Brooke J. Temple, Cofounder
Brooke J. Temple has been an active REALTOR for more than 50 years. Today he is the principal broker of Toles, Temple & Wright.
Originally from Meridian, Miss., Brooke’s family eventually made their way to Birmingham, Ala. There he attended Mountain Brook Middle School and Shades Valley High School.
It was Shorter College that initially brought Brooke to Rome. In 1968, he graduated with his degree and decided to stay in town and make the community his permanent home. Around that same time he had been serving with the U.S. Coast Guard, which he joined in 1966, completing his service in the Reserves in 1972.
In the early 1970s, he was approached by local businessman and REALTOR Max Toles. Max saw promise and convinced Brooke to get into the real estate business. After a brief stint as Toles & Temple, together with Sara Wright, they formed Toles, Temple & Wright, Inc. in 1972.
Brooke’s foresight of the housing needs for his new hometown led him to develop many of Rome and Floyd County’s subdivisions and neighborhoods. He has also been successful in the commercial side of real estate, having redeveloped the former Holiday Inn site on Turner McCall Boulevard into the River Center, now home to Bluefin Grill and Firehouse Subs. Additionally, he and partner Wayne Robinson developed Hamilton Ridge, Rome’s first upscale gated apartment community. Brooke has left his mark on developments outside of his adopted home state as well. During the early 1980s, he and partners Bill and Billy Atkins were the first to bring fast food to Florida’s Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Shalimar Beach areas, opening and operating five Hardee’s franchises.
Brooke’s community involvement includes the Boy Scouts of America, Coosa Country Club, First Presbyterian Church of Rome, Georgia State Bank, Greater Rome Board of Realtors (GRBoR), Shorter University, and United Community Bank. He is a recipient of the GRBoR REALTOR of the Year Award (1979) and a GRBoR Hall of Fame inductee (2007).
Brooke is married to the former Kathleen Tarpley, and the couple lives in East Rome. Nearby is their immediate family, including two sons: Bill, a fellow REALTOR and broker with TTW; and Charles, a local businessman.
In the Words of His Colleagues
“Brooke Temple is a perfect southern gentleman…and does more in the community than many realize. He is quietly always helping and does not like any recognition. He does not want anyone to know.”
— Susan Babcock
“If I was ever in a fox hole — I would want Brooke Temple to be there.”
— Ronnie Mixon (1944-2021)