James C. “Jim” Maxwell, who led innovation in deep foundation construction while growing a family-owned contracting firm into an industry leader in the northeastern US, died July 25 after battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, for about five years. . He was 76 years old.
Maxwell was chairman of the Hub Foundation Co. Inc., based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. His father, Francis, founded the pile assembly contractor in 1966, and took over in 1981, leading the company’s growth from 10 full-time employees to 120 today.
A key part of this growth was Hub’s early adoption of drilling. After visiting Italy to learn about the rigs and see them in action, Maxwell ordered a Soilmec R-10, which was the first European drilling rig sold in the US.
“It was something completely new,” says the company’s project manager Tony Barila, who met Maxwell while working for another foundation contractor and joined the Hub Foundation in 2010. “He nailed it “.
The company continued to expand its offerings under Maxwell, adding micropiles, moorings and slurry wall expertise and testing its high-capacity micropile design to more than 1,600 tons, a capacity typically reserved for drilled shafts.
The Hub Foundation has completed more than 1,500 contracts, contributing to high-profile projects including the Boston Big Dig, Logan International Airport Light Pier and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line Extension.
Maxwell’s teammates and competitors remember his positive attitude and kindness. Barila says Maxwell would donate company resources for research projects. He recalls a time when another contractor who had outbid the company for a project was struggling with the job. Maxwell offered to let this company use whatever it needed from the Hub Foundation’s equipment yard.
“I couldn’t believe how generous he was, even with our fiercest competitors,” says Barila.
One such competitor was consultant John Roma, who says Maxwell helped him several times with machinery and sometimes with added staff.
“We were competitive ‘enemies’ for so long that we went around becoming good friends,” Roma says.
Maxwell’s depth in the industry led him to volunteer with the Drilled Shaft Contractors Association, teaching at its anchored earth retention school and serving as a trustee of its industry promotion fund, which awards scholarships to engineering students interested in the deep foundation industry. He was also active in the New England Marine Contractors Association and Foundation.
For his contributions to the industry, Maxwell was named by the Drilled Shaft Contractors Group as the Northeast Chapter’s Living Legend Award winner, and was cited earlier this year for outstanding achievement in construction for part of The Moles, a group of heavy industry professionals.
“He had more wisdom and knowledge than many people in the business, and I always respected him for that,” Roma says.
The Hub Foundation is now run by Maxwell’s children. Daughter Alizza Weiss is president of the company, with sons Jeff Maxwell and Greg Maxwell as treasurer and vice president, respectively.
“One thing I remember him saying was that he told his children, ‘The family business can be your greatest strength or your greatest weakness,'” Roma says. Speaking at The Moles awards dinner in February, Jeff Maxwell, delivering remarks on behalf of his father, said in reading the words of Jim Maxwell: “You overcome this responsibility with communication and trust, understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses and giving space to the other. grow up.”
While ALS paralyzed his muscles, Maxwell wrote that it did not slow his mind. “I find joy in life by reminiscing about my past adventures in this industry,” he said.
