Back row (l-r): Mark Gompels, Nina Gompels, Patsy Tracy, Rick Winger. Front row (l-r): William and Matthew Gompels. On Monday, September 8, the Board of Directors of the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) held the Hugh Tracy Boulevard Dedication Ceremony to officially name the access road from Wayne Shackelford Boulevard to Hutchinson Island Road, and to the SEDA building.

The Authority unanimously voted at their June meeting to honor former SEDA Chairman and longstanding board member, Hugh Tracy, who passed away in February 2008 at the age of 71.

With Hugh's leadership as Chairman of the Board from 1989 to 1993, SEDA transformed the vision of Crossroads Business Center into a tangible reality, addressing the needs of existing business and making Savannah more attractive to companies seeking a place to operate and grow. Today, Crossroads Business Center is the home to 18 companies that collectively employ over 2,000 people.

SEDA couldn't have benefited more from the experience of a chairman like Hugh Tracy at a time when SEDA's challenges became increasingly real estate related. He'd had success with major business development projects in Atlanta and Savannah. And, that gave SEDA the advantage of a board that appreciated the need for developed real estate and a chairman who knew exactly how to create it.

Hugh was especially proud to have contributed to SEDA in its mission to stimulate economic growth in the region. He outstanding contributions would ultimately earn him a Lifetime Honorary Membership to the SEDA board of directors. Additionally, the Authority dedicated their 2007 annual report in Hugh's memory.

Hugh Tracy was born in Arkansas in 1937 into an Air Force family, living in several places before graduating from Wheelus High School in Tripoli, Libya. He went on to complete his B.S. in Building Construction at Georgia Institute of Technology and start a career in real estate development in the Atlanta area. In 1967, he began a 38-year career as a McDonald's franchisee when he joined Jaycee friends to operate several McDonald's in the Atlanta area. A lifetime of community service com- menced with his involvement in Boys and Girls Clubs there.

Hugh took the opportunity in 1975 to move to Savannah and further build out the market for McDonald's. This began a 32-year love affair with the city of Savannah as he raised his two children, Walt and Nina, alongside his wife, Patsy. An active member of the community, Tracy joined White Bluff Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder and led building programs to expand the sanctuary and education facilities. He was a member of Downtown Rotary adopting the "service above self" creed in all endeavors. Over the years, his community involvement included Council Chairman of the Coastal Empire Council for Boy Scouts of America and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Savannah Country Day School. Hugh led the effort to build the Ronald McDonald House in Savannah that opened in 1987.