Two years later, Jerome donated one of his kidneys to his brother. He was one of the reasons that Atlanta is the great http://t.co/xCQp0HVmsL I cant express how much we will miss him., Hermans spirit permeated the community. Atlanta-Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman, John Eaves stated, It is with great regret and immense sadness that Ive learned of the passing of an Atlanta icon: Herman J. Russell. He used the n-word and asked, Why cant you shine shoes on your front porch? Thats when I was reborn.. He was one of thirteen children born to Michael and Florence (Brungardt) Gerhardt. Few men have done more to make Atlanta a place where people of all races and backgrounds can bring and build their dreams.". My father taught me how to love, Jerome said. I cant express how much we will miss him.. He, along with Atlanta University student leaders Julian Bond, Charlayne (Hunter) Gault, Charles Black, Lonnie King, Jr., Johnny Parham, Marian Wright and local businessman Jesse Hill, Jr., Dr. Clinton E. Warner, Gladys Powell, Hilda Wilson and others, Russell founded, in 1960, The Atlanta Inquirer, a member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) the Black Press of America during the height of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.-led Civil Rights Movement. The city rejoiced and many Atlanta businesses, including H. J. Russell & Company, went to work getting ready for the international event. Later while in college, he and friends build a duplex there. When he saw his father on Tuesday and told him that his youngest child would be turning 50 in a few months, Russell was proud. Herman J. Russell. Russell almost immediately expanded the family business, taking onlarger projects that ranged from home building to real estate investment. Herman Russell was a remarkable gentleman and I greatly appreciate the work he did in District 10. Real Times Media. However, the nation has lost a genuine and sincere chaplain of the common, First N.C. State Supreme Court Justice honored, Is this the time to stand up and fight back? Photo credit: Courtesy Herman J. Russell family. He remembered that when he was 5 years old, his father couldnt find work. Atlanta construction executive Herman Russell is a civic leader and philanthropist whose construction company ranks as the fourth largest in the U.S. THE DIGITAL REPOSITORY FOR THE BLACK EXPERIENCE. Column: Five Georgia nonprofits rank among nations top 25, Georgia State gets transformational $22.8 million Woodruff Foundation gift. Maria was born in Atlanta to European parents and has two youngadult children. He was elated and proud of the fact that he was able to share his legacy with others and, most importantly, his grandchildren. "As humble as he was, I think he would be thrilled that a movie about his life would air on Delta. Russell & Company's portfolio is massive. 'The firm he built continues to shape what this city will look like for decades to come'. Russell used the profits from his shoeshine business to buy a vacant lot, and then built a residential duplex, all while he was still a teenager. Dar'shun Kendrick (@DarshunKendrick) November 15, 2014, The country has lost a GIANT, Herman J. Russell. Mr. Rev. Business and civil rights icon Herman J. Russell Sr. was celebrated Saturday not with tears of pain, but through laughter and demonstrations of love for a man whose funeral was closed with the song My Way.. He was willing to sacrifice for the good of the community, Lowery said. Russell had picked up the penny. The program described his achievements as an entrepreneur, his love of family and of friends. 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. Russell did. Everything in his world was designed to be an obstacle.. Russell was alreadymillionaire builder before the civil rights movement led by Dr. Kinghijacked American consciousness. He was not just an example of self-made success, but a demonstration of a life well lived. It melted my heart.. He released his autobiography, Building Atlanta: How I Broke Through Segregation to Launch a Business Empire, last April. 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. Their other films include Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr.: A Different Road, The Wise Heart: The Story of Emory University, One Law for All: The Story of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, and The Story of Hope and Will: Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta. For more about Living Stories, visit livingstories.tv. Andrew Young (@AmbAndrewYoung) November 15, 2014, Today, we lost one of the founding fathers of modern Atl in Mr. H.J. Russell was a tower of strength who used his sharp mind and business know-how to become a major player in Atlantas business community. cry. 2023 The HistoryMakers. By building one of our nations most successful minority-owned companies, his legacy is a shining example for small business owners with big dreams. He was a great citizen, a great business man and a brother. Returning to Atlanta after college, he worked . 1969: Is awarded the contract for the Citizens Trust Bank Building. David Hughes Duke and John Duke of Living Stories Video & Film are Emmy Award-winning filmmakers and natives of Atlanta. (Left)Michael B. Russell& Jerome Russell(Right). H.J. "His life inspires us to continue to strive to help others and be the best we can be.. I will always remember with fondness the times that I spent in his family home playing with his children. Do not speak all day. We are excited to have, for the first time in our filmmaking history, a film that Delta customers will get to see and learn about the amazing life and legacy of Herman J. Russell, one of Atlantas most prolific business leaders who truly helped inspire and shape not only Atlantas skyline, but also helped integrate a multicultural, partnering workforce in our hometown.. Details about his funeral arrangements are pending. I gave a gift of life., Jerome said the last time he saw his father at the Rollins Pavilion at Emory Hospital, he gave me the biggest smile and a hand wave. Hermans spirit permeated the community. 