Emory University News Release

Release date: May 10, 2005
Contact: Beverly Cox Clark, Assistant Director, University Media Relations,
at 404-712-8780 or beverly.clark@emory.edu

Atlanta Developer Tom Cousins to Receive Honorary Degree from Emory May 16

Atlanta developer Thomas G. Cousins will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree during Emory University's 160th commencement Monday, May 16. Cousins will join four other honorary degree recipients this year: renowned journalist and author Tom Brokaw, who will deliver the keynote address; Oxford University administrator Sir Robin Butler; nursing scholar Sue Hegyvary; and former Emory Law School Dean Ben F. Johnson Jr.

Cousins is chairman and founder of Cousins Properties Incorporated, one of the largest real estate firms in the country. He started his business in 1958 after graduating from the University of Georgia and serving in the U.S. Air Force. Cousins Properties developed such landmarks in Atlanta as the CNN Center, the Omni Coliseum and Bank of America Plaza. His development of Atlanta's East Lake mixed-income community and the creation of the Charles R. Drew charter school within the neighborhood has served as a model nationwide. Cousins also was instrumental in saving and rejuvenating the historic East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, the home golf course of Bobby Jones.

Associated with Emory for more than 30 years, Cousins has been a member of the board of visitors and the Carlos Museum, and has been an active member of the board of trustees for 13 years, continuing as trustee emeritus since 2001. He continues to work on behalf of The Carter Center, and he currently chairs the board of trustees of the Bobby Jones Trust of Emory University.

Cousins is on the board of the Georgia Research Alliance and previously has served on the boards of NationsBank (now Bank of America), First Union, Shaw Industries and Inland Container Corp. He previously was president of the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and currently is a member of its board of trustees. Cousins also served on the board of the Woodruff Arts Center.