growth for the company. His leadership in that role cemented his reputation as a trusted strategist at the intersection of law, business, and energy policy.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Glanton served on numerous public company boards, including Exelon, Universal Insurance Co., Aqua America, the GEO Group, and MISTRAS Group, among others. His board service spanned decades and reflected both the breadth of his expertise and the high regard in which he was held by corporate leaders.

He was equally committed to civic and nonprofit leadership, serving on the boards of organizations including the Barnes Foundation, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Lincoln University, and the Philadelphia Boy Scouts. His tenure as president and trustee of the Barnes Foundation was among his most visible public roles, reflecting his engagement with cultural and educational institutions across the region. During a period of financial strain, Mr. Glanton led an ambitious and unprecedented international tour of the Foundation's renowned art collection, featuring masterpieces by Cézanne, Matisse, Renoir, and Picasso, which drew millions of visitors worldwide and generated tens of millions of dollars to support long-needed renovations and stabilize the organization. His efforts brought global attention to the Barnes and secured critical funding at a pivotal moment, underscoring his willingness to take bold and sometimes controversial steps in service of preserving one of the nation's most important cultural institutions. In recognition of the profound impact of this cultural exchange and Mr. Glanton's unique vision in bringing the tour to fruition, the French Republic made Mr. Glanton a Commander of the Order of the Arts and Letters—the highest-ranking distinction for cultural impact and achievement in France.

Later in his career, he founded Glanton & Associates LLC, where he continued to advise on project finance and energy matters, remaining active and influential well into his later years.

Throughout his professional life, Mr. Glanton was known for his ability to bridge law, government, and corporate leadership, and for his commitment to mentorship and institution-building. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he was known to family and friends as an adoring father, a commanding presence with a booming voice, and an enthusiastic student of politics and the world around him. To be in Richard Glanton's presence was to be drawn into it. He had a way of filling a room, not just with his stature, but with his energy, his intellect, and, most memorably, his unmistakable laugh, which carried for miles and brought people together wherever he went.

He possessed an extraordinary breadth of knowledge and curiosity, arriving at any conversation ready to share insights on nearly any subject. Family and friends often marveled as he spoke with authority and ease on topics spanning history, business, politics, and global affairs, so much so that it became a familiar ritual to pause, check the facts, and discover, more often than not, that he was right. He delighted in connecting ideas, sometimes weaving together unconventional or conspiratorial threads, leaving listeners at once amused, intrigued, and astonished at the depth and reach of his thinking.

Richard had a rare gift for connecting with people. Whether speaking with a stranger or a lifelong colleague, he could find common ground instantly, turning even brief encounters into lively, meaningful conversations. He was as comfortable in a boardroom as in everyday exchanges, equally at ease with the powerful and the ordinary, never missing an opportunity to engage, to teach, or to learn.

He was also deeply generous, always willing to offer his time, insight, and support to anyone in need. Known for his signature style, dressed in a suit and tie, smiling and laughing mid-conversation, he carried himself with confidence and unmistakable presence.

At his core, he was devoted to his family, and his children were the great love of his life. Fiercely opinionated and unwavering in his principles, he was shaped by his experiences growing up as a black man in the American South during the 1940s through the 1960s, navigating difficult and often unjust circumstances with determination and dignity. He never accepted anything less than the respect he knew every person deserved, and he carried that conviction into every aspect of his life.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen Glanton; his children, Morgan, David, and Georgia; and the mother of Morgan and David, Scheryl Glanton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the University of Virginia Law School Foundation in memory of Richard H. Glanton, Esq., to support the Elaine R. Jones '70 Scholarship. Named in honor of UVA Law's first Black alumna and the first female president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the scholarship supports students dedicated to pursuing careers that promote racial equity, a mission that reflects Richard's life, values, and enduring commitment to justice, opportunity, and public service.  Gifts may be made online at www.law.virginia.edu/gift or by mail to the UVA Law School Foundation, 580 Massie Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Please note that the gift is in memory of Richard H. Glanton.

A memorial service will be held Friday, September 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at The Union League of Philadelphia, 1450 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102