1952: Establishes H.J. He didnt treat us any different than anybody else, Major said. Russell told him it was getting up in the morning and going to work. Hala Moddelmog (@HalaModdelmog) November 16, 2014, Thoughts & prayers go out to the Russell family. He bought his first piece of land at 16 years old," Michael B. Russell said about his father. 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. Perry said you judge a generation by the generation that follows it. HJ helped build Atlanta. He was an unforgettable philanthropist, a wise corporate citizen, a shrewd businessman and my dear friend. Where are todays Muhammad Ali-like athletes? Along the way, he broke virtually every racial and economic barrier. During this time, the company reported annual sales estimated at $150 million, with project offices in several cities from Miami, Florida, to New York City. As Atlanta natives, we pride ourselves on telling stories of some of the most consequential figures in our citys and states history through film, and it was particularly rewarding to be able to create a documentary about an Atlanta icon who quietly and fearlessly did so much to help create the Atlanta we know today, said co-director, David Duke of Living Stories Film & Video. 1938: Starts first business shining shoes. Lee May (@LeeMay) November 15, 2014. His grandfather caught up with him, gave him a stern look and Russell Jr. knew he was in trouble. The lawyers drew up a joint-venture agreement that was about two inches thick. Michael Russell continues to run his father's company, along with his two siblings, Jerome and Donata. He bought his first parcel of land for $125 at age sixteen, later building a duplex on the property. I loved him and he will be missed.. But instead of naming his elder son and namesake as CEO as expected, he chose his youngest son, Michael. 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. He built movements.. Herman J Russell built one of the country's leading black owned construction, real estate and concessions empires. When history was being made in Atlanta, chances were Russell was present. You will remember his hugs, his wisdom. And we have cried together.. 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. 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. To this day, the company remains a leader in building and managing affordable housing to citizens in the southeast. Construction Executive, Favorite Vacation Spot: New Zealand, Europe. Perry joked about the time he and a colleague dropped a penny in the toilet of Russells private bathroom just to see if the business tycoon would fish it out. 1987: Constructs Wachovia Bank operations center in North Carolina. No one could understand him, but everybody liked him, Jordan said. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. There was a campaign for class president and vice president, and Herman Russell was talking at an outdoor assembly. Senator Vincent Fort (@Senatorfort) November 15, 2014, R. I.P. Throughout the decades of enormous success, Mr. Russell continued to give back to the community that nurtured his business pursuits. Herman Russell had a major impact on many of. We are saying good-bye to the physical aspect of a person but I know the person is still alive. Mr. Russell will be sorely missed by many, but he leaves behind an exceptional legacy of community concern and corporate social responsibility that will be continued through the outstanding work of his children.. You can not bury Hermans laughter in that casket, Young said. She spoke of how faith was so important to her father. He had a good mind and sharp pencil., Andrew Young, former Atlanta Mayor and ambassador to the United Nations, He is one of the best men our city has ever produced. Maria Saporta,Editor,is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. Martin. We will celebrate his life and learn from his example. Today, the company is at number 25 on the BE Top 100 list. The couple eventually had three children: Donata, H. Jerome, and Michael. H. [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. 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,. Russell also told him that he wanted Vernon Jordan to speak at his service. Former Mayor Shirley Franklin in an interview several years ago called Russell a superb example of the American dream.. Russell & Co. in 1979, Russell asked Perry to do a growth plan for the company, which took him six months to complete. King, chief executive officer of The King Center, stated, It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the King Center acknowledges the passing of one of Atlantas extraordinary civic leaders and entrepreneurs, Mr. Herman J. Russell. The . Staff writers Katie Leslie and Eric Stirgus contributed to this report. But it wasn't until 2015 that the three. 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. We should pray to have even a fraction of the impact he had on the lives of others! Since Ive seen so much hard times coming up as a young person, I could never walk away from improving peoples lives, Russell said. He was working for a residential developer at the time. 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. 1930: Born in Atlanta on Dec. 23, 1930. He and his wife, Otelia, lived in midtown Atlanta. 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. Sources: H.J. There was nobody I met in life cheaper than H.J., said Perry, who was overcome with emotion throughout and after the service. He is one of the best men our city has ever produced, said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. He gave us just enough to keep us hungry but without starving us, said Jerome, who said he followed in his fathers footsteps when he donated his kidney to his brother Michael. With the skills his father taught him, he, with the help of friends, built a duplex on a vacant lot he had saved up to purchase. 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. His brilliance is reflected across Atlantas skyline and throughout communities across the country. Speaking to the children, Young said they will always hear their father speaking to them, sharing advice and demanding excellence. 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. Herman J. Gerhardt, Sr., 83, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2019, at Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell. Perry lost the bet believing Russell wouldnt dig in the commode for simply a penny. 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. They picked Herman first, and then we were brought in. Egbert Perry viewed Russell as his second father. 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 [] The film includes interviews with notable people from Atlanta who knew Russell and . The trust, confidence, and lasting friendships he established enabled a new generation of Black entrepreneurs to move into the mainstream. 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. He was a powerbroker who helped transform not just the skyline of one of the countrys greatest cities; he helped redeem the soul of America. I want to think the Russell children for sharing your father with me, Khalil said. Bernice A. He used his savings to help pay his tuition at Tuskegee University. Continue to construct great buildings in heaven. On your next Delta Air Lines flight, if equipped with seatback in-flight entertainment, youll have the opportunity to view Building Atlanta: The Story of Herman J. Russell, a documentary film about the inspiring life and legacy of Atlanta businessman and founder of one of the countrys largest Black-owned commercial real estate development and construction firms, H. J. Russell & Company. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He was the real deal, Perry said recalling when he went to work for the company when he was in his mid 20s. Giving the benediction was another longtime friend and associate Andrew Young a civil rights leader and former Atlanta mayor. 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. "He was quite an entrepreneur, I always say. Like Atlanta, he started off with a little shoe shine stand, now his company is a major influence in everything happening in the city. Russell said his modest beginnings had a lasting impact. I got nervous in front of all the white aldermen. We met Mr. Russell when we interviewed him for our documentary on former City of Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen, said John Duke. In December 2009 Russells family donated $1 million to expand a new facility of Childrens Healthcare of Atlantaat Hughes Spalding. I want to tell you how lucky I was that Herman was in my life, Holder said. He also said there was no entitlement in the Russell household. Funeral arrangements were not immediately known. 1989: Constructs Grady High School addition. Several of his grandchildren participated in the service. They came from all walks of life, with sections of the behemoth church set aside for employees of H.J. He inspired many with words of wisdom, and assisted financially local and national political leaders, and office seekers. Herman J. Russell. In addition, his company continues to manage concessions at several American airports, including services at Hartsfield-Jackson. 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. Their relationship grew into a real partnership, beginning with the building of the new Hartsfield International Airport (now Hartsfield-Jackson). Tweet from DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May, @LeeMay. Later while in college, he and friends build a . "The firm he built continues to shape what this city will look like for decades to come.". He is one of the heroes of Atlantas story, a real life legend to now aspire to. Atlanta City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Atlanta has lost a socially conscious native son. Russell & Company in 2003, at which point his son, Michael, succeeded him in running the 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. What do the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Georgia Dome, Turner Field, Phillips Arena, the downtown Atlanta skyline, the administration of the iconic Mayor Maynard Jackson and the Civil Rights Movement all have in common? He saved up enough rental income from that duplex to pay for his college education at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama where he earned his degree in building construction in 1952 and worked as a subcontractor with his brother Roger Russell assisting. Perry then asked for a job description. 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. 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. Hundreds packed Saint Philip AME Church on Candler Road in east Atlanta to say goodbye to Russell, who died Nov. 15 at age 83. He was a great citizen, a great business man and a brother. Im always confused on occasions like this, Young said. Go run the company, Russell told him. Herman had to make a speech, Jordan said, and his speech impediment made Russell difficult to understand. Herman "Russ" Russell III said his grandfather urged them all to "stay focused" and "be upbeat." Once he asked his elder what made. Andrew Young, former Atlanta mayor and U.N. ambassador, on Saturday called Russell one of the giants of our time. Go back inside and find something to do, Russell Jr. said his grandfather ordered. But he was sharp as a tack.. 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. Here is a 60-second trailer of the film. When will I get my Georgia tax rebate for 2023? J. Russell was a man of means but his conscience and his values were always greater than his wealth, Jesse Jackson, Sr. remarked last weekend via Twitter. Russell is also survived by his wife, Sylvia, two stepsons, and eight grandchildren. The letter said. 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. Herman J. Russell (l) at a book party with Mayor Kasim Reed. He didnt just build buildings. Once, when he was working for the elder Russell, he had finished his work and was in the parking lot getting ready to leave. Russell, the youngest of eight children, grew up in the Summerhill district, near Turner Field. [8], Herman J. Russell died on November 15, 2014, at the age of 83, in Atlanta Georgia and was buried at South-View Cemetery. I am at peace.. There was just no way to go to work at a very early age.. "H.J. Herman Jerome was put in charge of the companys development arm. His father was a plasterer from whom he learned the trade starting at the age of twelve. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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