Leadership Legends

Leonte Benton’s insights from the Legends Atlanta Tour.

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth—a day that commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned they were free.

Juneteenth is more than a celebration of freedom. It is a reminder of resilience, perseverance, and the responsibility we have to use our opportunities to lead, serve, and make a difference.

At Leadership Legends, we believe understanding our history helps us build a better future. Today, we honor those who came before us and challenge our young men to continue the legacy through character, leadership, and service.

As a young man, mentors fed his mind with articles from the Wall Street Journal and lessons about real estate. Those seeds of knowledge and opportunity eventually grew into a career, leading him to become the president of a real estate company.

Exposure Tour Atlanta 2026:
The Legends made their journey to metropolitan Atlanta. As usual, it was a very early morning start from Moultrie. These young men were in for a treat. They heard from Leonte Benton, the current President of T. Dallas Smith Company, a commercial real estate firm. In fact, the largest black owned real estate firm in the United States. They also heard from an ole time favorite with the Legends Judge Gregory A. Adams. These two men gave the Legends what they needed. They heard real stories, from Real Men, that look like them. Both of these men had very humble beginnings, and reached extraordinarily heights. What was very evident, was the height of their character. Giving up their time to volunteer with these youngmen. The Legends then went over to the Civil Rights Museum, where they engaged in individual conversations with one another as they toured the facility. What a day! You could feel the inspiration in the room as these young men were encouraged to be their best and turn a blind eye to all things that could distract them from being positive members of their community and society at large.