Herman J. Russell, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who turned a small plastering firm into one of the nation's most successful African-American-owned real estate development and construction companies, died Saturday. And we have cried together.. Herman J. Russell was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on March 15, 2002. Herman said, If you give me 1 percent more of the profit, you can take my name off of it altogether.. Prior to that, she spent 27 years with TheAtlanta Journal-Constitution,becoming its business columnist in 1991. A 1990 graduate of N.C. Central University and a 2009 Harvard University Nieman Fellow, he is also the former vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists. David Hughes Duke and John Duke of Living Stories Video & Film are Emmy Award-winning filmmakers and natives of Atlanta. "His life inspires us to continue to strive to help others and be the best we can be.. 1995: Constructs Wachovia Headquarters in Winston-Salem, N.C. 1999: Donates $4 million to Tuskegee University, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia State University and Morehouse College. Nationally prominent Atlanta business leader Herman J. Russell, 83, died Saturday morning after a brief illness. Russell, chairman/CEO of H. J. Russell & Co., was born on December 23, 1930, in Atlanta, one of seven children of Maggie and Rogers Russell. All rights reserved. [9], "Herman J. Russell built legacy in Atlanta", "International Civil Rights: Walk of Fame Herman J. Russell", "Atlanta business icon Herman J. Russell has died", "Herman Jerome Russel (1930- ), Business Mogul, Community Leader, Philanthropist", "BUILDING ATLANTA by Herman J. Russell , Bob Andelman", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Herman_J._Russell&oldid=1114763061, This page was last edited on 8 October 2022, at 04:13. Courtney English (@CourtneyEnglish) November 15, 2014, #ATL is forever indebted to #HJRussell-he helped transform our skyline & worked tirelessly 2 make our city better - he will truly be missed. In addition, his company continues to manage concessions at several American airports, including services at Hartsfield-Jackson. Joseph Lowery said he saw Russell during former President Bill Clintons recent visit to Atlanta before the Nov. 4 election, and that Russell said he was not feeling well. Not satisfied with Majors answer, Russell told him: Go back inside and find something to do. Two years later, Jerome donated one of his kidneys to his brother. We are saying good-bye to the physical aspect of a person but I know the person is still alive. 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. Herman J. Russell, one of Atlanta's most important business figures, known best for his role in starting one of the country's largest minority-owned companies, passed away this morning following a brief illness at the age of 83. Russells sons who, along with his daughter and grandchildren, now carry on his legacy. Herman said, Vernon, do not speak all day. Copyright 2023. The firm is a partner in the joint venture selected to build the new $1 billion Atlanta Falcons stadium, scheduled to open in 2017. #gapol #gadems They met 40 years later on the business field, and they developed one of the most successful joint venture relationships in Atlanta history. I loved him and he will be missed, said Civil Rights icon, Rev. He was elated and proud of the fact that he was able to share his legacy with others and, most importantly, his grandchildren. He didnt just build buildings. The nearly hour-long film premieres on ATL PBA on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. and re-airs at 9 p.m. on Feb. 23. He also said there was no entitlement in the Russell household. Nathan Deal, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the Metro Atlanta Chamber, of which Russell was a former leader, preceded dozens of quotes in tribute. 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 its seen today as well as for shaping the airport dining experience for travelers throughout the country and the U. S. Virgin Islands. (Left)Michael B. Russell& Jerome Russell(Right). There was nobody I met in life cheaper than H.J., said Perry, who was overcome with emotion throughout and after the service. It also was Russell who wrote checks to pay the bail of students arrested after sit-ins at lunch counters in the South during the civil rights movement, said Jordan. 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. The film includes interviews with notable people from Atlanta who knew Russell and . "He was quite an entrepreneur, I always say. Along the way, he broke virtually every racial and economic barrier. Not only did the firm receive company and leadership awards and recognitions by various organizations and institutions in Atlanta, the companys Project Management division set up offices in Birmingham, AL and expanded its headquarters to more than 42,000 square feet in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood of Atlanta. His obsession with Prince, Spike Lee movies, Hamilton and the New York Yankees is odd. Column: Five Georgia nonprofits rank among nations top 25, Georgia State gets transformational $22.8 million Woodruff Foundation gift. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., helped shape the citys skyline and wielded influence far beyond his hometown. When Jordan heard Russell was ill a couple of months ago, he called him when he knew he would be alone. 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. By building one of our nations most successful minority-owned companies, his legacy is a shining example for small business owners with big dreams. Four months after he joined H.J. Herman Russell known city- , state- and nationwide for his formidable business knowledge and acumen has received many plaudits since his passing on Nov. 15. Details about his funeral arrangements are pending. Russell & Company, a local construction firm that helped build many of the city's most important structures, in 1952. ATLANTA, GA (NNPA) - 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 But he invested most of his time and energy in his hometown. But instead of naming his elder son and namesake as CEO as expected, he chose his youngest son, Michael. That entrepreneurial spirit was passed on through his legacy to his children and grandchildren. In 2006, Russell was one of the first Atlantans to contribute $1 million for the successful acquisition of Martin Luther Kings papers, now owned by Morehouse College and a part of the recently opened National Center for Civil and Human Rights. 7th Terrace, Herman J. Russell, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who turned a small plastering firm into one of the nations most successful African-American-owned real estate development and construction companies, died Saturday. 'The firm he built continues to shape what this city will look like for decades to come'. Man, overflow was overflowed, said one attendee, to which another replied, I can believe it, he was a pioneer.. 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. Noel Khalil, who also was a proteg, told the story of how Russell hired him. 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. He used the n-word and asked, Why cant you shine shoes on your front porch? Thats when I was reborn.. HJ helped build Atlanta. Jordan, who the sounding board for presidents and power brokers, said Russell had other talents. 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. 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. In 1999 Russell pledged $4 million to expand educational programs in entrepreneurship at Clark Atlanta University,Georgia State University andMorehouse College,as well as at his alma mater Tuskegee University. The Great Depression was a challenging time for most Americans, but particularly for a young African-American boy who was born in 1930 in the segregated South. This was also the year that Herman founded H. J. Russell Plastering Company in Atlanta, whichwould later become H. J. Russell & Company. 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. Russell Construction Co. 1963: Becomes first African-American member of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. The world is immeasurably better because of Herman J. Russell, said Atlanta City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell 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. ATLANTA, GA (NNPA) Herman J. Russell, the native Atlantan born in 1931 from humble beginnings in the Summerhill community who ultimately grew to become founder of the nations 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. He was not just an example of self-made success, but a demonstration of a life well lived. Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 He taught us that the greatest love we could show our children was to love our spouses.. I also had a stuttering problem at that time. 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. His father was a plasterer from whom he learned the trade starting at the age of twelve. He also made money available for bail bonds during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, and was a heavy donor to King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Young said. Egbert Perry viewed Russell as his second father. Returning to Atlanta, he worked alongside his father. 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. If you lose any money, its your ass. At that time, the construction company had revenues of $12 million a year. I loved him and he will be missed.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. His role model was his father who owned his own plastering business. 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.

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