The Mungo family celebrated 60 years in the home building business at a black-tie gala March 21 at the Columbia Museum of Art. The company was founded by Michael J. Mungo and is still family owned and operated by his sons, Stewart and Steven Mungo. They are honoring his legacy with the Michael J. Mungo Foundation. Pictured are (l-r) Maria and Steven Mungo and Stewart and Deloris Mungo.
The Mungo family is pleased to announce 60 years in the home building business. Still family owned and operated by brothers Stewart and Steven Mungo, the company was founded in 1954 by their late father, the entrepreneurial and benevolent Michael J. Mungo.
At a black tie gala at the Columbia Museum of Art March 21 celebrating the anniversary, the family honored the legacy of the late Mr. Mungo by announcing the mission of the Michael J. Mungo Foundation. Throughout his life, Mr. Mungo generously— and very quietly— donated likely more than any single, local citizen to help the less fortunate. Upon his death, he left his entire estate to his foundation to continue his mission of helping the working poor and those in need. He strongly believed in reinvesting the money he made back into the community from which it came.
Under the direction of Beth DeRidder, the Michael J. Mungo Foundation is projected to donate approximately one million dollars annually to Midlands’ charitable organizations. At this time, tax exempt organizations must be invited to make an application, as the foundation does not have the staff to receive unsolicited grant requests.
Michael J. Mungo, founder of Mungo Homes
About Mungo Homes
How it all began …
Michael J. Mungo was a sheet rock installer working his way through multiple academic degrees at the University of South Carolina when he founded his own company in 1954 and pioneered land development as a viable profession. Since 1954 the company has grown to not only the largest residential developer in South Carolina but also to one of the nation’s leading home building operations.
Michael Mungo brought development and construction innovation to the Midlands by building the first neighborhood outside the municipality to have water and sewer, rolled concrete curbs and gutters, and uniform street lighting. He included amenities such as swimming pools and tennis courts in his neighborhoods. The company was the first in the area to initiate restrictive covenants in its communities, and set a standard for built-in garages in homes of all price ranges.
Son Stewart joined the family business in 1974 after graduating from Wofford College with a degree in government. When an unexpected transfer of power was prompted by Michael Mungo’s heart attack in 1978, Stewart was trained and in place to take over as president.
Although younger brother Steven, an international politics major at Wofford College, initially had no intention of joining the family business, he did just that after graduating in the early ’80s. By the time Steven joined the company, the home construction operation had wound down. Because Steven, like his brother, had been trained to build houses, the job of expanding that operation was handed to him, while Stewart continued to run land development.
Where its is today …
Mungo Homes enjoys a track record of success built by a dedicated staff, with the capability to get the job done and done well. With quality construction and excellent value coupled with a thorough mix of floor plans, options, and amenities, more than 15,000 homes carry the Mungo legacy.
Mungo Homes is one of the Southeast’s most award-winning builders: Mungo Homes was named America’s Best Builder 2012 by Builder magazine—an award for overall excellence in homebuilding based on finance/operations, design/construction, customer service/quality, community/industry service and marketing. In 2012, Mungo was recognized by the National Association of Homebuilders as the National Green Advocate of the Year for its unique hauSmart program, their innovative energy-efficiency program. The company was also recognized as the winner of the 2008 National Housing Quality Award and is the only South Carolina-based builder ever honored with this prestigious award.
In addition, there are literally hundreds of honors for design, construction, sales, merchandising, and marketing that have been awarded locally to Mungo over the years.
Still family owned …
With the third generation now involved in the day to day operation of the company, Mungo Homes was recently ranked the 37th largest builder in the country by Bui lder magazine, and builds new homes in eight markets in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Later this spring, our expansion takes us to Huntsville, Alabama.
Stewart and Steven Mungo are both members of the South Carolina Housing Hall of Fame and have received numerous award and recognitions from both local and state Home Builders Associations, having served on the board of directors of both, including the office of president.
Along with success comes responsibility. Stewart and Steven Mungo recognize their role as community leaders and are honored to participate on many civic boards and philanthropic committees. In addition, the Mungo family believes in giving back to the very community that has been responsible for their success and supports organizations such as the National Kidney Foundation, Harvest Hope Food Bank, the Columbia Free Medical Clinic, Pawmetto Lifeline Animal Shelter, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Oliver Gospel Mission, Habitat for Humanity, just to name a few.
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