W. Howard Fort, an attorney and civic leader moved to Akron 62 years ago because he thought Akron could use another black attorney. He also realized when he graduated from law school in Columbus there were too many lawyers there.

Brother Fort hadn't planned to stay in Akron so long. He made the city his home, he said, because it was a town of opportunity not only for blacks but for everyone.

Brother Fort died Monday at age 93. Funeral arrangements are pending at Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home.

When Brother Fort came to Akron in 1947, he joined another black attorney, Alexander Russell, as an associate. He also worked with other black attorneys, including Norman Purnell and the late Andrew Jackson. Mr. Fort spent most of his legal career with the law firm Schwab, Grosenbaugh, Fort and Seamon.

Brother Fort is largely responsible for Kappa coming to Akron. He, and four other local Kappa men, were sponsors of the chartering  of Gamma Tau Chapter, May 15, 1949. He also served as a sponsor to the chartering of Akron Alumni Chapter, March 27, 1955.

W. Howard Fort preferred to go by Howard because there were too many Williams out there, he said, and he didn't want to be called Bill.

His first ambition was to become a teacher, then he wanted to go into the restaurant business and open his own chain. He decided a law degree would be helpful, and after a year in law school he wanted to be on his own as an attorney.

Retired Judge James R. Williams said as a young attorney starting out in the late 1960s he met Fort, who was one of the premier attorneys in Akron at that time.

''He certainly set high standards for the young African-American attorneys who looked up to someone like him,'' Williams said. ''He was a great role model. He always stood out as a great example of an outstanding professional and was a first-class individual in the way that he carried himself in the courtroom, in the community and as a family man.''

Brother Fort, a native of Tuscumbia, Ala., was one of six children born to an Alabama seamstress and barber. His parents took their young family to Wichita, Kan., when he was 18 months old.

Brother Fort briefly attended the University of Kasas, were he first experienced Kappa Alpha Psi. During his short time there, he was initiated into the Mu Chapter of the fraternity.

He moved to Ohio in 1937 and operated a business in Columbus before enrolling at Ohio State University. While attending the university, he served as the Polemarch to Zeta Chapter. He earned his bachelor of science and law degrees from Ohio State. Brother Fort also had the opportunity to serve as Polemarch of Columbus Alumni Chapter.

He was the first black to serve on several boards, including a rubber company board of directors.

''Howard was one of Goodyear's finest board members. He asked the right questions, made appropriate comments and recommendations,'' said Bob Mercer, former Goodyear CEO, who now lives in Palm Coast, Fla. ''His counsel was important and carried much weight. He will be missed by the community. I was proud to call him friend and associate.''

The news also spread to Scottsdale, Ariz..

''As a police officer, most of my contact with attorneys was adversarial and not always pleasant, but Mr. Fort was a genuine exception to the rule,'' said former Akron police detective Dick May. ''Ever the gentleman, he was the real deal. God must have needed a good and ethical attorney, because I'm certain that was his reason for choosing Mr. Fort.

''Former Firestone executive Frank ''Whitey'' Wahl of Akron said he knew Brother Fort for about 20 years. He served as outside counsel for Firestone on Equal Employment Opportunity Commission cases.

''He was one of the finest people I have ever known,'' Wahl said. ''He would do anything for you. He was bright and easy to work with.''

Wahl recalled a bumpy ride on the runway at the Akron-Canton Airport in 1973 that resulted in a crash. The plane overshot the runway and plunged down a 38-foot embankment. No one was killed, but 16 people were seriously injured.

When the lights went out, the two men were separated. Brother Fort was the only black person out of 26 passengers. He was trying to help some of the injured passengers out of the plane; Wahl was helping on the inside.

Brother Fort found a man on the wing and wanted Wahl to help and started yelling, ''Whitey! Whitey!'' Wahl said.

Wahl recalled the ambulance was taking them to Akron City Hospital. ''But because Howard was on the board at Akron General, I kept telling them we needed to go there, and that's where we ended up.''

''Howard was such a genuine person. He was honest and fun to be with.''

Brother Fort was active throughout his lifetime with various groups. He was a member of the American, Ohio and Akron bar associations. He served as chairman of the board of trustees at the University of Akron and as secretary of Central State University, was on the board of directors of the First National Bank of Akron and Ohio Bell, was a past president of the Akron Area Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Summit County Red Cross board of directors and a trustee of Akron General Medical Center.

He was also active with the East Akron Community House, Mental Health Association of Summit County, the NAACP, and the Akron Area Council of Boy Scouts.

Fort and his wife, Ruth, have two children: a daughter, Gailmarie; and a son, Bill.