Hugh Connolly, a longtime civic and business leader, died Sunday at his residence.
“He was a pillar of the community and a leader who inspired me and so many others,” said former Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver. “So, he has left a legacy downtown. He will be sorely sorely missed. And he was a good man. I’ve often said that to be a great man, you need to be a good man first. He was both.”
The Highland Park, Mich. native came to the Augusta area in 1950 when he was stationed at Fort Gordon while serving in the Army. He met and married his wife Nancy on Sept. 12, 1953 and made Augusta his home, according to his obituary.
His career path was varied. After his military service, he attended law school and graduated cum laude, joining the law firm of Cumming, Nixon, Eve, Waller & Capers.
In 1966, he became vice-president of Sherman & Hemstreet, Inc, a local real estate firm of which he would later become president and co-owner in 1973. He also served as vice-president at Georgia Railroad Bank and Trust Company and executive vice president of its parent company First Railroad & Banking Company of Georgia, his obituary said.
Not only was he involved in the business sector, but he was also heavily involved in community organizations. He led the creation of the Augusta Canal Authority and served on its board.
He also helped found and served as the first president of the non-profit Augusta Tomorrow Inc. It was organized in 1982 and was a joint venture between the City of Augusta and private business.
The partnership not only rehabilitated depressed and under-utilized buildings but succeeded in opening up Augusta’s riverfront for public use and recreation, the obituary said.
“He was a huge advocate,” Copenhaver said. “I focused on trying to get as much stuff downtown when I was in office, probably because guys like Hugh were the role model for me. But I just think he would want to see more.”
North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams expressed similar sentiments.
Williams said he was saddened to learn of Connolly’s passing. He noted Connelly was always supportive of North Augusta’s development.
Connolly was involved with many area non-profits and served on multiple boards including the Board of Directors for the Greater Augusta Arts Council and the Walter L. Shepeard Community Blood Center, Inc. He was president of Historic Augusta, Inc. and the Augusta Symphony League. He was a founding board member of the Senior Citizens Council of Augusta-Richmond County, a trustee of the Gertrude Herbert Memorial Institute of Art, and a member of the Downtown Development Authority for the City of Augusta and the Augusta Canal Authority. He took particular pride in participating in the planning and construction of the new Augusta Library in 2010, serving at one point as chair of the Architectural and Site Selection Committee, according to his obituary.
A visitation will be from 5 p.m.!to 7 p.m. Friday at 2225 Cumming Road.A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Summerville Cemetery.
