Edward Everett Noble

NOBLE, Ed Ed Noble, 88, peacefully passed away Sunday at his home after a lengthy illness. A longtime resident of Atlanta, Georgia, Ed Noble was a renowned visionary entrepreneur, business developer and philanthropist. Edward Everett Noble was born in 1928 in Ardmore, Oklahoma, to Lloyd and Vivian Noble. Ed spent his formative youth in Ardmore. At an early age, Noble learned the value of work from his father, Lloyd Noble, a famed Oklahoma oilman and philanthropist. He worked numerous jobs as a youth from mowing lawns and sacking groceries to working on a ranch and eventually working in the oil fields of Samedan Oil Corporation to learn the family business. In mid-1940s, Noble attended St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, before attending the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. After college, Noble moved to Midland, Texas, where he worked in the West Texas Division of the Samedan Oil Corporation. He married LaVerne Estes before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be closer to Cecil Forbes, after the death of his father. When he was 28 years old, Noble moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to develop and open the popular Lenox Square Shopping Center in 1959. At the time, Lenox Square was one of the first and largest regional shopping centers in the United States. He then built an award-winning small, independent chain of motels/hotels, Noble Inns Corporation, which culminated in 1973 with the Terrace Garden Inn. In the early 1980s, Noble played a role in national politics as part of the Reagan administration. President Ronald Reagan appointed him to lead the transition team for the U.S. Synthetic Fuels Corporation. The Synthetic Fuels Corporation had been created by the previous administration. Noble then served as Chairman from 1981 until 1986. Noble understood the benefits of synthetic fuels for our country's strategic security but believed that companies seeking government funds should be willing to put their money at risk along with the taxpayers'. Thanks to Noble, the U.S. Synthetic Fuels Corporation developed outcomes that only spent $1.7 billion of the designated $88 billion in taxpayer funds. Noble returned to business and development after his stint in Washington, D.C. He helped spearhead the development of the land west of Interstate 35 in Norman, Oklahoma, during the late 1980s, adding to projects including retail, condos and apartments. He founded and served as President and CEO of Noble Properties, Inc. ? until his retirement. Noble was the second son of Lloyd Noble, the founder of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. Ed Noble served on the Noble Foundation's Board of Trustees from 1951 to 2003, helping direct the organization's activities for more than half a century. He also served as a director of Noble Affiliates, Inc. Additionally, Noble was a member of Church of the Apostles and served on numerous boards throughout his life including: the Foundation of the Holy Apostles, Pace Academy, Oglethorpe University, the George West Mental Health Foundation, Buckhead Coalition, Piedmont Hospital Foundation, Southeastern Legal Foundation, St. John's Military Academy and the Hoover Institute. He was one of the initial founders of The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. Noble received numerous civic honors from the City of Atlanta, Georgia, for his contribution to improving the quality of life as well as the Bullish on Buckhead Award from the Buckhead Business Association. During the 1995-1996 session, the Georgia House of Representatives passed a resolution commending Ed Noble for his contribution to the state. He is survived by his wife, Maria; daughter, Vivian and husband, Sam DuBose; Ben Noble; granddaughter, Ginger and husband, James Heckman; sister, Ann and husband, Dr. David Brown; LaVerne Noble; Carol Elizabeth Lindsay; cousin, Carolyn Smith; Marcel and Roland Brown, and numerous dearly loved cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family. Noble was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Vivian Noble; brothers, Sam Russel Noble and Richard Noble; and cousin, Margaret Baldridge. The family would like to thank the compassionate caregivers, Yao Bigah and Tom Umstead, Jr. for their devotion and support. Noble's hobbies included politics, snow skiing, walking, and yes, dancing. A private family burial will be held in Ardmore, Oklahoma. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Ed Noble's memory to the following: Leading The Way Atlanta, Georgia Church of the Apostles Atlanta Georgia The Heritage Foundation Washington, D.C. or charity of choice.