Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas BURLESON -- State Representative Rob Orr of Burleson was recently recognized by the Texas Association of Realtors (TAR) with its two most prestigious awards the Legacy Award and the Distinguished Service Award.
The presentations were made at TARs annual convention in San Antonio.
Being recognized by your peers is the highest honor any person can receive Orr said. The leadership skills I have used in my business and in the legislature were learned through my involvement in the Realtor association. I credit TAR with helping me develop professionally and as an elected official.
The Legacy Award is the highest honor the association can bestow on an elected official at any level. Its not an annual award; its is only presented when the TAR Legislative Management Team feels an elected official has done something so special and so specific for the association that he or she deserves this recognition.
In announcing the recognition TARs Chairman of the Board Dan Hatfield said Rob Orr isnt being honored for one action but for an entire body of work. For the last 10 years Texas Realtor Rob Orr has been a stalwart in the Texas House of Representatives. Hes been our constant go-to guy countless times to get stuck bills moving through the process and to get bad bills blocked.
He is a three-time member of the Texas Association of Realtors Legislative Hall of Fame he played a crucial and pivotal role in passing landmark eminent domain legislation for the state he served as chairman of the Land Resource Management Committee where much of our legislation is first heard and he has served on the Financial Institutions Committee and the all-important and prestigious House Appropriations Committee.
The Distinguished Service Award is given to Texas REALTORS who have made significant contributions to the real estate industry and to their community. Among Orrs qualifications that Chairman Hatfield noted in announcing the award were:
- 35-plus years in real estate.
- Maintains the professional CRS and GRI designations and is a former president (1997) of the Greater Fort Worth Association of REALTORS.
- His involvement with TAR spans 20 years and includes being Region 3 vice president and chairman of the Issues Mobilization Committee.
- Served as a National Association of Realtors (NAR) director and a member of the NARs Housing Needs Committee.
- He was named the 2013 Legislator of the Year by both Greater Fort Worth Association of Builders and the Texas Independent Automobile Dealers Association.
Orr began his real estate career in 1978 when he became a second generation Realtor joining his mother and father Billie & Jim Heffner in their firm in Burleson. He earned his brokers license in 1983 and in 1984 became the broker/owner of Orr & Associates Real Estate.
In 2004 Rep. Orr was elected to represent District 58 (Johnson and Bosque Counties) in the Texas House of Representatives and will complete his fifth and final term in January 2015. He chose to not seek re-election for the 84th legislative session.
During his tenure in the Texas Legislature he has served on numerous committees including the prestigious Appropriations Committee Select Committee on Redistricting chair and vice-chair of the Land and Resource Management Committee and vice-chair of the Business and Industry Committee.
Rep. Orr and his wife Pam who is also a Realtor have five children seven grandchildren and are awaiting grandchild number eight. Orr & Associates Real Estate now boasts a third generation of the family with sons Michael Langford and James Orr; and daughter Randi Reams joining them in the business.
