A Look at the Last 50 Years + Beyond
In 1972, two real estate greats and a young rookie came together to form what would become a legendary partnership — one that continues to lead the Rome-Floyd County market some five decades later!
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TIMELINE: TTW at 50
Our story is the result of more than seven fruitful decades of dedicated visionaries, innovative ideas, seized opportunities, strategic mergers, and an ever-optimistic outlook of the future.
Join us on a trip down memory lane through this dynamic timeline that showcases these visionaries and their contributions to the Rome-Floyd County community and beyond! We hope that you enjoy this digital archive as we relive some of the many highlights of our company’s long history — past, present and future.
How it all began…
The original predecessor of Toles, Temple & Wright is established by Adrian Howell, a local businessman. Adrian Howell & Company sets a new standard and lays the foundation for the prominent real estate developments, careers and other brokerages that would follow in the years to come.
Click here to read about Adrian's life.
Adrian Howell & Company breaks ground and develops North Hills off Calhoun Avenue in North Rome. The development of the ranch home community, evocative of the 1950s, helps pave the way for the many neighborhoods that would follow.
North Carolina native James “Jim” Covington joins Adrian Howell & Company as its newest agent, coming over from Burlington Mills in the Shannon community. Upon joining AH&Co., he quickly moves into building and real estate development.
Click here to learn more
about Jim.
As the company evolves while serving the Rome-Floyd market, so does the name, reflecting its ownership. Adrian Howell & Covington is born.
Jim Covington and Adrian Howell break ground on a new subdivision located on a Kingston Highway property purchased by Dr. Warren Gilbert of Harbin Clinic. The FIELDWOOD development creates buzz in the local real estate market and begins an exciting new chapter for the firm.
Adrian Howell and Covington expand on the successful reception of Fieldwood with additional wooded neighborhoods, including SADDLE MOUNTAIN, RIVERMONT, MAPLEWOOD SQUARE and portions of HORSELEG ESTATES (pictured).
Local entrepreneur C. Max Toles begins his career with the company that would one day bear his name. He initially serves the Adrian Howell & Covington team as its sales manager.
Click here to read more
about Max's life.
With changing ownership and new players, Adrian Howell & Covington officially becomes Covington & Toles, continuing in seamless transition with a steadfast commitment. The company takes over and continues the development and marketing of its neighborhoods.
Click here to view an ad from this era.
After graduating from Georgia Tech, Richard “Rick” O. Brinkman, III is approached and offered a position as the newest agent on Covington & Toles’ growing sales team.
Click here to read an article about
the Covington & Toles team.
After completing his service in the U.S. Coast Guard, Alabama native and Shorter College graduate Brooke Temple is approached by Max Toles, who convinces him to enter the real estate business as a licensed agent and member of the sales team at Covington & Toles.
Click here to learn more
about Brooke.
RIVER RIDGE is developed by Max Toles and Charles Sheron as a residential community of "high esteem and quality" — with classic elegance and formality. Building on the successful reception of similar neighborhoods like Horseleg Estates and Rivermont, River Ridge helps spur additional subdivisions down Rome’s wooded corridor.
Upon the sale of Jim Covington's interest in Covington & Toles, Max Toles then sells 50% to Brooke Temple — which ultimately leads to a new name and the next chapter. Adrian Howell and Jim Covington’s lasting legacy will always be underscored by spearheading the development of many of Rome’s early planned neighborhoods; as well as commercial developments including Professional Court.
The legendary Sara Wright of Sara Wright Real Estate is hired by Toles & Temple to be the company’s newest associate broker. Although not a part owner herself, Wright's surname brought such prestige that Toles and Temple agreed it must be incorporated into their branding and company name.
Click here to read more about
Sara's life.
The firm goes to market for the very first time as Toles, Temple & Wright, Inc. The company as we know it today is born — built on a legacy and continuity of ownership that remains.
Click here to take a closer look at
this ad from the Yellow Pages.
The newly-formed Toles, Temple & Wright (TTW) reopens at 4 Professional Court, located across from the original Holiday Inn on Turner McCall Boulevard.
Click here to view a clipping that highlights the "new home."
The real estate brokerage commits to a growth strategy that includes seeking out and recruiting quality agents along the way.
Click here to view the
"Homes for Living" brochure.
Brooke Temple and Wayne Robinson partner to develop phases II, III and IV of Woodfin Estates off Chulio Road. The opportunity in Rome’s East side helps create an exciting momentum that leads to other successful developments, including the River Place subdivision on Horseleg Creek Road.
Click here to learn more about Woodfin Estates.
A second TTW office is established in West Rome at 1204 Shorter Avenue, nearly doubling the company overnight. Rick Brinkman is tapped to serve as branch manager.
Click here to view an ad announcing the opening.
Brooke Temple becomes a developing partner with Max Toles, forever changing the community and impacting the growth of Rome as new developments dot the Floyd County map. Nine new subdivisions include as many as 300 quality residential lots, becoming an important part of TTW's offerings.
TTW expands commercial offerings across various developments, including serving as leasing agent for the Westside Village Shopping Center in West Rome.
Click here to read about TTW's role
in Westside Village.
Growing industry, including Rome’s medical community, translates into an even more pressing need for housing developments at a time when the local market isn’t keeping up with demand. Seeing the opportunities, Temple and Robinson strategically target the type of persona relocating into Floyd County, while also working alongside recruiters to promote its unique quality of life. Some of the developments to take root at this time include Brookwood West and Collinwood Place (pictured).
