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On the morning of January 26th, 2002,
Mr. James H. Pritchett, MAI, SRA, the firm’s founder and one of the
appraisal industry’s best-respected practitioners and educators, died after an
extended illness.
On January 24, 2002, while in the company of Hank Wise, his partner, and Mr.
Charles Pursley Esq., long-time colleague and friend, Mr. Pritchett offered the
following prayer:
"Dear God,
Thank you for giving me a life in which I could use my knowledge, skills,
and judgment to do useful work for people at times in their lives when my
judgment mattered.
Thank you for calling on me to act responsibly and to tell the
truth."
- Jim Pritchett
Anyone associated with Mr. Pritchett knows that no truer words could be
spoken of his life. Mr. Pritchett received numerous accolades during his
nearly fifty years of service to the appraisal profession, including:
- Receiving his MAI designation in 1961;
- Elected President, Georgia Chapter of AIREA in 1967;
- Awarded the prestigious Harold Albritton Award in 1984 for his
"outstanding contribution to appraisal education";
- Receiving the Y.T. Lum "Honoree of the Year" Award in 1988 for
his "distinguished contribution to the Appraisal Institute";
- Founding member of the Appraiser Qualification Board of the Appraisal
Foundation; and
- Awarded the Georgia Appraisal Institute's "Legion of Leaders"
Award in 2001 "in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding
leadership".
These are but a few of Jim's highlights. In addition to his many awards, Mr.
Pritchett gained the admiration and respect of everyone with whom he came into
contact. The majority of designated appraisal professionals in the
Metropolitan Atlanta area received at least a portion of their formal training
from Mr. Pritchett, who taught 67 courses on real estate appraisal principles
and procedures, with the bulk of his teaching being in the area of litigation.
From 1976 to 1978, Mr. Pritchett taught Eminent Domain classes at Emory
University's School of Law. In 2001, the Honorable Norman S. Fletcher,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, stated that Mr. Pritchett was
"the best expert witness he had ever known".
Aside from his contributions to the real estate appraisal profession, Mr.
Pritchett also tirelessly devoted his life to his community, his church, and his
family. He brought joy to the lives of his wife, Fancy, his nine children,
fifteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Pritchett taught adult
literacy classes and led "Great Books" study groups for inmates at the
Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. He was also an active member of the
First United Methodist Church of Dacula, where he served as Treasurer, Chairman
of the Finance Committee, and Chairman of the Pastor-Parish Committee.
THE JAMES HILL PRITCHETT CONFERENCE ROOM:
In early February, the remaining principals of the firm began work on a way to showcase
the many accolades of Mr. Jim Pritchett. The plan was to dedicate a space in the office
entirely to Mr. Pritchett's memory. The original conference room was
completely remodeled, and is now adorned with several of Mr. Pritchett's most
cherished awards. The room was completed on April 3, 2002, to coincide
with Mr. Pritchett's 80th birthday. Pritchett, Ball & Wise hosted the grand opening celebration
of the new "James H. Pritchett Conference Room" along with all of Mr.
Pritchett's friends, family,
colleagues, and co-workers. Also in attendance was Chief Justice Norman
Fletcher, who hand-delivered a resolution from the Supreme Court of the State of
Georgia (photograph of resolution below):
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Whereas:
James H. Pritchett served as a real estate appraiser with integrity,
hard work, common sense, and excellence for fifty years, and
Whereas:
he increased the knowledge and ability of fellow appraisers by teaching
appraisal principles, procedures, and litigation courses for the American
Institute of Real Estate Appraisers; writing on eminent domain for the
American Law Institute; and establishing rigorous standards for members of the
Appraisal Institute;
Whereas:
he helped lawyers understand real estate appraisal problems by testifying as
an expert witness in condemnation cases, participating in eminent domain
seminars sponsored by the Georgia Institute for Continuing Legal Education,
and teaching the eminent domain course at Emory University School of Law for
three years, and
Whereas:
he served his community and church as co-chairman of the budget committee of
the Metropolitan Atlanta United Appeal for 14 years, as a member of the vestry
of St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Atlanta for 14 years and junior warden for
four years, as the Chairman of the Administrative Council at the First United
Methodist Church of Dacula for 10 years, and as a teacher of adult literacy
classes at the federal prison and adult Sunday School classes, and
Whereas:
his loyalty to the law and concern for justice have inured to the benefit of
our judicial system and society.
