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The Man Behind the Bridge - Matty Moroun Talks about Detroit, Business and Being Sentimental

Michigan Central Railroad, shown here in the 1930s, was established to connect Detroit with St. Joseph, Mich. Courtesy of the Walter Reuther Library, Wayne State University

After the Corp! photo session, Moroun gives a brief tour of his private office. Many of the walls are covered with photos, including Moroun with the Stanley Cup in 2008, while other black and white images date back to his father Thomas’ childhood. He proudly shows off a portrait of his son Matthew as a child sitting with Matty and Thomas, who died in 1991.

“Some don’t care that much about families, but I do. I’m very nostalgic.” Perhaps his strong affinity to two historic structures in his native Detroit keeps Moroun’s connection with his past and family vibrant. Whatever the case, it appears the Moroun family will continue to play a key role in Detroit and Michigan for many years to come.

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Recent Comments

Great positive story about a private and good man. Matty, thanks for being the epitome of some who "gives back" without expecting something.
Posted By: Gary Heitman on Friday, June 12, 2009 8:13:52 AM
Matty is a very interesting and self made man, this article made me realize he's a person just like you and I.
Posted By: Michael J. on Friday, June 12, 2009 2:18:41 PM
Up until reading this article i had read nothing but bad things about Matty Mouron. Now i think he is not half as bad as the media would have us think!But having said that he still could do a little more than he has to develop the Michigan Train Station. Let`s get a move on Matty!
Posted By: Dave Manning on Saturday, July 11, 2009 9:32:01 PM
im waiting for that new bridge. we need it and its a great idea. hope matty gets the train station restored too. it is a beautiful building.
Posted By: dennis james on Friday, July 24, 2009 4:45:08 AM
After reading the article, I most certainly appreciate and share Mr. Moroun's sentiments, as many do, regarding some of Michigan's incredible landmarks, or what is left of them. The train station is and was nothing short of phenomenal and seeing this structure in its current condition is beyond belief. Why would the city council have the green light to demolish this beacon of what's left of Detroit's history? This is pathetic. If Mr. Moroun owns this and has nostalgia for it, I am not comprehending this apparent conflict of interest, which seems to be coming from Mr. Moroun's own thinking. Now there are volunteer's at work as a result of the effort to stop the intended demolition, since thousands of concerned citizens (throughout the state) want to see this monument restored. I'm not sure why Mr. Moroun's expression of his affinity for this registered landmark, that he actually owns, isn't more apparent in his actions. Cost-cutting measures in Michigan are necessary, granted, but granting some money to save one of Michigan's most important buildings is imperative. Does Detroit continue to become the sad sack of the country? Why did Detroit get so used and abused by some of the most powerful and wealthiest people in the world? Sure, the government has to bail out GM but letting American history go down the drain is, of course, not as important to the government at this time or for the last decade. Where is the vision into the future? I always here "for our children" and I'm really not convinced that people care enough about what our children will long to see, as they do right now; living history. Hey, just ask many of our studious and curious young people what they think about the decline of our society. Our nation has lost so much history. How can we stand by and see something this important, in this day and age, just disappear? After volunteers give up their time, effort and hard earned money, is there any guarantee that this building will be sustained? Please, give us a hint Mr. Moroun. I live on the west coast of Michigan and cannot believe what I have learned about the state of, not only the other Detroit landmarks that are deteriorating, but this - the jewel of the state. In a state (or many parts of the world) where ugly, metal sided buildings make sights sore on the eyes, seeing a piece of architecture of this magnitude gives us all an uplift in spirit as we approach what is still something of a miracle. Oh Lord, please have mercy!
Posted By: Lita Sandy on Sunday, August 23, 2009 9:45:39 AM
What Mr. Maroun says and what he does are miles apart. Interesting puff-piece anyway.
Posted By: Clark Kent on Sunday, January 24, 2010 7:14:15 AM
He is giving to the Universities .. That is good enough for me
Posted By: matthew berger on Tuesday, July 06, 2010 4:54:21 PM

Reading about Mr.Matt, is all about America, the Land Of Dreams and Oppertunities.

Posted By: george gidora on Saturday, September 18, 2010 12:25:32 PM
He obtains the Central Depot in 1996, and puts a fence around it. It has languished for 15 years in a steady state of decay. Yeah, that's sentimentality. Fluff piece at best.
Posted By: MG Lane on Thursday, September 22, 2011 6:12:25 PM