-News Release-
Generations of the Toles family from all across the Southeast — along with Toles, Temple & Wright, Inc. (TTW) agents past and present — came together to witness the official unveiling of the C. Max Toles Intersection last Saturday. The special event took place at the TTW offices on the corner of Turner McCall Boulevard and Avenue A.In attendance were Max’s children, including his daughter, Lisa Toles Reid of Boca Raton, and son, Chuck Toles of Tallahassee. The large group, which numbered upwards of 50, also included special guests Georgia Rep. Katie Dempsey; John Bennett, former City of Rome manager and former Adrian Howell & Covington associate; Rick Brinkman, former TTW sales associate and former owner of Harry Norman, Realtors; and Lynn Dempsey, Georgia Real Estate Commissioner.
Toles, Temple & Wright, as it is known today, dates back to 1972 — upon the sale of Jim Covington’s interest in Covington & Toles — when the entrepreneurial and established Toles sold 50% of the brokerage to the enthusiastic and energetic Temple. Not long after becoming partners, Toles and Temple made the strategic decision to recruit Sara Wright as the company’s newest associate broker. The firm then went to market as Toles, Temple & Wright, establishing its roots at 4 Professional Court, just across the street from the present Georgian-style building on Turner McCall Boulevard.
“While Max never worked in the offices we’ve called home since the early 1990s, this intersection literally and symbolically links our past with our present — and our future,” said Bill Temple, VP and associate broker at TTW.
TTW traces its roots back more than 76 years to 1949 with predecessor Adrian Howell & Company, which later became Adrian Howell & Covington. C. Max Toles joined Adrian Howell & Covington in 1966 as the firm’s sales manager. In the late 1960s, Max became a part-owner of the brokerage, which was then renamed Covington & Toles as the successor firm.
“Max was a builder, a developer, and a real estate broker all at the same time,” said Brooke J. Temple, co-founder, president, and principal broker at TTW. “Everybody loved Max. He was one of the best.”
Temple bought his first house from Toles and ultimately became his next-door neighbor. In the early 1970s, Toles saw the potential in the younger Temple and approached him multiple times about entering real estate and joining his team.
“After a while, I gave in because I believed in Max,” explained Temple. “It turned out it was the best advice anyone could have ever given me — and it changed my life forever.”
At the onset of Rome’s rapid growth — fueled by expanding industry and healthcare — company leaders recognized the dire need for adequate housing. Toles and Temple officially partnered to develop subdivisions in desirable locations across Rome and Floyd County, including River Ridge along the Horseleg Creek corridor, Ashley Manor Townhomes in Downtown Rome, and Woodfin Estates off Chulio Road. This partnership spurred more than nine new developments, forever changing the community and positively impacting the growth of the Rome and Floyd County map.
“Max’s legacy will always be a story of seeing a need and opportunity in the community — a void — and filling it with a quality product,” said Temple.
Following a successful career in real estate sales and development and other business ventures, Max made the decision to semi-retire and relocate with his wife, Joan, to the Florida coast in the 1980s. There in Boca Raton, he continued to play an active role in the local real estate market until his death in 1997.
Before the new signage was unveiled, Rep. Katie Dempsey, who played an important role in bringing the project to fruition, shared and presented a framed version of Georgia House Resolution 1415 to the Toles family. The resolution noted his success in business, his renowned career in real estate sales and development, and his role in spurring the development of subdivisions and other housing options throughout Rome, which in turn positively impacted the growth of the community.
The dedication of the intersection was a project several years in the making. Due to its nature and the magnitude of the honor, the resolution to recognize the “remarkable and distinguished Georgian,” as he was described within its text, was first adopted in the Georgia Senate and soon after in the Georgia House of Representatives. Then, because it involved U.S. Route 27, the project was ultimately managed and executed by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
“We want to express our appreciation to TTW, local government, and state government for making this all happen. It really means a lot to our family,” said Chuck Toles at the event.
The newly christened C. Max Toles Intersection is one of the latest milestones in TTW’s nearly 55-year history, following on the heels of other celebrations over the last few years honoring the company’s original co-founders: Brooke J. Temple, with a Key to the City of Rome, and the late Sara Wright, with the renaming of West 8th Street to “Sara Wright Way.”
“When we think of real estate in our community, we think of Max Toles,” explained Brooke J. Temple. “He left an indelible mark on Rome, Georgia.”
Beyond a large family that keeps his memory alive three decades after his death, Toles’ legacy extends to the company that still bears his name almost 55 years later — including the nearly 40 agents who continue to serve the real estate needs of Rome and Floyd County.
”Max was a character. In his own special way, he showcased our commitment to developing relationships and developing communities,” added Bill Temple. “May this be a fitting tribute to an unforgettable entrepreneur who helped build and solidify the quality of life that the citizens of Rome and Floyd County continue to enjoy to this day.”