Wayne Robinson joins TTW as an agent, later moving into construction and real estate development after successful ventures in Woodfin Estates and River Place.
The development of the Huntcliff subdivision proves to be a strategic opportunity to continue creating neighborhoods that build on the strengths of earlier subdivisions, while adding much needed high-end residential products to the market.
Click here to learn more about Huntcliff.
Considered by many to be the quintessential “hometown real estate archive,” Ronnie Mixon of Ronnie Mixon Real Estate is recruited to become TTW's sales manager.
Click here to read more about
Ronnie's life.
Max Toles leaves TTW after nearly two decades with the company, retiring to Florida. As Toles is transitioning out, Brooke Temple begins building more residential developments with Wayne Robinson.
Colony Park is developed by Temple and Robinson as a unique condo concept in a residential district, featuring a mix of 1-, 1 ½- and 2-story homes in East Rome.
Temple and Robinson team up again to carve out the Hunters Glen subdivision from Horseleg Creek farm land once owned by the Petropole family.
Click here to learn more about Hunters Glen.
TTW moves into its present-day office — a beautiful Georgian-style brick building just three blocks from the original headquarters. The relocation to 611 Turner McCall Boulevard coincides with a new era in the local real estate industry, which had since become especially vibrant and alive.
TTW continues to drive supply in the housing market across different segments and price points all over Floyd County, including the Oaks at Collinwood, the area’s first cluster home development of its kind.
Click here to take a closer look at
the Oaks at Collinwood.
Associate broker Sara Wright retires from TTW after an illustrious career in real estate, which inevitably saw her name on countless listings; as well as within the letterhead of successful brokerages all across Rome.
Click here to read Sara's
farewell letter.
Temple and Robinson collaborate to develop the neighborhood’s third phase and continue to fulfill the area’s specific need for residential properties at higher price points.
Click here to learn more about Maplewood East.
On land once part of the original Berry family estate, Stonebridge Golf Club gives rise to Berry Forest, a development created in partnership between TTW and Berry College. The adjacent Fairways subdivision soon follows.
Click here to learn more about
Berry Forest.
Brooke Temple and Wayne Robinson partner to develop and open Hamilton Ridge, one of the area's first luxury apartment communities of its kind.
Following his success working in business development in Atlanta, Bill Temple comes home to Rome to join his father as a second-generation real estate agent.
Click here to learn more
about Bill.
Real estate powerhouses like Jack Busbin and Ben Lucas continue to serve the local market as part of TTW well into their 70s and 80s.
Click here to read an article about why they weren't "ready to call it quits."
With a continued commitment to professionalism and honesty, TTW survives the real estate market collapse. Not every developer and brokerage are as fortunate.
Von Lambert and Sharon Lambert Mathis, formerly of Lambert Realty and Lambert, Dixon & Tate, bring their combined years of expertise and book of business to the TTW community.
Brooke Temple leads the redevelopment of the former site of the Holiday Inn on Turner McCall Boulevard into the River Center – now home to BlueFin, Buffalo Wild Wings and Firehouse Subs.
REALTOR Bill Temple is promoted as TTW’s new vice president, later receiving his broker’s license.
To better serve the needs of buyers and sellers who have become increasingly savvy in the digital space, TTW undergoes a year-long process to develop and launch a brand new content-focused website.
Click here to view
the homepage.
The Roman Resource, powered by TTW, debuts as a companion to the company's new website. The centerpiece of the groundbreaking platform is an interactive map of Rome-Floyd County that includes various dynamic filters designed to help users sift through different features and facets found within “the South's Best Kept Secret.”
Click here to access the
Roman Resource.
TTW’s Susan Jones is promoted to sales leadership upon receiving her broker’s license. The Rome native joined the company in 2005 when she began her career as a licensed real estate agent.
Click here to learn more
about Susan.
Long-time REALTOR Jackie Harrington becomes part of the TTW team, bringing along with her fellow colleagues from Harrington Realty.
The brokerage and its agents are honored by Rome News-Tribune readers as winner of the "Real Estate Company" category in the Best of Rome competition for the second time after its first honor in 2016.
TTW expands its commercial offerings into business brokerage, becoming the first and only local real estate agency with the expertise to market businesses and connect qualified buyers with owners looking to start a new chapter.
Click here to learn more about
the service.
Among some of the silver linings to emerge from 2020 is a record year of sales revenue for TTW and its agents, capping off a “Decade of Success” and industry leadership in Floyd County real estate.
The company, in partnership with Barney Fletcher Schools, offers the Success Through Learning program to area professionals actively seeking their real estate license. Each exam prep course is taught by a TTW agent.
Click here to learn more
about the partnership.
Principal broker Brooke Temple continues to be involved in the day-to-day operations of Toles, Temple & Wright some 50 years later. He remains a stalwart, consistent force in the community, offering a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to his fellow colleagues in the real estate industry.
Click here to send a congratulatory message to one of our favorites!
Tracing back its roots to the original Adrian Howell & Company of the late 1940s, the brokerage commemorates both its 50th year of service to the Rome-Floyd community as Toles, Temple & Wright, Inc., and, a 72nd anniversary operating as a small business based right here in Rome.
Click here to read more about the anniversary celebration.