Now therefore, be it resolved:
That the Justices of the Supreme Court of Georgia express their admiration for
the life and work of James H. Pritchett and do honor and acknowledge his
contributions to the Court and citizens of the State of Georgia, this 3rd day
of April, 2002.
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PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE JHP CONFERENCE ROOM
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NATIONAL APPRAISAL INSTITUTE AWARD
The firm's principals also sought guidance from the Appraisal Institute to
provide an even greater monument to Mr. Pritchett's achievements.
After tireless work and generous donations by friends, co-workers, and
colleagues of Mr. Pritchett, the Appraisal Institute created the fourth ever nationally
recognized Appraisal Institute Award.
Excerpt from Appraisal Institute website (www.aiatlanta.com):
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The James H.
Pritchett Award
The Appraisal Institute has established
The James H. Pritchett Award:
For outstanding contributions to the appraisal profession in
a manner that reflects the character and life-long commitment of James H.
Pritchett, MAI, SRA, whose greatest attributes include his leadership and
integrity, often demonstrated by his exceptional work in teaching, writing,
mentoring and professional practice in litigation support and eminent domain.
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PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE JAMES H. PRITCHETT AWARD
The Inaugural Presentation of the James H. Pritchett Award occurred in the
summer of 2002 at the
Appraisal Institute's Conference in Hawaii. The award was presented by Mr.
Austin McMullan, MAI.
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The 2002 James H. Pritchett Award was awarded to:
Dr. James D. Eaton, MAI, SRA
Appraiser with the U.S. Department of Justice
Environment and Natural Resources Division
Mr. Eaton has been involved in real estate since 1963 and in the appraisal
profession since 1971. Mr. Eaton recently co-authored the Uniform
Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions, also known as the
"Yellow Book", as well as being a contributing author in The
Appraisal of Real Estate (10th through 12th Editions) and The
Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal (3rd Edition).
Mr. Eaton has been with the U.S. Department of Justice
since 1990, and has received numerous awards for his contributions to the
appraisal profession. Mr. Eaton was also a good friend of Mr. Pritchett,
having taught courses together and having worked on several real
estate-related projects over the years.
The 2003 James H. Pritchett Award was awarded to:
Mr. Roscoe W. Shiplett, MAI
Shiplett-Wilkins & Associates
Mr. Shiplett has been an active member of the appraisal community since 1974,
and has served the Appraisal Institute on a local, regional, and national
level for many years. Mr. Shiplett has taught Litigation Valuation
courses throughout the country, and has co-authored the Non-Residential
Demonstration Report Seminar.
Mr. Shiplett is currently based out of
Charlotte, North Carolina, where he has been a partner in Shiplett-Wilkins
& Associates since 1982. Mr. Shiplett was also a close friend of Jim
Pritchett, having taught several courses together for the Appraisal
Institute.
The 2004 James H. Pritchett Award was
awarded to:
Mr. James (Jim) Vernor, MAI
Mr. Vernor has served the Appraisal Institute at the national,
regional and local levels for over 20 years. For the last three years,
he has chaired the Curriculum Subcommittee and helped create many of its new
courses. He also has led in the revision of several older courses and
exams, as well as the current reorganization of the Appraisal Institute's
education program.
Below is a photograph of Jim receiving the award from Gary
Taylor, MAI and National Appraisal Institute President (2004).
DONATIONS
All who are interested in contributing to the newly
established JAMES H. PRITCHETT AWARD may send a donation made payable
to:
APPRAISAL INSTITUTE EDUCATION TRUST
On the memo portion of your check, include the words
"PRITCHETT AWARD."
Mail to:
Appraisal Institute Education Trust
550 W. Van Buren Street
Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60607 The goal is to have sufficient funding to
assure that this very important award can be given on an annual basis in
perpetuity. The award will be given annually, to include $1,000 and a
plaque, in recognition of outstanding contributions to appraisal education or
mentoring, with a focus on litigation support. The specific criteria for
the award are still being finalized. The Appraisal
Institute Education Trust is a non-profit organization, which will administer
the award, and its 12 member Board of Directors will select the recipient.
The Education Trust has no capacity for funding such awards; all funding must
come from family, friends, or business associates. All donations
are tax deductible. Your participation in this award program to honor this
fine man, James H. Pritchett, is sincerely appreciated by all of us who love
him.
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