Larry Huggins Explained

Larry Huggins (born c. February 1950)[1] is the president and chief executive officer of Riteway-Huggins Construction Services (formerly Riteway Construction Services Inc.)[2] He is the former board chairman of the Chicago-area commuter rail service Metra.

Career

Huggins recovered from bankruptcy in the 1970s via affirmative action for Chicago contractors.[3] He is also and alumnus and the former principal of Englewood Technical Prep Academy.[4] [5] Huggins is among the contractors who built AT&T Corporate Center (now known as Franklin Center).[6] He served as vice president of Black Contractors United in the mid-1990s.[7] [8] Huggins is the founder of the annual Chicago Football Classic college football game played at Soldier Field between two historically black colleges and universities.[9] He was appointed to the board of directors of Metra by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1997 and became acting chairman in April 2011.[10] The board was supposed to select a permanent chairman from within its ranks by July 2011, but Huggins felt the chairmanship was a Republican position and withdrew himself from consideration.[11] Huggins served as acting chairman until November 2, 2012 when he was replaced by Brad O'Halloran.[12] Huggins resigned from the board in August 2013 days after O'Halloran resigned.[13] Huggins' resignation came after conversations with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel about a patronage scandal.[14]

His company has been involved in construction at O'Hare International Airport and McCormick Place,[15] including the $115 million no-bid contract to manage the airport's people-mover system.[16] Riteway Construction Services Inc. was the general contractor for Cook County Hospital.[17] His company's role with the County Hospital was controversial when Riteway missed filing its 1997 corporate annual report, leading the Illinois Secretary of State to dissolve the company on January 2, 1998 just prior to the spring 1998 groundbreaking for the $551 million, 464-bed hospital that was four years in the making.[18]

Personal

Huggins spent part of his youth in Atlanta and part of it in the Englewood community area of Chicago.[19] [20] His sister, Phyllis, died in 1992.[21]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Kup's Column. February 6, 2000. Chicago Sun-Times. Kupcinet, Irv. 12.
  2. Web site: Metra delays rail contract as congressmen blast minority role: They demand agency rebid $141 million project. August 3, 2012. May 4, 2012. Chicago Tribune. Wronski, Richard.
  3. News: What they don't tell you about affirmative action. August 1995. Ebony. Chappell, Kevin. 46. 50. 10.
  4. News: Kids thrill to Twista as principal for a day: Choir Academy 'just blew me away,' rap star says. October 28, 2005. Chicago Sun-Times. Ihejirika, Maudlyne. 14.
  5. Web site: White Sox, Cubs to unveil new statues. August 4, 2012. March 13, 2008. Chicago Tribune. Mitchell, Fred.
  6. Web site: MacArthur Foundation exec built her career from a mix of public, private experience and dashes of chance, risk. https://archive.today/20130127191737/http://www.latimes.com/business/chi-macarthur-foundation-exec-built-her-career-from-a-mix-of-public-private-experience-and-dashes-of-chance-risk-20120613,0,1917921.story?page=2. dead. January 27, 2013. August 3, 2012. February 20, 2012. Los Angeles Times. Bergen, Kathy.
  7. Web site: 2 Chicago Companies To Oversee United Center Convention Project. May 23, 1996. Chicago Tribune. Franklin. Stephen.
  8. Web site: Chicago Clean Energy Project Will Have Significant Economic Impact on Illinois. August 3, 2012. July 24, 2012. The New York Times.
  9. News: Football classic's field of dreams. August 31, 2006. Chicago Sun-Times. Jackson, Cheryl V.. 49.
  10. Web site: Who's who on Metra board: 11 members who OK'd fare hike are political appointees. August 3, 2012. January 3, 2012. Chicago Tribune. Wronski, Richard.
  11. Web site: Soaring fuel costs vex Metra officials: Diesel prices threaten to cause $19 million overrun. August 4, 2012. May 13, 2011. Chicago Tribune. Wronski, Richard.
  12. Web site: Orland Park trustee named new Metra chairman. May 17, 2014. November 2, 2012. Chicago Tribune. Wronski, Richard.
  13. Web site: Metra deals with leadership vacuum. May 17, 2014. August 3, 2013. Chicago Tribune. Wronski, Richard, Michelle Manchir and Stacy St. Clair.
  14. Web site: Emanuel pushes Larry Huggins off Metra Board. May 17, 2014. August 3, 2013. Chicago Sun-Times. Spielman, Fran.
  15. News: Daley Slams Demonstrators. December 15, 1994. Chicago Sun-Times. Spielman, Fran. 3.
  16. News: Contractor with Daley ties gets O'Hare deal. January 6, 2012. Chicago Sun-Times. Spielman, Fran. 8.
  17. News: Riteway Construction. February 12, 2001. Chicago Sun-Times. Knowles, Francine. 56.
  18. News: County Hospital bids OKd - 2 contractors will share pact for $301 million . February 10, 1998. Chicago Sun-Times. Brown, Mark. 3.
  19. News: Who doesn't have to work on MLK Day?: Survey: About 3 in 10 employers give day off. January 16, 2012. Chicago Tribune. Rhodes, Dawn.
  20. News: Lawmakers urge Metra to reject bridge contract. May 12, 2012. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Wronski, Richard.
  21. News: Kup's Column. July 31, 1992. Chicago Sun-Times. Kupcinet, Irv. 48.

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