He recalled working for Russell for a couple of years, and at 4:30 p.m. one afternoon, after finishing his work, he packed up and headed to car to go home. In every phase of Atlanta development from Hartsfield to the present, he was a major and dominant influence. Nationally prominent Atlanta business leader Herman J. Russell, 83, died Saturday morning after a brief illness. Because jobs were scarce, at the age of 8, he decided to become his own boss and create his own jobs (neighborhood handyman, newspaper deliverer) and continued in that entrepreneurial mindset his entire life. [1] Russell's autobiography Building Atlanta was published in April 2014, shortly before his death. Herman J. Russell was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on March 15, 2002. He left a lasting legacy that will be remembered for years to come.said Atlanta City Councilmember C.T. Thats how Khalil became a developer and entrepreneur. I also had a stuttering problem at that time. Along with a myriad of other community and corporate boards, Russell, after retiring in 2003 from his company, continued to be an in demand speaker with business classes, as well as for various corporate settings, channeling his business acumen to future business owners and leaders for the growth and economic advancement. 1993: Oversees Birmingham International Airport. He also played a leading role in the modern Civil Rights Movement working very closely with Rev. 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. I loved him and he will be missed., Civil rights icon The Rev. Andrew Young, a former Atlanta mayor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, echoed Reeds sentiments when he said, [Russell] was one of the giants of our time. 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. 1972: Becomes 10 percent owner of Atlanta Hawks basketball and Atlanta Flames hockey teams, the first African-American to have ownership in a major sports franchise. 1969: Is awarded the contract for the Citizens Trust Bank Building. Among his recognition awards are induction into the Junior Achievement Atlanta Business Hall of Fame in 1992, and recipient of the Horatio Alger Award in 1991. An interview with the filmmakers can be found on the H. J. Russell & Company We Build: The Podcast here or on other podcast platforms. Where are todays Muhammad Ali-like athletes? Your email address will not be published. The company has annual sales of more than $150 million and employs 700. 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. Michael Russell spoke of how honored he felt to be carrying on the role of running his fathers company. 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. Real Times Media. Herman Russell helped to make real the legacy of a city too busy to hate.. 1989: Constructs Grady High School addition. His legacy will live on in the projects he built, the family he raised, and the people he touched throughout his life., Ernest Greer, chairman of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and vice president and Atlanta managing shareholder at law firm Greenberg Traurig, He was one of the Giants of our time. 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 the '50s - made transition, on Saturday, Nov. 15, following a brief illness. And we have cried together.. The . All rights reserved. Age 101, of Bloomington. Russell was a tower of strength who used his sharp mind and business know-how to become a major player in Atlantas business community. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. Dar'shun Kendrick (@DarshunKendrick) November 15, 2014, The country has lost a GIANT, Herman J. Russell. Russells office showcased photos of him with U.S. presidents in the White House. He was not just an example of self-made success, but a demonstration of a life well lived. 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. Real estate and property development had always been at the core of the Russell companies, but the unpredictable real estate market created enough concern for the company to look at other areas. Herman Russell had a major impact on many of us, and he lived a great life.. In 2015 Joycelyn Darby Alston, a resident of New York, claimed that she, too, was among Russell's progeny, a product of a brief relationship between Russell and her mother, an Atlanta native. I cant express how much we will miss him., Hermans spirit permeated the community. He used the n-word and asked, Why cant you shine shoes on your front porch? Thats when I was reborn.. Lastly, did one pass on peacefully and with grace. He was a gentleman., Sam Massell, a former Atlanta mayor who is now president of the Buckhead Coalition, Herman Russells success is indelible proof that Georgia is indeed a place where all are welcome and where all can succeed. 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. The program described his achievements as an entrepreneur, his love of family and of friends. The previous decades introduction of the requirement of including minority-owned subcontractors with companies seeking city contracts resulted in a new decade of continued growth and the recognition of the visionary leadership of Herman J. Russell in Atlanta and beyond. Not satisfied with Majors answer, Russell told him: Go back inside and find something to do. Martin Luther King, Jr. Russell has served also as a board member for civic organizations like the Allen Temple; Butler Street YMCA; Central Atlanta Progress; Tuskegee University; the NAACP Atlanta chapter; Citizens Trust Bank; Midtown Improvement District and the Georgia State University Advisory Board. At the same time, his construction partnerships expanded to include residential, educational, commercial, and recreational structures. Preceded in death by husband, Edmund. King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, Vernon Jordan and Jesse Hill. With an ample mix of tears and laughter friends, family and associates said good-bye to Herman J. Russell at a Celebration of Life service at Saint Philip AME Church in DeKalb County for two-and-a-half hours on Saturday. He made an indelible mark on the city of Atlanta and the nation and he will be deeply missed.. He was elated and proud of the fact that he was able to share his legacy with others and, most importantly, his grandchildren. WHEREAS, Mr. Herman J. Russell was the founder and former chief executive officer of H. J. Russell and Company and a nationally recognized entrepreneur and philanthropist amassing one of the nation's most profitable minority-owned business empires, turning a small plaster company into a construction and real estate conglomerate; and WHEREAS, Mr . The country has lost a GIANT, Herman J. Russell. Grand-daughter Sydney Russell recited a poem: When I am Gone overcome with emotion as she read the powerful words. Russell & Company, Russell was also a formidable community and civic leader, as well as author of his recently released autobiography, Building Atlanta: How I Broke Through Segregation to Launch a Business Empire. 