The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) says Derrick Huggins, interim CEO and executive director, died unexpectedly on the morning of Oct. 6; he was 56 years old. LeRoy DesChamps, chief operating officer will assume oversight of the organization as the Board of Directors makes plans for the future.
Huggins was a long-time member of The COMET Board of Directors and spent a large portion of his more than 30-year career with the University of South Carolina leading the logistics and transportation program as vice president of facilities and transportation. He was appointed interim CEO and executive director of The COMET in November 2021.
At the time of his appointment as interim CEO and executive director, Huggins said, “Public transportation has always been a connector which provides access in the community.”
In a statement on Huggins’ death, The COMET called Huggins “a multi-faceted transportation and community leader [who] displayed talent, ingenuity and commitment to everything he touched.”
“The COMET board of directors extends our condolences and sympathy to the family of Derrick Huggins. We are saddened at this very unexpected loss, as so many of us just had conversations with him in recent days and were making future plans together. Derrick was not only the CEO of the COMET. He had been a Board member and Board Chair, and we all knew him not only professionally but also personally. He will be missed.” said Board Chair Allison Terracio.
Service information is available through Bostick Tompkins Funeral Home.
