We know hes at rest., He continued, He was elated and proud of the fact that he was able to share his legacy with others and, most importantly, his grandchildren. His grandfather caught up with him, gave him a stern look and Russell Jr. knew he was in trouble. An avid supporter of Atlanta and its youth, Russell is the founder of the Herman J. Russell Entrepreneurial Scholarship Foundation for an Atlanta elementary school. Photo credit: Courtesy Herman J. Russell family. Martin. Russell said his modest beginnings had a lasting impact. The world and Atlanta have indeed lost a remarkable individual and humanitarian. While prestigious construction jobs remained at the heart of their activities, diversification was critical to its stability. Here's a few of their responses: The entire community mourns the passing of Herman Russell. It is a loss that I and so many others share.. It melted my heart.. His role model was his father who owned his own plastering business. []. He was elated and proud of the fact that he was able to share his legacy with others and, most importantly, his grandchildren. And he leaves people searching for the right words to summarize the indelible impact the legendary businessman, philanthropist and civic leader made on the maturation of the city of Atlanta as a power player on the national and international landscape. Michael Russell spoke of how honored he felt to be carrying on the role of running his fathers company. One of them looked at me. His company helped erect much of the city's skyline such as Coca-Cola's headquarters, 191 Peachtree Tower, Atlanta City Hall, and the Georgia-Pacific building, among others. Details about his funeral arrangements are pending. Herman Jerome Russell was born to Maggie Googson and Rogers Russell in Atlanta on Dec. 23, 1930. 1989: Constructs Grady High School addition. Michael Russell continues to run his father's company, along with his two siblings, Jerome and Donata. Herman J. Russell, who founded Atlanta-based H. J. Russell & Company in 1952 and Concessions International, LLC, in 1979, is known for helping to build the Atlanta skyline as it's seen today as well as for shaping the airport dining experience for travelers throughout the country and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Continue to construct great buildings in heaven., Tweet from state Rep. Darshun Kendrick, D-Lithonia, @DarshunKendrick, The country has lost a GIANT, Herman J. Russell. 1952: Establishes H.J. Rev. However, his beginnings were humble. A multi-faceted organization providing integrated solutions and an exceptional customer experience, Russell has developed, designed/built, renovated, and managed some of the nations most complex, high profile projects involving multiple stakeholders and requiring exceptional diplomacy and skill, including the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the HHRM JV and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture with Clark Construction and Smoot Construction. Among the dignitaries who were present Saturday included: Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Hank Johnson, Congressman David Scott, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Morehouse College President John Wilson, Clark Atlanta President Carlton Brown, public relations/marketing entrepreneur Kent Matlock, retired Citizens Trust director Johnnie Clark, Martin Luther King III, Bernice King, Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell, Maynard Buzzy Jackson III and his wife Wendy, Dr. Louis Sullivan, WXIAs Brenda Wood, environmentalists Laura Turner Seydel and Rutherford Seydel, fundraiser Ann Curry, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Coca-Colas Lisa Borders, chair of Habitat for Humanity International board Renee Glover, Dr. David Satcher, Atlanta City Council persons Kwanza Hall and Andrew Dickens, Atlanta Business Leagues Leona Barr Davenport, 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Summit CEO and COO respectively Mohammad Bhuiyan and Shamima Amin, Atlanta Lifes Bill Taggart, former Clayton Chair Eldrin Bell, contract compliance leader Rodney Strong, behind the scenes power-broker Eugene Duffy, retired Coca-Cola executive Ingrid Saunders Jones, photographer Sue Ross, political observer and businessman Dan Halpern, former Russell general counsel Joia Johnson, Andrea Young Thomas and her husband Jerry Thomas, architects George and Laura Heery as well as countless others. There was just no way to go to work at a very early age.. The church was filled with a Whos Who of Atlanta and so many people who had felt personally moved or touched by Russell and his family by blood or by business or by human bonds. Visit the Atlanta Civic Circle, a nonprofit journalism and civic engagement site, which works on community-wide issues and solutions. The firm has landed several key projects, and the patriarch decided to semi-retire. However, before doing so, H. J. developed the ambitious,mixed-use $300 million development in Castleberry Hill. Senator Vincent Fort (@Senatorfort) November 15, 2014, R. I.P. However, to me, he was my true brother in Christ and I shall never forget our decades-old friendship and what he meant to me, my family, the city of Atlanta, the nation and the world. The Summerhill native owned several businesses throughout his career, starting at age 16 when he purchased a dilapidated home for $125. He was one of thirteen children born to Michael and Florence (Brungardt) Gerhardt. I will always remember with fondness the times that I spent in his family home playing with his children. Turnout was so large that the church directed traffic to two overflow parking lots to handle the crowds that kept coming even after services had begun. He was the first black member of what was then called the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the second African-American to serve as its president. A native of Atlanta, Herman J. Russell was an accomplished tradesman by the age of 12 having learned the plastering business from his father, Rogers Russell. However, I believe the