By LAURA URSENY - Staff Reports
OROVILLE — Looking back over the century of operation for Tracy Realty Co., Orville "Bud" Tracy of Chico gives a nod to his father and company founder, the late O.E. Tracy, for insight and motivation that's kept the company moving forward. Tracy says his company has benefited from the solid foundation his father built, but also what's been passed along to the next generations — a respect and allegiance to the land.
"Dad always said if you own the land, you owe the land," said Tracy, a pledge he's tried to keep over the last 40 years of doing business in Chico, Oroville and Paradise.
Born in 1948 when his father was 60, Bud Tracy was brought into the real estate sooner than usual, splitting his time between working in the real estate office and working in the construction trades.
"Over the summers as a kid, I learned everything from being a carpenter and plumber, to roofing and other areas," said Tracy, who appreciated his father's directive to understanding everything about real estate. With those skills, Tracy ventured into remodeling and selling houses.
"Dad would say, 'Anytime you remodel a house, you may own it, so do the job good.'"
As early as 12, Tracy was involved in the company, under the watchful eye of his father. As a young man, he even orchestrated a residential purchase.
"I'm sure the couple was rather uncomfortable, dealing with me, but I learned a lot."
Coming from Kansas in 1910, the elder Tracy moved to California because of the promise of the Golden State and was expected to help his family in the Midwest. He stopped in San Francisco and found jobs in real estate, insurance and banking. He later traveled through Oregon and Washington for Diamond Lumber Co. and finally settled in Butte County in 1911. He was in charge of checking out towns for the company, launching plants and housing.
The elder Tracy's first office was in the Park Hotel in downtown Chico, and then moved to various other downtown locations. He served on what was the predecessor of the Chico City Council.
Dabbling in residential and commercial business, the elder Tracy settled in farm and ranch sales in Durham and Oroville area, but became known for residential construction and sales in Chico too, especially places like Mansion Park near Chico State University, and the peaked-roof Eastwood Park neighborhood around East Ninth and Pine streets. In the latter, the new houses came with a pool table, and advertisements boasted they were "Tracy-bilt."
In 1917, the elder Tracy helped form the Chico Board of Realtors, serving as the first president and again in 1948 when his son was born, another board president as well.
Even through the Great Depression, the elder Tracy stayed in real estate sales. He also dealt with Chico business giants, including Vernon Fish, who developed North Valley Plaza; Fred Hignell, one of the area's earliest residential developers; and Sam Fortino, who built homes in Paradise.
After graduating from college in 1970 with a degree in business management, the younger Tracy officially joined the family firm.
For a time, Tracy was interested in architecture, but chose working with his mother, Luella, and ailing father, who was developing Alzheimer's and died in 1976.
Dedicated strictly to commercial now, Tracy says being a developer and involved in real estate isn't a stable career, but he savors the challenges and risks.
Over the years, Tracy has worked at reviving shopping and office centers, laying groundwork for an assessment district, and building from the ground up.
Tracy's first official development was the Garden Walk mall in downtown Chico, helped along by then-employee Howard Slater, who now heads his own Chico development and construction company. Formerly the W. T. Grant store, the Garden Walk is an "inside mall," a meandering walkway lined by small stores, sandwiched between Main and Wall streets.
After the Garden Walk, there have been dozens of commercial deals that bear the Tracy mark, some well known, others not.
One of his most in-depth and visible projects was Wittmeier Auto Center in Chico, where Tracy became project coordinator, learning minute details of the auto business for the best design.
He has had a role in Chico's business and economic development activities, including the formation of the Southeast Chico Assessment District, which set the table for Chico Mall and the other retail around it. He continued his involvement in the Chico Association of Realtors and Chico Chamber of Commerce.
Following his father's interests, Tracy began to explore business in Oroville, where real estate was a quieter industry than in Chico. Tracy admits Oroville residents seemed skeptical of a Chico resident interested in their town.
Tracy said his determination to make deals work, his history in the area, and bringing new jobs helped make his intentions in Oroville clear.
His offices have had dozens of agents, but settled into a one-man operation in the 1980s, along with long-time assistant Lauri Burelson and recently, associate Peter Blasingame. Little by little, Tracy moved his operations to Oroville, although his home is still in Chico.
Tracy's wife, Linda, also worked in real estate for several years but in another Chico office.
While other real estate offices have been purchased or affiliated with national firms, Tracy Realty has been independent, allowing for a quick responsiveness, he noted.
Tracy has been highly involved in Oroville Economic Development Corp., including serving as president, and Oroville Rotary, among others. His projects in Oroville have ranged from remodeling a banking center and Gold Town Plaza, medical offices and projects at the Oroville Airport.
"Others just tried to make deals to make money. I learned the history," Tracy told the M-R of why he feels comfortable in Oroville.
In looking back over his career, Tracy is proud of the interest in real estate that he shares with his daughter, Arwen Tracy Funk, who will likely take over the company.
While son Edwin was drawn to a career in technology with Intel in Oregon, daughter Arwen has operated a branch of Tracy Realty in the San Jose area for a number of years.
Nowhere near retirement, Tracy is guided by a comical illustration his father liked.
