
From left to right: Governor Nathan Deal, GHS President and CEO Todd Groce, and Tom Cousins in 2012.
July 30, 2025, Savannah, Georgia – The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) and the GHS Board of Curators are deeply saddened to learn of the death on July 29, 2025, of visionary real estate developer and philanthropist, Thomas Grady “Tom” Cousins, at age 93.
“Even in life, Tom Cousins had become a remarkable historical figure,” said W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society. “Tom’s career was taking off just as Atlanta was freeing itself from the icy grip of Jim Crow, which had stifled the growth of the city. He helped to forge the biracial alliance between the business community and city government that catapulted Atlanta into one of the leading cities in America.”
Tom Cousins was a real estate developer, philanthropist, and the original owner of the Atlanta Hawks. As founder of Cousins Properties, he spearheaded the development of landmarks like the CNN Center, the Omni Coliseum, 191 Peachtree Tower, the Bank of America Plaza, and the initial phase of the World Congress Center, shaping the Atlanta’s modern identity.
“In many ways, Tom Cousins was the embodiment of the Atlanta spirit, a unique combination of entrepreneurial drive, visionary leadership, and generous philanthropy,” said Groce. “From economic and business development to education and race relations, he was always at the forefront. History will remember him as a giant who left an indelible imprint on the city of Atlanta, and he helped create the modern South.”
In 2012, Cousins was inducted by GHS and the Office of the Governor as a Georgia Trustee in recognition of his outstanding lifetime achievements and service to the people of Georgia. It is the highest honor the state can confer.
The original Georgia Trustees, a governing body chartered and appointed by His Majesty King George II of England in 1732 to establish a new colony in North America, founded Georgia upon the principle of Non Sibi, Sed Aliis, “Not for Self, but for Others.” GHS and the Governor’s Office reestablished the Trustees in 2008. The Governor annually appoints new Trustees whose history-making accomplishments and service reflect the original Trustees’ ideals.
The Georgia Historical Society joins all Georgians in honoring Tom Cousins’s remarkable life of service and leadership.
For more information on the Georgia Historical Society, please contact Keith Strigaro, Director of Public Relations and Communications, at 912.651.2125, ext. 153, or by email at kstrigaro@georgiahistory.com.
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ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia and American history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.