Retired DuPont executive, community, diversity champion Mobley named Marvel Cup winner

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The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce awarded the Josiah Marvel Cup to Stacey J. Mobley. The award was given at the State Chamber’s 186th Annual Dinner.

The Marvel Cup honors a Delawarean who has made an outstanding contribution to the state, community, or society. The State Chamber’s highest honor is named in memory of Josiah Marvel, who reorganized and served as the first president of the State Chamber in 1913.

In brief remarks upon accepting the award, Mobley said the honor came as a big surprise, recounting the years he attended the annual meeting and seeing the presentation of the cup that has maintained the rare tradition of the identity of its recipient not being announced in advance.

Mobley was senior vice president, chief administrative officer, and general counsel of DuPont until his retirement in 2008. He originally joined the DuPont Legal Department in 1972. He was named director of federal affairs in the company’s Washington, D.C. office in 1983 and promoted to vice president of federal affairs in 1986, returning to the company’s headquarters in Delaware in 1992 as vice president of communications in external affairs. Named chief executive administrative officer in May of 1999, Mobley became general counsel for DuPont in November of 1999.

In a 2004 interview with Corporate Counsel Business Journal, he stated: “ seen firsthand that when you use a diverse law firm, you get better solutions to your legal problems. This is because people from different backgrounds and cultures provide special insights that otherwise would not be available. Their life experiences alter the lenses through which they see problems.”

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“He led in diversity, equity, and inclusion before we all really knew what it was,” said Thère du Pont, president of Longwood Foundation. “Stacey was the leader in helping DuPont make it a competitive advantage.”

Mobley served as an example to those around him, practicing a leadership style many cited as one they aspired to implement when it became their turn to lead.

“He was a force of nature. You could feel his impact wherever you went in the company and the community,” said Ellen Kullman, former CEO of DuPont. “In my earlier years, I would watch in awe of how he maneuvered very difficult situations. He did it with grace and a strong center for the company.” Kullman credited Mobley with raising her awareness of the need for a corporation to be part of the community.

Mobley as served in leadership roles for many organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and chairman emeritus of the Board of Trustees at Howard University. Mobley earned a B.S. degree from the Howard University School of Pharmacy, a J.D. degree from the Howard University School of Law, and an honorary doctorate degree from Howard University in 2022.

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