"I remember Dad having this picture of a stork with a frog head-first in its mouth. Even though the frog was heading for the stork's stomach, he had a strangle-hold on the bird's throat. That says it all — never give up."
Staff writer Laura Urseny can be reached at 896-7756 or lurseny@chicoer.com.
"Dad always said if you own the land, you owe the land," said Tracy, a pledge he's tried to keep over the last 40 years of doing business in Chico, Oroville and Paradise.
Born in 1948 when his father was 60, Bud Tracy was brought into the real estate sooner than usual, splitting his time between working in the real estate office and working in the construction trades.
"Over the summers as a kid, I learned everything from being a carpenter and plumber, to roofing and other areas," said Tracy, who appreciated his father's directive to understanding everything about real estate. With those skills, Tracy ventured into remodeling and selling houses.
"Dad would say, 'Anytime you remodel a house, you may own it, so do the job good.'"
As early as 12, Tracy was involved in the company, under the watchful eye of his father. As a young man, he even orchestrated a residential purchase.
"I'm sure the couple was rather uncomfortable, dealing with me, but I learned a lot."
Coming from Kansas in 1910, the elder Tracy moved to California because of the promise of the Golden State and was expected to help his family in the Midwest. He stopped in San Francisco and found jobs in real estate, insurance and banking. He later traveled through Oregon and Washington for Diamond Lumber Co. and finally settled in Butte County in 1911. He was in charge of checking out towns for the company, launching plants and housing.
The elder Tracy's first office was in the Park Hotel in downtown Chico, and then moved to various other downtown locations. He served on what was the predecessor of the Chico City Council.
Dabbling in residential and commercial business, the elder Tracy settled in farm and ranch sales in Durham and Oroville area, but became known for residential construction and sales in Chico too, especially places like Mansion Park near Chico State University, and the peaked-roof Eastwood Park neighborhood around East Ninth and Pine streets. In the latter, the new houses came with a pool table, and advertisements boasted they were "Tracy-bilt."
In 1917, the elder Tracy helped form the Chico Board of Realtors, serving as the first president and again in 1948 when his son was born, another board president as well.
Even through the Great Depression, the elder Tracy stayed in real estate sales. He also dealt with Chico business giants, including Vernon Fish, who developed North Valley Plaza; Fred Hignell, one of the area's earliest residential developers; and Sam Fortino, who built homes in Paradise.
After graduating from college in 1970 with a degree in business management, the younger Tracy officially joined the family firm.
For a time, Tracy was interested in architecture, but chose working with his mother, Luella, and ailing father, who was developing Alzheimer's and died in 1976.
Dedicated strictly to commercial now, Tracy says being a developer and involved in real estate isn't a stable career, but he savors the challenges and risks.
Over the years, Tracy has worked at reviving shopping and office centers, laying groundwork for an assessment district, and building from the ground up.
Tracy's first official development was the Garden Walk mall in downtown Chico, helped along by then-employee Howard Slater, who now heads his own Chico development and construction company. Formerly the W. T. Grant store, the Garden Walk is an "inside mall," a meandering walkway lined by small stores, sandwiched between Main and Wall streets.
After the Garden Walk, there have been dozens of commercial deals that bear the Tracy mark, some well known, others not.
One of his most in-depth and visible projects was Wittmeier Auto Center in Chico, where Tracy became project coordinator, learning minute details of the auto business for the best design.
He has had a role in Chico's business and economic development activities, including the formation of the Southeast Chico Assessment District, which set the table for Chico Mall and the other retail around it. He continued his involvement in the Chico Association of Realtors and Chico Chamber of Commerce.
Following his father's interests, Tracy began to explore business in Oroville, where real estate was a quieter industry than in Chico. Tracy admits Oroville residents seemed skeptical of a Chico resident interested in their town.
Tracy said his determination to make deals work, his history in the area, and bringing new jobs helped make his intentions in Oroville clear.
His offices have had dozens of agents, but settled into a one-man operation in the 1980s, along with long-time assistant Lauri Burelson and recently, associate Peter Blasingame. Little by little, Tracy moved his operations to Oroville, although his home is still in Chico.
Tracy's wife, Linda, also worked in real estate for several years but in another Chico office.
While other real estate offices have been purchased or affiliated with national firms, Tracy Realty has been independent, allowing for a quick responsiveness, he noted.
Tracy has been highly involved in Oroville Economic Development Corp., including serving as president, and Oroville Rotary, among others. His projects in Oroville have ranged from remodeling a banking center and Gold Town Plaza, medical offices and projects at the Oroville Airport.
"Others just tried to make deals to make money. I learned the history," Tracy told the M-R of why he feels comfortable in Oroville.
In looking back over his career, Tracy is proud of the interest in real estate that he shares with his daughter, Arwen Tracy Funk, who will likely take over the company.
While son Edwin was drawn to a career in technology with Intel in Oregon, daughter Arwen has operated a branch of Tracy Realty in the San Jose area for a number of years.
Nowhere near retirement, Tracy is guided by a comical illustration his father liked.
"I remember Dad having this picture of a stork with a frog head-first in its mouth. Even though the frog was heading for the stork's stomach, he had a strangle-hold on the bird's throat. That says it all — never give up."
Staff writer Laura Urseny can be reached at 896-7756 or lurseny@chicoer.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment