No excuses, only results. That's the mantra Thomas Feeney Jr. lived out during his 33 years as head of the Minnesota office for the federal Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD).
Feeney was appointed to the position in 1971 and his ability to work with trade associations, mortgage bankers, the Urban League, real estate developers and city officials, along with his vast knowledge in the field of public housing and community development, gained him respect on a local and national level.
"Tom was the finest area director in the HUD system, the dean of federal civil servants," said former St. Paul Mayor George Latimer. Feeney was frequently called to Washington, D.C., for his wisdom, and "he carried authority and knowledge with more grace than any public official in my memory."
Feeney died from congestive heart failure and Parkinson's disease last Thursday at his home in St. Paul. He was 85.
Born in Minneapolis, Feeney grew up in Fargo, N.D. In 1943, he completed officer candidate training and became a second lieutenant in the Army Medical Administrative Corps, said his wife, Lyn Burton, of St. Paul.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in economics in 1950, Feeney worked for 17 years in several capacities at Maplewood-based 3M. In 1967, he was appointed commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development. He held that position until he took on his role with HUD.
At HUD, Feeney earned a reputation as a visionary who was committed to social justice. He had a hand in many urban renewal projects, including riverfront development in downtown St. Paul, the Cedar-Riverside apartments and Bandana Square, his wife said.
Feeney developed a strong staff that helped people take advantage of HUD resources and programs, said Jim Solem, head of the Minnesota State Housing Finance Agency.
