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A History founded in Opportinty for all...
 
1930-39
The Empire Real Estate Board, INC. (EREB), was organized in 1939
by seven black Real Estate Brokers who were dissatisfied
with "status quo" relating to housing conditions
in Atlanta for Blacks. Additionally, they were unhappy with the conditions
for Black real estate practitioners and were denied membership
in the Realtors' trade organization. 
The pioneers were: 
W.H. Aiken, John G. Allen, O. T. Bell, Wendell Cunningham,
 Roger Henderson, J.R. Wilson Jr. and N.D.Jones.
   

1970-79

During the 70's EREB continuously progressed and made significant accomplishments through its members and their unparalleled increase in achievements:

  • W.L. Calloway, was the first Black to be elected

                                          as an officer of Central Atlanta Progress.

  •  
  • Harold A. Dawson was the first Black

                                 to be appointed to the Georgia Real Estate Commission.

  • EREB was the host to the NAREB National Convention

                                 in 1971 and 1977 (hosted their first convention in 1958).

  • EREB fought and defeated the DeKalb County Sign Ordinance prohibiting the placing of "For Sale" signs in yards. Legal counsel for EREB in fighting this sign ordinance was Allied Member, Attorney J. O. Wyatt, who was later elected as the first Black Fulton County Commissioner.
  • The first professional quarterly newsletter was created and initiated by Barbara J. Clay, it was revised in 1991.
  • The EREB Training Center was organized to prepare students for the Georgia Real Estate Examination as a result of special efforts of W. C. Ponder, Dorothy Kelly, Otis L. Thorpe, Chris Dobbins, Willie Ware and Larry Cameron.
  • Otis L. Thorpe was appointed to the National Advisory Committee for the Minority Business Enterprises; the Housing Appeals Board; the Policy Review Committee of the Central Atlanta Progress; and later, the first Black to be appointed as an Assessor of the Atlanta-Fulton County Joint Board of Tax Assessors, and elected as Chairman.
  • Brady Barnett was appointed first Black V. A. appraiser in the Southeast. He was also appointed to the Board of Alderman by then Mayor Sam MasseIl during this period.

. 

1990-99
                The early 90's has brought us a step closer  to       equalizing opportunities in the market place:
  • In 1990, under the leadership of Edward London the EREB conceived and developed the "Homes for the Homeless Project." The first "Home for the Homeless" located at 581-583 Auburn Ave. is a duplex home owned by Cornelius King & Son, Inc., a member of the Empire Real Estate Board; and the home is located near the M. L. King Home inside the boundaries of the M. L. King National Historic District.
  •  
  • Willie Ware, Sr. was appointed Chairman of Fulton County Housing Authority.
  • Al Knox was appointed Vice Chairman of the Georgia Real Estate Commission
    and later became Chairman.
  • September 11, 1991 saw the opening of EREB's School of Real Estate. This approved school offers Salespersons and Broker Pre-License Courses. Lewis S. Conn is School Director and Barbara Ann Alexander is Coordinator. EREB's Education Program grew extensively in 1991-1992 under the direction of Maria Williamson-Johnson, committee Chairperson and another grant was obtained from Georgia Real Estate Commission. Several other courses and seminars were added.
  •  
  • In May of 1994, we announced that a settlement had been reached with the Fletcher L. Thompson Realty, Empire Real Estate Board, Inc. et al and the Metropolitan Multi-List, Inc., D/B/A Metro Listing Service and DeKalb Board of Realtors entered into the following agreement:"Metropolitan Multi-List, Inc., D/B/A Metro Listing Service ("Metro MLS") shall not hereafter require any potential or actual participant of Metro MLS to join a Board of Realtors in order to become a member of MLS." This decision not only effects the state of Georgia, but also, Alabama and Florida the areas in which the 11th Circuit Court cover. The ramifications of this decision is far reaching and could cause many real estate professionals and local boards across the country, to re-examine their association options.
  •  
  • In February 1995, President, Porter Sanford, III., proposed a resolution for an organizational name change. If ratified, the organization's name will become

                           the Empire Board of Realtists, Inc.