Heart of Ky Realtors turns 65 | Business
Hardin County’s oldest trade association, founded in 1956 with H. Ed McCullum as president, hits a milestone in 2021.
The early leaders of this institution were instrumental in developing housing options for the county’s growing population. In addition, they set the framework for what eventually became an organized and highly professional unit known as The Heart Of Kentucky Association of Realtors, originally known as the Hardin County Board of Realtors.
Names like George Cave, Henry Hodge, Fraisur Reesor, Joe Prather, Julius Wize, Elmer Hargan, Hardin McLane, Cordell Tabb, Nancy Jeffries, and many more give us an idea of who these early innovators were.
Business leaders like Rick Baumgardner, who served for several years at the state and federal levels, and Vince Rose, who recently passed away at the Veterans Center, have devoted much of their careers to industry leadership.
I remember the first club meeting I attended in 1988 when Charle Lantz was chairman of the board. Lantz was a larger than life character, and I remember his gravitas when he was holding a meeting in a crowded room.
He had something called “The Word of the Wise” in which Julius Wise, then a commissioner at the State Real Estate Commission, issued some guidelines on how to ensure compliance with state law. These men and women were strong industry leaders and great practitioners who inspired many to do community service.
The local brokerage association must function well. Without them, the resulting chaos and confusion could make it difficult to maintain the pace of real estate transactions necessary to maintain an active market.
The Board of Realtors is operated by an executive vice president, an MLS coordinator, an elected president, and an elected board of directors. In addition, there are committees that cover all facets of the institution. The stabilizing force of the local association is the position of Executive Vice President, which has been held for the past 26 years by the dedicated specialist Margie Harper with a team member, Jennifer Allen, MLS coordinator.
The local brokerage association is a subsidiary of the Kentucky Realtors Association and the National Association of Realtors, with over 1.3 million members nationwide.
By the mid-1980s, the Hardin County’s brokerage landscape appeared to be dominated by small to medium-sized firms. REMAX, led by Jim Bramblett, was an early innovator as brokerage firms got bigger and better known. Even today this company has a dominant position. He joined a growing group of big companies like Joe Guy Hagan with Century 21, Rose Realty Better Homes and Gardens, and Cato Realty.
Over time, virtually every national real estate franchise in Hardin County joined, and business models shifted to a solid mix of locally owned independent companies and larger national corporations.
The one aspect of the residential real estate industry that sets it apart from all other companies is that as a group of 1.3 million members across the country they must work together for the company to work. I don’t know of any other line of business where competitors work together as brokers have learned.
Congratulations to all of the industry leaders serving as President of the Heart of Kentucky Association of Realtors, to all of the committee volunteers, and to dedicated permanent staff, Harper and Allen. Well done!
TW Shortt, past president of the Heart of Kentucky Association of Realtors.