He was a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and a commissioner with the Interstate Commerce Commission during the Carter Administration.
[3] Alexis was born February 26, 1932, in Brooklyn, New York, in a family of 7 children.
He attended New York City Public Schools and Brooklyn College.
[5] He was among the founders of the Caucus of Black Economists in 1969, now the National Economic Association, and was the organization's first chair.
[7] Alexis was also chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and was a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission for two years under President Jimmy Carter, including serving as acting chair.