Sidney Feldman Papers

Sidney Feldman was a most unusual businessman. He earned a fortune as president of a family business, London Iron and Metal, a scrap iron and metal company that furnished Atlantic Steel with much of its scrap melt. He supplied the first major gift to Georgia State University and funded two buildings for the Boys Club of Atlanta. His causes included the Jewish and African-American communities. Mr. Feldman played a key role in the development and success of the Morehouse School of Medicine," the only predominantly African-American medical school to be established in the 20th century. He showed very visibly that a minority school is important to Atlanta and the nation. Mr. Feldman was awarded an Honorary Degree of Humane Letters by the medical school. Born in Poland, Mr. Feldman came to Atlanta when he was 9 and attended Boys High and Georgia Evening College, the predecessor of Georgia State University. During World War II, he signed up with the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in the Pacific as a gunnery officer aboard an aircraft carrier, earning a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. After the war, Mr. Feldman's uncle Max London offered him a position in his scrap metal salvage company. He was a thinker, up on current events and the world, and a bigger than life, shining personality. After selling the company in 1989, Mr. Feldman joined Mr. London as owner of London-Feldman Properties, a successful commercial real estate firm. Mr. Feldman served as president of many nonprofit organizations in Atlanta, including the GSU Alumni Association and the William Breman Jewish Home. There's no telling how many people he benefacted over the years that nobody knew about. Mr. Feldman's honors for his leadership and generosity included the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.