most important part of Mr. Russells legacy is what we dont see in that he built himself up from the bottom to ultimately serve as a role model for so many Atlantans of all races. Today, the former headquarters location for H. J. Russell & Company is becoming the Russell Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship in recognition of the founders entrepreneurial spirit and desire to give back. You will remember his hugs, his wisdom. Herman Jerome Russell was born to Maggie Googson and Rogers Russell in Atlanta on December 23, 1930. It was in the 1980s and Khalil, who was in the real estate business in north metro Atlanta, was making between $60,000 to $75,000 a year, a sizable income at the time. All rights reserved. Herman said, If you give me 1 percent more of the profit, you can take my name off of it altogether.. In 2006, Otelia Hackney Russell, his wife of 50 years, died. I learned that Herman was never going to let any obstacle or impediment stop him, and Herman would never let an opportunity pass to make the world a better place, Jordan said. And that's just what his firm did in Atlanta not to mention what the construction magnate built across the nation. Great Memorial to A great man-Gloria WaddellReport, Your email address will not be published. Noel Khalil, who also was a proteg, told the story of how Russell hired him. I cant express how much we will miss him., Hermans spirit permeated the community. King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, Vernon Jordan and Jesse Hill. Construction Executive, Favorite Vacation Spot: New Zealand, Europe. Herman J Russell built one of the country's leading black owned construction, real estate and concessions empires. I want to think the Russell children for sharing your father with me, Khalil said. Atlanta construction executive Herman Russell is a civic leader and philanthropist whose construction company ranks as the fourth largest in the U.S. He befriended contemporaries like M.L. A priceless photo shows Russell in his living room with Ralph David Abernathy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Andrew Young in the early 1960s, creating strategy for the civil rights movement. Russell almost immediately expanded the family business, taking onlarger projects that ranged from home building to real estate investment. Ever the enterprising adolescent, Russell used the revenue from his teen businesses to fully finance his expensive education at the private HBCU Tuskegee Universityin Alabama. ATLANTA - As the founder and former CEO of HJ Russell and Company, Herman J. Russell built one of the United States' leading black owned construction, real estate and concessions empires, before his death in 2014. 1979: Forms Concessions International LLC, a food service. Russell never really stopped working, staying involved as chairman of his companies and in Castleberry Hill where his businesses were based. Russell asked him how much he was making, and Khalil said $60,000 and up to $75,000 a year with a bonus. Like Atlanta, he started off with a little shoe shine stand, now his company is a major influence in everything happening in the city. Today, the Atlanta-based H. J. Russell and Company is a nationally recognized leader in the construction and real estate development industry, as well as the single largest Minority Business Enterprise real estate firm in the United States. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. H.J. Russell Plastering Company with his father. Russell did. Go back inside and find something to do, Russell Jr. said his grandfather ordered. Perry said you judge a generation by the generation that follows it. The Russell empire also includes Concessions International, a hospitality company that operates the famed Paschals Restaurant in Castleberry Hill and restaurants in airports across the country, including Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson International. Herman J. Russell (1930- ) What started as a $125.00 purchase of a small parcel of land at 15 grew and blossomed over the years into a multi million-dollar company, and with this, Herman Jerome Russell came to epitomize black entrepreneurship by becoming one of the first black millionaires. We put your body to rest, Young said. After presenting the plan to his boss, Russell told him that he should run the company as the president and COO. Survived by son, Russell (Patricia); grandchildren, Brent (Bethany), Adam (Jessica . While business was his public face, Herman Russell Sr.s heart belonged to family, friends and equality, speaker after speaker said. Would he pick it up or let it sit there at the bottom of the bowl? Russell & Co. 2003: Grady Hospital Cancer Center of Excellence project. He used the n-word and asked, Why cant you shine shoes on your front porch? Thats when I was reborn.. A few years later, government programs designed to spur residential construction, particularly in the South, provided the opportunities that made H. J. Russell & Company one of the largest builders of HUD affordable housing. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Several of his grandchildren participated in the service. People have other things to do. Herman did twice, Perry said. Maria received her Masters degree in urban studies from GeorgiaState and her Bachelors degree in journalism from Boston University. His father was a plasterer from whom he learned the trade starting at the age of twelve. Herman Russell understood the role of businesspeople in the journey toward social justice., Tweet from state Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, @Senatorfort, He was not just a businessman and not just a civic leader. HJ helped build Atlanta. Building Atlanta: The Story of Herman J. Russell will be airing on Delta Studio until May 31, 2021 and will be featured within the airlines Must See Documentaries spotlight collection. Russell & Co. in 1979, Russell asked Perry to do a growth plan for the company, which took him six months to complete. We are grateful Delta is interested in featuring his story onboard to inspire