Ben Taylor Fitzgerald, an influential real estate broker in the Tyler area for decades, died Monday at age 94. (Courtesy/Buster Fitzgerald)

The man who founded a real estate company in Chandler and likely brokered thousands of residential land deals in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s died Monday at the age of 94.

Ben Taylor Fitzgerald founded Ben Fitzgerald Real Estate LLC in 1958. He mostly brokered residential transactions, but helped develop Woodgate Office Park and Brookside Village later in his career.

“He gave himself a title and put it on his cards — he called himself the optimistic selling salesman — and he was extremely optimistic,” said Taylor Burns, who worked with him. Burns is the founder and former owner of Burns Commercial Properties.

“He was very big on convincing people that they should buy homes and buy real estate and he … owned lots and lots of residential property himself,” Burns said. “He loved to talk to every person he ever met and he had a lot of friends over the years.”

Ben Fitzgerald Real Estate continues under family leadership, brokering both residential and commercial transactions. In July, the company represented the buyer of a 543-acre property near Bellwood Park.

“There’s real estate school and then there’s Ben’s real estate school, and they’re two different things,” said one of his grandsons, Taylor Fitzgerald, 33, of Tyler. He is currently an agent with Ben Fitzgerald Real Estate.

“His big thing was, ‘You can always bet on Tyler,’” Taylor Fitzgerald said. “He just always said, ‘You can bet on Tyler,’ kind of meaning if you invest in real estate in Tyler, it’s a good investment.”

“He was always capable of finding a way to get a deal done,” Taylor Fitzgerald said. “The sale always started when somebody said ‘no’ or ‘it couldn’t happen.’ He always thought he could make anything happen.”

Outside of work, he sat on the board of directors for the East Texas State Fair for decades and was chairman from 1973 to 1974. He owned a ranch in Chandler and was an avid quail hunter. At one point, he owned more than 100 bird dogs.

“I’m 70 years old, and I’ve only known maybe three other people that maybe actually that came up to his standards as far as being a good person and being willing to help people,” said Scott Watson, who started working for Ben Fitzgerald Real Estate in 1981.

“But the main thing is he knew how to get along with people, and that’s what I learned from him, that that’s just the best way to do business is be nice to people and not try to take advantage of them,” he said.

Memorial services are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Friday at Marvin United Methodist Church.

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