1986
Bio:
Dave Bing has devoted most of his professional life to the city of Detroit. As a consistent NBA All-Star, he was one of the premier basketball players in America for a decade and a half. He spent nine of those years with the Detroit Pistons. His distinguished playing career in Detroit earned him the honor of being the first Piston in history to have his uniform number, “21,” retired. After his retirement from basketball, Mr. Bing joined a Detroit based steel company and that experience inspired him to start his own company.
Bing Steel Inc. was formed in 1980. A start-up company with four employees, Bing Steel has grown into a firm that employs 70 people and operates two plants and a number of offices. It has earned the distinction of being the largest minority owned steel service center in the nation, and, as testimony to Dave Bing’s commitment and leadership, those four original employees are still with the company. Bing Steel Inc. has been recognized as the Outstanding Michigan Minority Business, General Motors Minority Supplier of the Year, and National Minority Supplier of the Year. Mr. Bing has been recognized as Minority Small Business Person of the Year by both the Detroit District and Chicago Region, and was honored in a ceremony at the White House by President Reagan as National Minority Small Business Person of the Year.
Dave Bing’s intense energy in serving and promoting the Detroit community does not end with Bing Steel. He is an ardent supporter of organizations which work to move Detroit ahead, such as New Detroit Inc., the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce, Detroit Black United Fund, the Detroit Urban League and the Economic Club of Detroit. He currently acts as co-chairperson of the Governor’s Entrepreneurial and Small Business Commission. He has a particular interest in working with organizations which directly assist youth including Children’s Hospital, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Detroit and Junior Achievement. He has been honored by the Detroit Area Council of Campfire Girls for his tireless efforts with the city’s youth and has received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the March of Dimes.
Originally from Washington, D.C., Mr. Bing received his education at Syracuse University. He has three children and currently resides in Southfield with his wife, Yvette.
Award was presented at the Works of Mercy Dinner September 9, 1987 by Maureen A. Fay, O.P., President, Mercy College of Detroit and Thomas V. Angott, Chairman of the MCD Board of Trustees and President of Pure Milk Co.