A pillar of Houston’s real estate community has died at 79.
Joseph Howard Rambin III, a prominent figure in Houston’s real estate sector and the head of Houston’s largest privately owned commercial real estate brokerage, is being recognized for his contributions to the growth of the city and its real estate industry following his death on August 25, the Houston Business Journal reported.
In 1969, Rambin co-founded Moody Rambin, a Houston-based commercial real estate firm, with his partner Dan Moody Jr. Over his five-decade career, Rambin was involved in transactions totaling over 15 million square feet, playing a large role in shaping Houston’s commercial real estate.
Beyond his real estate ventures, Rambin spent significant time in community service. In 1974, he launched the Keep Houston Beautiful initiative, a program dedicated to environmental stewardship and city improvement. This initiative mobilized thousands of volunteers to recycle, plant trees, enhance water efficiency and clean up neighborhoods.
Rambin’s civic engagement also extended to his roles on the Keep Houston Beautiful executive committee, The Houston Angel Network and the Texas Association of Realtors.
As he aged, Rambin shifted focus from his real estate practice to mentoring and coaching the next generation of professionals. He believed in sharing his wealth of experience and wisdom, which he likened to a bank account.
“You shouldn’t take out more than you’ve received,” Rambin said in 2020. “Life has given me a lot, so I want to give back.”
Rambin’s journey into real estate began after studying accounting and finance at the University of North Carolina and Southern Methodist University. Noticing that tax laws in the 1960s favored real estate ownership, he started by building apartment complexes and later moved into developing townhomes.
The success of these ventures led him to co-found Moody Rambin, which began with the construction of patio homes. Rambin’s career wasn’t without its challenges. The 1980s brought a downturn, and he faced financial difficulties, admitting he “went broke.” But through those hardships, Rambin remained resilient. “Persistence is key,” he said in 2020.
“You cannot give up. Each day you get dealt a new hand. You look at your hand and do the best you can with it,” Rambin said. “Life is going to deal you a lot of bad hands. You just have to stay at the table. Learn from your mistakes so you don’t make them again.”
— Andrew Terrell
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