Houston Real Estate Icon Howard Rambin Dies At 79
Joseph Howard Rambin III, one of the two founders of Houston-based commercial real estate brokerage Moody Rambin, died at age 79, the company announced Friday.
Rambin, who went by Howard, was well known for his real estate dealings, mentorship, volunteerism and community involvement. He died surrounded by his loved ones Aug. 25, according to the announcement.
Rambin founded Moody Rambin Interests with Dan Moody Jr. in 1969. The real estate firm was originally a patio home development business but evolved into a comprehensive firm with brokerage, property management services, development and investment arms.
Moody Rambin developed dozens of industrial projects, office buildings, subdivisions and retail centers, including the 500K SF, open-air Town & Country Village in Memorial City. The center has more than 90 retailers and lifestyle merchants today.
Moody Rambin also developed the nearby Town Centre One and Town Centre Two, office buildings that are 253K SF and 167K SF, respectively.
Rambin started working when he was 9, he told RedNews in 2018. After attending the University of North Carolina and Southern Methodist University, he found a job with a firm that suddenly shuttered, leaving him out of work, he said.
A friend who developed apartments gave Rambin the idea of getting investors to buy an apartment project. He met Moody soon after. The two developed some homes together before moving on to “low rise residential-feel” office buildings on Richmond Avenue, he told RedNews.
“Dan and I evolved with our company, Moody Rambin, into providing commercial real estate services for third parties, such as owner and tenant rep in leasing, management, and investments,” Rambin said in the interview. “One deal I especially remember is representing Shell Oil on a lease for over one million SF.”
Rambin spent about 50 years with the brokerage, where he said his greatest accomplishment was helping kick-start others’ careers. He transitioned to coaching more recently, saying in a 2020 YouTube video that he wanted to give back more than he got out of life.
The video highlighted that a passion for people was tied to his business success.
“As a coach, I work on both business issues and personal life issues,” Rambin said. “It usually starts with getting them right, and then we work on all the rest of it. It’s nonjudgmental and it’s based totally on honesty.”
Rambin also founded Keep Houston Beautiful, which remains the city’s leading organization for beautification, litter reduction and recycling education. His efforts led the city government to recognize Nov. 13, 2003, as J. Howard Rambin III Day.
Rambin also earned the Houston Business Journal’s 2020 Landmark Lifetime Achievement Award. At the time of that award, Rambin said he had beaten cancer four times.
“Despite facing health challenges over the years, Howard remained a beacon of strength and resilience,” Moody Rambin said in its announcement. “Howard’s legacy is one of entrepreneurship, mentorship, resilience, and love. He was instrumental in our company’s success and an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.”
