Launching his entrepreneurship journey at the age of 12, H.J. Russell later founded H.J. Russell & Company in 1952, becoming one of the largest Minority Business Enterprises in America. From real estate development, airport concessions to construction and project management, the Russell family has been key to Atlanta’s growth. We are honored to uphold the legacy of H.J. Russell by helping Black businesses grow and thrive.
“I developed four rules for success in business: Be honest, work hard, equip yourself for the job, and control the growth of your company”
– Herman J. Russell
Herman J.
Russell
Herman J. Russell, the founder of Atlanta-based H. J. Russell & Company and Concessions International, LLC, is known for helping build the Atlanta skyline as we see it today and for shaping the airport dining experience.
Born in 1930 in the segregated South, Russell wanted to own real estate and be his own employer from the age of 8. His father was a business owner, and the younger Russell absorbed an entrepreneurial spirit that would sustain him throughout his life. He was known for his warmth and his ability to build relationships and foster trust among white and Black Atlantans alike. As a lasting legacy to Herman J. Russell, RICE is designed to encourage and support generations of entrepreneurs, especially Black entrepreneurs. As his son and namesake, H. Jerome Russell, Jr., puts it: “We want current and aspiring entrepreneurs to come to RICE to reach their potential. This film will help our members understand the foundation on which RICE is built.”
“Building Atlanta: The Story of Herman J. Russell” was produced, written, edited, and directed in coordination with the Russell family by Emmy Award-winning father and son co-directors, David and John Duke of Living Stories Film & Video.
Honoring the
Legacy of The
Russell Family
Launching his entrepreneurship journey at the age of 12, H.J. Russell later founded H.J. Russell & Company in 1952, becoming one of the largest Minority Business Enterprises in America.
From real estate development, airport concessions to construction and project management, the Russell family has been key to Atlanta’s growth.
“Entrepreneurship helped my dreams come true. I want the same for other young people looking to make good lives for themselves… I’m a lifetime believer that for America to continue being great and provide enough jobs for its people, the only path is fostering a national entrepreneurial spirit.”
– Herman J. Russell, Sr.