Skip Beebe, a recognized and pioneering Georgia Tech real estate professor, was perfect for the job, said the namesake of the position that Beebe held.
“We wanted someone that would teach students about the business of real estate development, and Skip did that beautifully,” Robert H. “Bob” Ledbetter Sr. said.
Marshall Jones “Skip” Beebe died suddenly Monday. He was 67. A memorial service has been planned for 2 p.m. Thursday at All Saints Episcopal Church. H.M. Patterson and Son, Spring Hill is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Beebe, the first Robert H. Ledbetter Sr. Professor of the Practice of Real Estate Development, excelled in the role, Steve Salbu, dean of the College of Management at Georgia Tech, wrote in an email.
“We considered Skip among many talented real estate stars,” he wrote. “The search committee saw in Skip a talent, passion and dedication to students that made him the clear front-runner. And he exceeded all of our very high expectations.”
Hours before his death, Mr. Beebe emailed Mr. Ledbetter to tell him about a new program he wanted to introduce to students that involved commercial real estate executives.
“He was quite excited about it,” Mr. Ledbetter said. “The program was ready to go to the next level thanks to Skip’s leadership.”
A.J. Land, chairman of Pope & Land Enterprises and the person who made Mr. Beebe aware of the job, said the professorship was made for Mr. Beebe.
“He was a true real estate professional and good teacher of real estate,” Mr. Land said. “He was a student of the profession.”
In his 35 years in the real estate industry, Mr. Beebe held key leadership roles at companies involved in large residential and commercial projects, according to a 2009 Georgia Tech article about Mr. Beebe.
After graduating from Georgia Tech in 1966, Mr. Beebe worked in the banking industry before turning to real estate. He spent seven years at Cousins Properties, and during that time was promoted to senior vice president and later named president of Mobil Land Development Corporation, the Tech article said. He also ran the Southeast operations for Dutch-owned Wilma and he led the Landmarks Group before joining CB Richard Ellis.
Mr. Beebe joined CBRE in 1994 and retired in 2007. During his 13-year tenure, he held a number of positions, including market leader of the Atlanta office and president of the company’s eastern division. Mr. Beebe's last post at CBRE was chief learning officer, and he was responsible for “the company’s professional development activities, including CBRE University,” according to a company news release.
“Skip will always be remembered as the quintessential CBRE professional, who upheld our values daily and drew the most professional satisfaction from helping others to grow, succeed and prosper,” Brett White, CBRE’s chief executive, said in the news release. “He touched many lives and influenced many careers at CBRE. Our entire community mourns his untimely passing, and our thoughts are with his family.”
Mr. Beebe is survived by his wife, Anne Beebe; his son, Thomas Alan Beebe; his daughter, Lane Taylor Beebe Courts, and four grandchildren.
About the Author