an even larger audience., Our family felt it was important to document the legacy of our family patriarch in film for generations to enjoy and be inspired by, as we were all of our lives, said Herman J. Russells daughter, Donata Russell Ross, CEO, Concessions International, LLC. I wanted to help my mother and my father, but there wasnt much money in the neighborhood, Russell said in a 2006 interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Russell was a tower of strength who used his sharp mind and business know-how to become a major player in Atlantas business community. Having the privilege of knowing him since childhood, as I grew, I was able to watch Mr. Russell grow and build this beautiful city with his hands, his words, and his deeds. After his father's death in 1957, Russell took over the company and expanded it into a conglomerate that includes general contracting, construction/program management, real estate development and property and asset management. He bought his first parcel of land for $125 at age sixteen, later building a duplex on the property. When I was 14, I went in front of the Atlanta City Council (known then as the Board of Aldermen) to ask for the rezoning of a lot that the city owned so I could expand my business. He most notably founded H.J. At the same time, his construction partnerships expanded to include residential, educational, commercial, and recreational structures. Jordan, who the sounding board for presidents and power brokers, said Russell had other talents. This was also the year that Herman founded H. J. Russell Plastering Company in Atlanta, whichwould later become H. J. Russell & Company. Sources: H.J. Real Times Media. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. But he invested most of his time and energy in his hometown. Clearly, the answer is yes. [], Where are todays Muhammad Ali-like athletes? Nathan Deal, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the Metro Atlanta Chamber, of which Russell was a former leader, preceded dozens of quotes in tribute. Russell & Co., family and friends such as baseball legend Hank Aaron, and political and civic heavyweights, including U.S. Rep. John Lewis and Martin Luther King III. He bought his first parcel of land for $125 at age sixteen, later building a duplex on the property. Second, do not leave anything out.. Copyright 2023. The decade of the 1960s was important for both the United States and H. J. Russell & Company. But that showed his determination for the causes of the day better cafeteria food, no more hand-me-down books from the white schools and other inequities. He was not just an example of self-made success, but a demonstration of a life well lived. The lawyers drew up a joint-venture agreement that was about two inches thick. Hermans drive, tenacity and vision carry on throughout the company today. The trust, confidence, and lasting friendships he established enabled a new generation of Black entrepreneurs to move into the mainstream. Russell & Company in 1952, becoming one of the largest Minority Business Enterprises in America. Even though H.J. never learned how to pronounce his first name, Russell taught him essential lessons of business and life. Continue to construct great buildings in heaven. Rep. Hank Johnson (@RepHankJohnson) November 15, 2014, Herman Russell understood the role of businesspeople in the journey toward social justice. 1930: Born in Atlanta on Dec. 23, 1930. Column: Five Georgia nonprofits rank among nations top 25, Georgia State gets transformational $22.8 million Woodruff Foundation gift. And he was just a sophomore in high school a mere infant in the business world when he exemplified the level of business acumen that would turn him into a superstar in adulthood. Returning to Atlanta after college, he worked . I got nervous in front of all the white aldermen. Im always confused on occasions like this, Young said. There was no one as cheap as H.J., Egbert Perry, a business protege, said to great laughter and nods from attendees at the Saturday funeral. And dont leave until 6.. By John B. Smith, Sr. Special to the NNPA from The Atlanta Inquirer ATLANTA - Herman J. Russell, the native Atlantan born in 1931 from humble beginnings in the Summerhill community who ultimately grew to become founder of the nation's most influential African-American construction and property management company in southwest Atlanta, from a plastering business in [] [6][7] Russell was a 1991 recipient of the Horatio Alger Award, and received the title Georgia Trustee from the Georgia Historical Society in 2013. From being the first African-American member of what was then called the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce to being an inaugural member of the board of directors of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change, Inc. (The King Center). He left a lasting legacy that will be remembered for years to come.said Atlanta City Councilmember C.T. Mr. Andrew Young (@AmbAndrewYoung) November 15, 2014, Today, we lost one of the founding fathers of modern Atl in Mr. H.J. This was the decade that began with a grand announcement that Atlanta would be the site of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. 1987: Constructs Wachovia Bank operations center in North Carolina. Russell. Founded in 1952, H. J. Russell & Company is one of the largest minority-owned construction services and real estate development firms in the United States. Herman Russell helped to make real the legacy of a city too busy to hate.. "The firm he built continues to shape what this city will look like for decades to come.". He remembered that when he was 5 years old, his father couldnt find work. Former staff writer Maria Saporta also contributed. In every phase of Atlanta development from Hartsfield (airport) to the present, he was a major and dominant influence, Young said. His tremendous works can be found amongst the Atlanta skyline, the businesses he created, but most of all and the beautiful family that he raised.
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