Dora Carter Harmon, broker/Realtor with The Brothers Real Estate and Auction Company in Greeneville, has been awarded Realtor Emeritus Status by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
The award was presented based on a vote of the NAR Board of Directors at the NAR conference in Anaheim, Calif., in November.
This status has been presented to only 1,600 of the 1.3 million Realtors in the U.S., a news release stated.
It was awarded in recognition of 40 years of membership in the National Association of Realtors "and in recognition of valuable and lasting contributions to the real estate profession in the community," the release stated.
Harmon was presented the award during a membership meeting of the Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors (NETAR) on Feb. 9, at the MeadowView Conference Center in Kingsport.
She also received a congratulatory letter from Ron Phipps, immediate past president of NAR, and a gold-and-ruby Realtor Emeritus lapel pin.
The NETAR news release stated that Harmon was honored "for her long and faithful service" and her numerous leadership efforts through service as an officer and director, as a committee member, and in numerous civic activities connected with Realtor associations over four decades.
A FAMILY TRADITION
The real estate business is a family tradition in the Carter family.
Dora Carter Harmon began her real estate career as a licensed Realtor in 1964, working with her brother's firm, Grady Carter Real Estate Company.
In 1966 her brothers Grady and Hadley Carter became partners in Carter Brothers Real Estate and Auction, which they established.
She received her broker's license that year and remained with Carter Brothers Real Estate until Grady Carter died in 1993.
After his death, the firm was dissolved, and a new company was formed, Carter Real Estate and Auction Company, with Hadley and his nephew John Carter as partners.
When Hadley Carter decided to place his license in retirement in 2002, he sold his half-interest to John Carter, who became sole owner.
Wendy Warner, Grady Carter's daughter, established her own real estate firm, Warner Realty, after her father's death.
Dora Carter Harmon remained with Carter Real Estate and Auction Company until 2004, at which time she transferred to Brothers Real Estate and Auction Company: a firm owned and operated by Hadley Carter's sons (and her nephews), Shane and Gale Carter.
She remains with that company.
Hadley also joined the Brothers firm in 2004, and continues to be active in it.
LOCAL BACKGROUND
Before entering the real estate profession, Dora Harmon served for 13 years as the executive secretary to the president of Tusculum College.
She is a member and past president of the Andrew Johnson Women's Club; a past president of the Greeneville Chapter of the National Secretaries Association; a past president of the Greeneville Board of Realtors, and has served on the Board of Greeneville ministries.
She is a member of First Presbyterian Church and now serves as an elder and deacon.
"The real estate market has made many changes since I started, and I have learned that it is a challenging profession but rewarding," she said.
"I have looked upon it as a ministry ... It is a service organization.
"We as Realtors have had, and are having, the best of both worlds ... the opportunity to serve the needs of others and make a living.
"I realize that we are experiencing a somewhat slow market in real estate. However, take heart!
"It was rough, even worse than now, and we survived and came back stronger. We will again! God looks with favor upon those who help others.
"I feel very honored to receive this award from NAR and honored to receive a pin that designates me as Realtor Emeritus," Harmon said.
