Martin Edwards, Jr.

Martin Edwards, Jr., a REALTOR® from Memphis, TN, was the 2002 president of the National Association of REALTORS®.

Edwards, a REALTOR® for more than 40 years, is President of Edwards Investments, REALTORS®, a real estate investment, development and brokerage firm. He holds the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation.

As NAR’s President, Edwards championed a renewed commitment by NAR to housing opportunities for all Americans and adopted the theme, “The Power of One,” as a watchword for members that they can make a difference in the issues that face the real estate industry by their participation. As President and President-elect, he led the legislative lobbying effort on Capital Hill against big banks in real estate. Becoming president just after the September 11th attacks, Edwards helped to establish the REALTORS® Housing Relief Fund, now know as the REALTOR® Relief Foundation.

As First Vice President in 2000, he served on the transition team of newly elected US President George W. Bush and recommended housing policy positions.

In 1996, Edwards served as NAR's treasurer and as chairman of the association's Finance Committee. In 1994, Edwards served as regional vice president for the states of Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Kentucky. He has been active on various NAR committees, including the Executive Committee and the Building Advisory Committee. He was the 1993 chairman of the Commercial and Investment, Membership, and Education committees. Edwards was named NAR's 1986 Outstanding Educator of the Year. In 1989, he served as president of the CCIM Institute, an NAR affiliate. He has served as an NAR director and has been a featured educational speaker at national meetings.

Edwards also is active at the state and local levels. He serves on numerous state association committees, including the Commercial and Investment Committee, REALTOR® of the Year Committee and Convention Committee for the Tennessee Association of REALTORS® (TAR). He was named 1989 REALTOR® of the Year by the Tennessee Association, and was a regional vice president for the state in 1986. At the local level, Edwards served as chairman of the Memphis Area Association of REALTORS® Commercial Multiple Listing Service Committee and was the founder of the Education Foundation. He served as president of the Memphis Area Association of REALTORS® in 1985, and was named the association's REALTOR® of the Year in 1988.

Active in the community as well, Edwards has chaired the Memphis Health, Education and Housing Facility Board. He has served as a trustee for the University of Memphis Foundation, and has been an approved instructor for the Mortgage Bankers Association of America and the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. He also has served as a senior instructor for the CCIM Institute and other NAR affiliates.

Since his time as President, Edwards has remained active in the association, serving as 2013 President of the REALTOR® Relief Foundation. In 2014 he was also named to the Real Estate Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Source: National Association of REALTORS® Archives