Joan Trew, co-founder of Williams Trew Real Estate and Fort Worth real estate legend, recently announced her retirement after 44 years in the business.
Licensed in real estate in 1977, Trew began working as an agent with William Rigg Realtors in Forth Worth. It was there that Trew met future co-founding partner Martha Williams. In 2000, with third co-founder Marshall Boyd, they created one of the most dominant and celebrated local real estate brokerages, Williams Trew Real Estate, Fort Worth has ever seen. In 2015 Williams Trew became part of the Ebby Halliday Companies, an affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway’s HomeServices of America.
A Well-Celebrated Career
While certainly never one to seek fame and notoriety, plenty of organizations and media outlets have lauded Trew for her outstanding real estate performance and her devotion to her beloved city of Fort Worth.
She has been recognized by Texas Monthly as one of the most outstanding realtors in the state. In 2002 she was awarded the “Great Women of Texas Award” by the Fort Worth Business Press. In 2016 the Fort Worth Business Hall of Fame named her, “Executive of the Year.” Recently the Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors bestowed the “R.L. Purvis Distinguished Service Award” upon Trew for her years of dedication and service.
For Trew, it has never been only about real estate. She remains a pillar in the Fort Worth philanthropic community. She was instrumental in bringing the first Ronald McDonald House to Fort Worth in 1981, is an active supporter of the American Heart Association, and has participated in just about every charity and gala Fort Worth has to offer.
While she might be leaving real estate, Trew has no intentions of slowing down. After four decades of dedicated work, she will now focus on her three children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. On top of that, she expects to continue to actively support the world-class museums o and the Fort Worth symphony.
On A Personal Note…
The year was 2004 and I was a young wannabe new home sales professional working for Village Homes. Bow ties were not yet a part of my brand.
The first week on the job, Rob Sell, co-founder of Village Homes, took me to meet Martha Williams and Joan Trew. Although I had moved to Fort Worth only a few years prior, I was well aware of the aura and mystique that surrounded Williams Trew Real Estate and their two co-founding principles. I was shocked when they took the time to introduce themselves to me, answer my questions, talk to me about the real estate market and ask me about my new position.
It was at that meeting that I developed tremendous respect for both Martha and Joan. For them to take the time out of their busy schedules to meet a neophyte home sales professional and make me feel included in their world showed me how dedicated they were to their craft and yet also caring they were about others.
Joan has always been the one at the meeting with a hug and a positive message. Regularly she will tell people, “I appreciate you,” and she means it.
Joan, we appreciate you more than you can imagine. You have been an inspiration and a mentor to so many agents throughout the years. You will be missed as we hopefully start weekly in-person meetings, but you will always be a part of the Williams Trew family and the greater D-FW real estate community. Congrats on all your success. Enjoy your retirement. We love you.
