William Thomas Tommy Towles

William Thomas (Tommy) Towles of Atlanta and Vero Beach, Florida, passed away on September 12, 2015. He was 87 years old. Tommy was born in Atlanta on May 11, 1928 to Margaret Buchanan Towles Adams and Robert Lee Towles. He spent his high school years in Palm Beach, Florida, graduating from Palm Beach High School in 1946. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology graduating in 1950 with a degree in Architecture. While at Tech, he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, a member of NROTC and the Jackets’ 1948 – 1950 SEC Championship swim teams. While at Tech, Tommy met his sweetheart and future bride, Atlanta native, Gladys Elizabeth Starr. They married on September 21, 1951 and shared a wonderful marriage of 63 years.

Following graduation, Tommy served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was assigned to the USS Montague and was stationed in the Pacific. Tommy ran Redwood Cooling Towers for several years and then began a long and successful career in real estate and development in the Southeast. He was instrumental in developing many recognizable neighborhoods, apartment complexes, retail and office centers in and around Atlanta.

Tommy was actively involved in the communities in which he lived serving on many boards and committees, usually working from behind the scenes. He and Elizabeth were founding members of Saint James United Methodist Church where he was a former Board of Trustees Chair and a strong advocate of the church’s music ministry. He was involved with Investments Unlimited and The Breakfast Club. Tommy was an original member of the Cherokee Town & Country Club, where he played golf with “The Big Table” group on Saturdays. He was also a member of Peachtree Golf Club, playing with “The Gamblers” on Thursdays and Saturdays. The game of golf was one of Tommy’s life-long passions. He shot at or below his age through his 70’s and 80’s. Tommy and Elizabeth loved to travel, playing golf on six continents and developing long time friendships with his fellow golfers.

Tommy was an athlete and a competitor all of his life. He stayed fit by walking, cycling and playing bridge. He was also passionate about Georgia Tech athletics. Tommy was active with the Georgia Tech Athletic Association and the Alexander Tharpe Fund for many years. He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame in 1968 and received the distinguished “Total Person – Former Scholar Athlete” Award in 2002. The award is given for “setting the high standards for others to follow” and he did just that.

His greatest joy in life was his family. A true southern gentleman, Tommy is survived by his wife Elizabeth Starr Towles, sons, William Thomas, Jr. (Cathy), David Lee (Joni) and daughter, Joan Towles Matthews (Mike) and 7 grandchildren whom he adored – Elizabeth (Jason), Connie, Virginia (Charles), David (Ansley), Ellie, Will, and Andrew.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 17th at 11 o'clock at Saint James United Methodist Church officiated by Rev. Dr. John Simmons. A reception at Peachtree Golf Club will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Saint James United Methodist Church or Shepherd Center.