Page 7 - Middletown Magazine Issue 3 Autumn 2023

He still stayed in coaching until exquisite communicative abili-
1983 when appointed President ties and organizational vision is
of the Middlesex County Cham- further evidenced by governing
ber of Commerce. With the board membership on such or-
same flare and the morning-to- ganizations as the Lyman Farm
night work ethic with which he Board, Connecticut Valley Hos-
built the Xavier football dynasty, pital, Goodspeed Opera House,
Larry McHugh grew the Cham- Liberty Bank, Middlesex Health,
ber from 282 members to 1,989 and the State of Connecticut
members, garnering the atten- Tourism Commission.
tion of governors and business
leaders all over Connecticut. Certainly, of insufficient recogni-
tion for all Lawrence D. McHugh
Under McHugh’s leadership has accomplished in his lifetime
from 1983 to the present, The are awards from the American
Middlesex County Chamber Legion, Junior Achievement,
of Commerce has been the re- Addressing the crowd at the dedication ceremony for Larry McHugh the Kennedy Foundation Special
cipient of numerous state and Field at Xavier High School Olympics International, Rotary
national awards, including the International, Southern Con-
President’s White House Cita- John Rowland and reappointed under three necticut State University, and the
tion for Private Sector Initiatives, The LIFT other governors to the Board of Trustees for Connecticut Association of Public School
America Award from the United States De- the Connecticut State University System, the Superintendents.
partment of Labor, the 1998 NAACP Award largest public higher education system in
for Community Development and the U.S. Connecticut and the second largest in New Nary, an organza ribbon or fancy wrapping
Small Business Administration National England. paper could enhance the munificence of the
“Model of Excellence” Award. gift of Larry McHugh. He remains the per-
As a further attestation of Larry McHugh’s sonification of collaboration and leadership.
With all of the demands of the Chamber, indispensable leadership prowess, in 2009, He exudes kindness and empathy in the se-
and his enormous success leading that orga- he was appointed Chairman of the Board of renity of a shared contemplative moment. In
nization, Larry McHugh made himself avail- Trustees for the University of Connecticut the rancor of challenge in the board room,
able for several other concurrent positions by Governor M. Jodi Rell and reappointed Larry McHugh knows only one direction,
for state service. He served as President of by Governor Malloy from 2012 to 2017. forward. The dichotomy of touch and tenor
the Connecticut Association of Chamber of that is pure leadership is Lawrence McHugh
Commerce Executives. He was appointed The magnitude of McHugh’s giving heart … OUR GIFT.
Chairman of the CSU in 1995 by Governor and incomparable leadership features his

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