Member News

William Potter Receives 2005 Realtist® Hall of Fame Award

William M. Potter, broker/owner of BAC Realty, has been awarded the 2005 Realtist® Hall of Fame Award for his continuous service to the real estate industry and for serving in several capacities within the Columbus Realtist® organization.

Mr. Potter obtained his real estate license in 1952 and joined the Columbus Board of REALTORS® in 1978. Prior to opening BAC Realty, he was a sales associate for 12 years with Culpepper Realty.

In the 1960s, Mr. Potter became involved in the civil rights movement here in Columbus. And, after learning that people were being denied financing and the very basic right too safe, sanitary and decent homes based on the color of their skin, he helped form the national organization known today as United Mortgage Bankers of America. One of the first black owned mortgage companies in Columbus to secure HUD, FANMA, and GENMA approvals was Beneficial Acceptance Corp., which he helped create by selling stock shares at $10.00 per share, raising the $180,000 necessary to get federal approval for a HUD approved mortgage company.

His other noteworthy accomplishments include:

• The planning and execution of the Mount Vernon Plaza, work recognized by former President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and visited by Ethel Kenney and the world's mayor conference 
• The development of the Tuskegee project known as Somerset and Cross Roads located at Sunbury Road and Cassady Avenue 
• Development consultant for community development programs at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Newark, Ohio and at the National Baptist General Convention in Baton Rouge, LA 
• Former chair of the Columbus Water and Service Advisory Board 
• One of the founders of the Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association 
• Member of the I-670 Planning Commission 
• Past president of the Columbus Realtist®

Mr. Potter is a WWII veteran and a devoted family man. He and his wife, Evangeline, are the parents of 4 children.

The Realtist® Hall of Fame Award was created by Ida Edmondson. Ida is the wife of the late Benny E. Edmondson who was a past president and a life long supporter of the Realtist®.
The Realtist® Hall of Fame candidate is a true professional dedicated to giving full time attention to his or her business and actively participates in the community as well as other professional organizations. The candidate also maintains high standards and the code of ethics of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc® (NAREB).

Rick Smith has been hired as president of Crawford Hoying Smith LLC formerly known as Crawford & Co., REALTORS®. Smith joined the division of Crawford Hoying Ltd. in January after 10 years as vice president at the ROI Realty Services commercial brokerage.

Ralph Renninger, HER Real Living, has been sworn in as the president of Ohio's Certified Residential Specialist Association. Only 5 percent of all REALTORS® attain the CRS designation. Currently there are 600 members statewide.

Connie Tursic, CPM, Columbus Regional Airport Authority, has earned the Columbus Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management's (IREM) Certified Property Manager of the Year Award. This award is given in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the real estate management profession and the local community.

Coldwell Banker/King Thompson has expanded its Marysville office with the acquisition of Directions Realty Group. Anita Bailey, co-owner and president of Directions Realty Group, and eight agents have joined the new NRT Inc. Marysville office.

The local chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) recently installed its 2005 Leadership Team: President - Marsha S. Reichenbach, CPM®, City of Columbus Land Management; President Elect - Lori Tillis, CPM®, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing; Vice President Finance - Patricia S. Jones, CPM®, Equity Office Properties; Vice President Education - Norma J. Brownfield, CPM®, Equity Property Management; Vice President Candidate Services - Lynne B. Raduege, CPM®, NAI Ohio Equities; Vice President Membership Services - James Scott Forrest, CPM®, Equity Real Estate Services; Member At Large _ Shelley Walzak, CPM®, The Pizzuti Companies; Past President - Steven D. Hess, CPM®, Kohr, Royer Griffith, Inc. and ARM® Participant - Rita S. Bishop, ARM®, Wallick Properties Midwest.