Atlanta developer and philanthropist Tom Cousins' death this week at 93 leaves a void never to be filled. An irreplaceable presence in the metro area, he made a large difference wherever he went. He developed the CNN Center, the Pinnacle Building in Buckhead, the Omni, and the first phase of Georgia World Congress Center. Jeff Hullinger's blog features the story of Cousins' vision through the eyes of two influential friends.

Tom Cousins, East Lake Foundation Founder.

Credit: East Lake Foundation

“I know of no better human being on the planet than Tom Cousins,” said fellow Georgian and former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn talking to the Golf Global Post. “He walks in the shoes of those who are less fortunate and then takes action based on those experiences to change and improve their lives. He sees things that others cannot see. He has an amazing ability to ask the right questions and quickly get to the core of a problem. He does good, and he does it well.”

The Cousins East Lake vision changed the trajectory of Atlanta. 

Mr. Cousins retreated from public life years ago and had been living in Florida. Until his death, he would often chat with Atlanta friends and former colleagues, sharing opinions on his beloved property. 

“Tom is a man of deep faith; not evangelical, but a servant leader," said Larry Gellerstedt III, East Lake Golf Club Chair and former Executive Chairman of the Board of Cousins Properties. “It's part of his DNA. You would see him at North Avenue Presbyterian, along with my father, physically helping all those in need.”

Tom Cousins, Gellerstedt III, and his late father, developer Lawrence Gellerstedt Jr., are three of the most influential men in the history of modern Atlanta. 

“In 1986, I asked my dad: 'If he knew him [Tom Cousins], why have we never built with him? Can I meet him? And go see him?' My father told me he hadn’t asked.”

Two years later, the Cousins/Gellerstedt (Beers Construction) connection built the magnificent twin buildings of 191 Peachtree Tower.

“In 1993, [I got] a call from Tom," Gellerstedt III told me. "Meet me in front of the East Lake Golf Clubhouse. I’m thinking about buying this property to transform the neighborhoods and create world-class golf.”

The East Lake area was in crisis then. The violence was so pervasive mail delivery stopped; postal workers were frightened to enter the ZIP code. (Mayor Andrew Young got involved to ensure safety for mail to resume.)

East Lake Golf and the surrounding neighborhoods were labeled publicly as “Little Vietnam.” Residents slept in bathtubs to avoid flying bullets.

Change was coming. 

Big money projects are always loaded with promises, some empty. But this would be different.  

“East Lake became an extraordinary transformation," continued Gellerstedt III. "Golf with a purpose: to lift the community. The East Lake Foundation, the schools [Drew Charter School], the First Tee Program, Charlie Yates [public] Golf, health services and affordable housing — all of this defined by the Atlanta Way, something Tom demanded.”

East Lake Golf has buoyed east Atlanta. There is still plenty to accomplish. but this template has been shared and replicated across the country. 

Restaurants, shopping, housing, schools and flourishing neighborhoods. 

“I accepted East Lake Golf Club [chairmanship] responsibility on the basis of carrying the mission forward from the inspiration of Tom Cousins.”

The legacy of Mr. Cousins is all around Atlanta. 

Tom Cousins and Wife, Ann.

Credit: UGA