"There is no way to overstate what Willard Hackerman has meant to Whiting-Turner," said Tim Regan, who was named the firm's third president Monday. "He always played down his own contributions and gave all of the credit to Mr. Whiting and to our employees. He is universally and unconditionally loved by everyone in the company. Thanks to Mr. Hackerman's vision and foresight, his beloved Whiting-Turner will be strong and independent for generations to come."