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. Since 2008, she has written a weekly column and news stories for theAtlanta Business Chronicle. I want to think the Russell children for sharing your father with me, Khalil said. Russell, chairman/CEO of H. J. Russell & Co., was born on December 23, 1930, in Atlanta, one of seven childrenof Maggie and Rogers Russell. 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. Those who wont be flying in the coming months can also enjoy the film on H. J. Russell & Companys YouTube channel. Russell almost immediately expanded the family business, taking onlarger projects that ranged from home building to real estate investment. Today, the experience the firm had in building the Olympic stadium has contributed to the building of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium positioned halfway between the companys old and new headquarters location. His legacy in our region is well established, and while Atlanta has lost a builder, developer and philanthropist, I have lost a dear friend. 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. He was 83 years old. John B. Smith, Sr., second vice chairman of NNPA and publisher and CEO of The Atlanta Inquirer, said, It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I comment on the death of my friend, business associate and brother of the common good, Herman J. Russell. Russell never really stopped working, staying involved as chairman of his companies and in Castleberry Hill where his businesses were based. Rep. Hank Johnson (@RepHankJohnson) November 15, 2014, Herman Russell understood the role of businesspeople in the journey toward social justice. Through Our Eyes: Panelist seek to encourage surrounding communities and generations after. Russell & Company is currently involved with the construction of the $1.3 billion Atlanta Falcons stadium development. Back in those days, I faced some tough segregation, Russell said in an interview in March. H. Russell did. Watergate, oil shortages and declining real estate markets created uncertainty in every area of the nation. You can not bury Hermans laughter in that casket, Young said. The brilliant construction and real estate magnate passed away at age 83 much like he lived quietly, and leaving behind an enviable legacy and vast business portfolio that spellbinds his contemporaries and legions of admirers alike. Herman J. Russell nurtured his children, H. Jerome, Donata, and Michael, to carry on his vision: stay focused, be committed, continue to develop expertise, and remain on the cutting edge with the best technology and human talent to meet the changing needs of both business and society. Russell & Co., Hoovers Company Profiles, Whos Who Among African Americans (14th ED), Staff Research. Herman Russell had a major impact on many of. With this responsibility, Herman gave me two conflicting pieces of advice, Jordan said. Senator Vincent Fort (@Senatorfort) November 15, 2014, R. I.P. Clearly, the answer is yes. [], Where are todays Muhammad Ali-like athletes? Russell & Company in 2003, at which point his son, Michael, succeeded him in running the business. But instead of naming his elder son and namesake as CEO as expected, he chose his youngest son, Michael. Returning to Atlanta, he worked alongside his father. He bought his first piece of land at 16 years old," Michael B. Russell said about his father. H.J. cry. He was one of the reasons that Atlanta is the great http://t.co/xCQp0HVmsL 2023 FOX Television Stations, Atlanta man discovers way for drivers to legally escape parking lot boots without paying fine, Marine veteran in his 80s held at gunpoint during home invasion: 'I wasn't afraid of him', Atlanta studio already feeling pain from possible Hollywood writers' strike, Legendary folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot dies at 84, Morehouse offers to open primary care facility on Atlanta's southside to fill gap from Wellstar closures. H.J. Lee May (@LeeMay) November 15, 2014. Along with his son Michael, Russell leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Sylvia; another son, Jerome; daughter, Donata, several grandchildren and a host of other relatives and admirers. Herman said, If you give me 1 percent more of the profit, you can take my name off of it altogether.. Russell & Co. 1974: Becomes the co-chairman of the finance committee to elect Maynard Jackson. His brilliance is reflected across Atlantas skyline and throughout communities across the country. Herman J. Russell. Nine months after Atlanta business icon Herman J. Russell died in November 2014, his three children received a letter from lawyers representing Joycelyn Alston of New York. Numerous local leaders expressed their condolences and spoke about his legacy today. He is one of the best men our city has ever produced, said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. 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. He most notably founded H.J. 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. 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. They came from all walks of life, with sections of the behemoth church set aside for employees of H.J. To support the movement for equality and civil rights, he discretely financed the civil rights crusade, bonded outdemonstrators and provided funding for political campaigns thathelped pass landmark legislation to transform American society and race relations. 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 & Co. built much of Atlantas skyline often through joint ventures from the Georgia-Pacific headquarters to the Georgia Dome. 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. 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. He used his talents and experience and hard work to have one of the most successful businesses and African-American businesses in the city and the country, she said. Russell was the founder and retired CEO of H.J . Tags: Ambassador Andrew Young, atlanta city council president ceaser mitchell, civil rights movement, Congressman John Lewis, Herman J. Russell, Mayor Kasim Reed.
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