Leading Dallas Broker Dies

Steven Allen Means, co-founder and CEO of Means Knaus Partners, died unexpectedly Jan. 19 while vacationing with his wife in the British Virgin Islands to mark his 60th birthday. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church at 8011 Douglas Ave. in Dallas. Following the service, the family will receive guests from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Dallas Country Club at 4100 Beverly Dr.

A 35-year leader of his profession, Means was a past chairman of the Urban Land Institute and co-founder and past chairman of The Real Estate Council in Dallas. He is credited with setting up its "Dreamers, Doers and Unsung Heroes" annual fund-raiser. Means' current board activities include the construction management committee for the $250-million Dallas Center for Performing Arts, North Texas Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks, the Hockaday School, Science Place and First Tee of Dallas. He also was a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas.

He began his career in 1970 in the Charlotte, NC office for Dallas-based Lincoln Property Co. In 1980, he helped to form the Paragon Group, a Texas-based national real estate firm, and served as CEO of the central region and board director. In 1996, he started Means Interests and two years later teamed with longtime business associate, Doug Knaus of Houston, to form Means Knaus Partners.

Means, a Fort Worth native, graduated in 1967 from Southern Methodist University and received an MBA in 1974 from the University of Texas at Austin. He also served as a pilot, having earned the rank of captain, in the Air National Guard Tactical Fighter Squadron in San Antonio.

Means was lauded as "a dreamer, doer and pyramid builder" by friends and family. "He raced cars, flew fighter jets, rode motorcycles and loved to do it all fast," they wrote. "He was a wine connoisseur and seeker of knowledge. Above all, he loved his family who thought he was the coolest, funniest, smartest, most generous man in the world."

Means is survived by his wife of 34 years, Susan Lancaster Means; five daughters, Courtney Hester Means of Washington, DC, Blake Lancaster Means of New York, NY, Loren Winslow Means of Dallas, Sutton Lawrence Means of Athens, GA and Chandler Sinclair Means of Boston; his mother, Lottie Hester Means of Denison, TX; brother, Donald Bert Means of Sausalito, CA; two sisters, Gerry Means Hairgrove of Colleyville, TX, and Gaye Means O'Neill of Santa Monica, CA; two nephews, Landon Barrett and Logan Patrick Hairgrove of Colleyville; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Bert Leonard Means. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests memorial donations be made to an educational cause. The Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas is in charge of funeral arrangements.