Chandler Barton, 83: Coldwell Banker CEO kept small-town humility

Chandler Barton

Chandler Barton

From growing up in small-town America to leading one of the largest real estate companies in the world, Chandler Barton always stayed humble and never forgot where he came from.

Barton learned his work ethic from the “nice, humble people” of Elberton, the “Granite Capital of the World.” “I think it started there,” his son, Curtis Barton, said. “And it transferred into his business life.”

Chandler Brooks Barton, born Jan. 6, 1934 in Elberton, died Feb. 12.

He was an avid Georgia Bulldog fan, a proud University of Georgia alumnus who studied business and finance at the Terry College of Business. He was a big proponent of people getting a college degree. “Not only the education it provides, but the experiences,” Curtis said. “He thought it was really important for a young individual to have the opportunity to experience that.” Many friendships he developed in college lasted his entire lifetime.

He met his wife, Patricia Barton, at UGA in a botany class. Curtis said, “My dad ended up asking her to join him and some of his Kappa Sigma brothers down at the river and she said, ‘No, but you can take me to the library and we can study some botany.’ ” Patricia added, “He talked the whole time we were in the library.” Curtis recalls his father telling him “he would’ve ended up failing botany if it hadn’t been for mom,” who made him hit the books. They were married 58 years.

In 1968, Barton and his neighbor Roy Ludwig co-founded Barton and Ludwig real estate company, which grew to be one of the largest real estate companies in the Southeast by buying foreclosed properties and flipping them.

“Their whole concept was to get in and out within 30 days,” Curtis said. They sold their company in 1979 to Coldwell Banker. Barton stayed with Coldwell Banker and worked his way up to president and CEO. Each year, the company honors him by giving the Chandler Barton Spirit Award “to the sales associate/representative, manager, broker, owner or employee who exemplifies Chandler Barton’s ‘Can Do’ way of thinking.”

“He worked day and night to obtain the level of success that he was able to obtain, especially in those early years,” his son said. Yet he was always there for his son and daughter, whether at little league football, a dance recital, or some other extracurricular activity. “He always made the time for that,” Curtis said. “He had his priorities straight when it came to family.”

Sarah Mikosz, Chandler’s granddaughter, used to spend a couple of weeks each summer at her grandparents’ house and remembers her grandpa sitting on the recliner in the sunroom, wearing red and black, watching a Georgia Bulldogs game. And she remembers him secretly spoiling her with Chick-fil-A when her grandma was trying to get everyone to eat healthy. “Don’t worry, Sarah, you’re still getting your vegetables from your french fries,” he’d tell her.

He was the family rock for everyone, Sarah said. When she flew in from California to visit, he insisted on waiting up for her. Each time he’d be waiting to open the door, let her in, and ask if she needed any help with her luggage. He was always “super proud and really excited” to hear about his granddaughter’s latest endeavors. Sarah said her grandpa was her hero.

Curtis said his father’s smile, friendliness, and “it factor” made people want to get to know him. “He had a special relationship with a lot of people,” he said. “It seemed like people were drawn to him.”

Barton was generous to people, often anonymously. “He would give to people and they wouldn’t even know where it came from,” Curtis said. “He wasn’t the type of person that sought the limelight or wanted to be recognized. He was very humble, and kept that humbleness through his entire life.”

Barton is survived by his wife, Patricia; children Curtis Barton and Lea (Barton) Mikosz and several grandchildren.

Read and sign the online guestbook for Chandler Barton