North Texas Group Honors Miller, Edge, Barnes

Many learned the tricks of the trade under the watchful eyes of Henry S. Miller Jr., who last night received the first lifetime achievement honor from the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors. "It gives me a lot of satisfaction because I do value the friendship of my peers in the business," the 87-year-old Miller tells GlobeSt.com.

The presentation came at the 14th annual Hall of Fame induction, where nearly 250 seasoned professionals paid tribute to a combined 142 years of service from Miller and the 2001 inductees, Robert T. Edge, vice chairman of Cushman & Wakefield of Texas Inc., and Arthur Z. Barnes, principal of Alpha-Barnes Real Estate Services in Dallas. Each is far from being a newcomer to accolades, their impact spanning generations and multi-million-dollar deals that helped shape DFW.

Miller, a charter Hall of Fame member, is, says NTCAR event chairman Darrell Hurmis, "a legend, an absolute legend." The NTCAR board crafted the special honor just for Miller because "it was overdue...for what he contributed to the real estate community."

The veteran Miller sounds off names that he's groomed like a schoolmaster calling roll. Each name carries a story, a few of which can't be printed. And each was taught just what Miller was taught by his father–integrity. "That's the most important attribute of a real estate broker and I consider myself principally a real estate broker," he says. "Integrity is the real estate broker's stock and trade." Hundreds, including his sons, were schooled in the same brokerage lessons he learned under his father's watch.

Just what makes a deal sing for Miller? "Having a part in something that's good for both parties," he says. "I learned from my father that no real estate deal was a good one unless it was good for both parties." And that, he adds, doesn't always boil down to just the commission.

At 87 years old, he's survived the Great Depression, a handful of recessions and the good times and bad of the 1980s. He's still plying his trade on a limited basis, but health willing, he says there's no full-time retirement in his future. And, he's watching today's market just like every other broker around town. So, what's his take on today? "It's going to recover," he confidently says. "It will take awhile to recover, but I have no doubt that we will recover and we will see good times again." The same selling points that Texas brokers use to seal deals will make the state and the DFW region in particular "be among the first to feel the recovery," contends the chairman emeritus of Henry S. Miller Commercial.