COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS For nearly 50 years, Michael Richmond worked and lived in The Woodlands, building it from the ground up alongside founders such as George Mitchell, Roger Galatas and Robert Heineman. Richmond’s work on a master- planned community in Maryland caught the eye of George Mitchell in 1972. 1972 Richmond became controller of The Woodlands Development Corp. at the age of 24. Major projects in his tenure included The Woodlands Mall, which opened in 1994. 1994 Richmond retired from The Woodlands Operating Co. after 30 years in 2022. 2022
“MICHAEL WAS A VISIONARY LEADER WHO PUSHED EVERYONE TO THINK BIG,” DEBBIE SUKIN, REGIONAL SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR HOUSTON METHODIST
Michael Richmond and his wife, Vicki Calvert Richmond, were present at the designation of the St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands lobby in 2013. (Courtesy St. Luke’s Hospital-The Woodlands) Michael Richmond Community leader, early developer in The Woodlands dies at 74 PEOPLE
M ichael Richmond, a in his home Dec. 5, eight years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, according to a statement from his family. Community leaders recognized him as one of the rst 100 residents of The Woodlands as well as for his contribution to its development. Richmond, originally from Maryland, was recruited by George Mitchell to help develop The Woodlands in 1972. Over the next 30 years, Richmond worked on proj- ects such as The Woodlands Mall, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, and the Town Center Improvement District. Richmond’s work in The Wood- lands also earned him the Legacy Award from The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 30. The award highlights longtime former CEO of The Wood- lands Operating Co., died BY JESSICA SHORTEN
community members who have contributed signi cantly to The Woodlands area and its growth and vision, according to the chamber. He was also nominated as a Home- town Hero by Interfaith of The Woodlands in 2002. “We just can’t say enough about what these men did in founding The Woodlands because it was an experiment that they didn’t know if it would work out, and it has just been wildly successful,” said J.J. Hollie, president of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. The Town Center Improvement District set the course for the governmental structure of The Woodlands. Richmond worked with several development companies over the years, including developers The Howard Hughes Corp. Jim Carman, Howard Hughes’ Houston region president, said Richmond’s vision helped form the community. “Michael Richmond has been a
pillar in our community since the inception of The Woodlands,” Car- man said. “He was instrumental in founding and helping to make The Woodlands one of the most success- ful master-planned communities in the nation.” After Richmond retired from The Woodlands Operating Co. in 2002, he went on to serve as director and vice chair of Woodforest National Bank until 2016. Richmond was also recognized for his work with local hospitals, such as St. Luke’s-The Woodlands and Houston Methodist-The Wood- lands. St. Luke’s held a ceremony in 2013 naming the main lobby after Richmond for his help drafting the master plan for the campus as well as serving as chair of its board of directors until 2015. “Michael was a visionary leader who pushed everyone to think big,” said Debbie Sukin, regional senior vice president and CEO for Houston Methodist.
SOURCE: RICHMOND FAMILY COMMUNITY IMPACT
George Mitchell recruited Michael Richmond to help build The Woodlands.
COURTESY RICHMOND FAMILY
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION • JANUARY 2023
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