Arthur E. Bartlett
Encyclopedia
Arthur E. "Art" Bartlett (November 26, 1933 – December 31, 2009) was an American
entrepreneur and founder of the Century 21 Real Estate
franchise. He and a partner founded the company in 1971 with a single office, which had expanded to 7,700 offices worldwide by the time of his death, though he had sold the business to Trans World Corporation
in 1979 for nearly $90 million.
Bartlett was born in Glens Falls, New York
, and moved with his family to Long Beach, California
in the 1940s. He attended Long Beach City College
, but did not graduate. After a series of other jobs, he took up real estate in the early 1960s, accepting a position with a residential real estate firm in the San Fernando Valley. He would own his own real estate company, and met his future partner, Marshall Fisher, at a chance meeting at a diner.
Together with Fisher, he founded Century 21 with a single office in Santa Ana, California
in 1971. The business sought to provide independent real estate agencies with the combined advertising, training and brand recognition of the parent franchiser — including its distinctive gold-colored jackets — helping them compete with national and regional chains. By 1977, Century 21 had 6,000 brokers and the firm's share of commissions and other licensing fees the following year reached $23 million. Trans World Corporation
bought the company in 1979 for $28.50 per share in cash and convertible preferred stock, in a deal that valued the company at $89 million. By the time of his death, the company had 120,000 agents and 7,700 offices worldwide.
Another real estate-related franchise — a home improvement chain called Mr. Build International — was established in the early 1980s, but was closed down by the end of the decade.
Bartlett died at age 76 as a result of complications of Alzheimer's disease
while at his home in Coronado, California
. He was survived by his second wife, Nancy Sanders, as well as by a daughter, a stepson, a granddaughter and three stepgrandchildren. His first marriage, to the former Collette Cupiss, ended with her death in 2002.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur and founder of the Century 21 Real Estate
Century 21 Real Estate
Century 21 Real Estate LLC is a real estate agent franchise company founded in 1971. The Century 21 System consists of over 8,000 independently owned and operated offices. Other examples of such a system are Coldwell Banker, Engel & Völkers, ERA Real Estate, ...Century 21 has offices in more than...
franchise. He and a partner founded the company in 1971 with a single office, which had expanded to 7,700 offices worldwide by the time of his death, though he had sold the business to Trans World Corporation
Trans World Corporation
Trans World Corporation was the original name of the holding company set up to own Trans World Airlines.In 1967 , when the airline sought to diversify into other areas of business, a key investment was Hilton International Hotels, the non-American interests of the Hilton Hotels chain...
in 1979 for nearly $90 million.
Bartlett was born in Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
, and moved with his family to Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
in the 1940s. He attended Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College, established in 1927, is a community college located in Long Beach, California. It is divided into two campuses. The Liberal Arts Campus, known as LAC, is located in the residential community of the Lakewood Village section of Long Beach, on Carson Street west of Clark Avenue...
, but did not graduate. After a series of other jobs, he took up real estate in the early 1960s, accepting a position with a residential real estate firm in the San Fernando Valley. He would own his own real estate company, and met his future partner, Marshall Fisher, at a chance meeting at a diner.
Together with Fisher, he founded Century 21 with a single office in Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
in 1971. The business sought to provide independent real estate agencies with the combined advertising, training and brand recognition of the parent franchiser — including its distinctive gold-colored jackets — helping them compete with national and regional chains. By 1977, Century 21 had 6,000 brokers and the firm's share of commissions and other licensing fees the following year reached $23 million. Trans World Corporation
Trans World Corporation
Trans World Corporation was the original name of the holding company set up to own Trans World Airlines.In 1967 , when the airline sought to diversify into other areas of business, a key investment was Hilton International Hotels, the non-American interests of the Hilton Hotels chain...
bought the company in 1979 for $28.50 per share in cash and convertible preferred stock, in a deal that valued the company at $89 million. By the time of his death, the company had 120,000 agents and 7,700 offices worldwide.
Another real estate-related franchise — a home improvement chain called Mr. Build International — was established in the early 1980s, but was closed down by the end of the decade.
Bartlett died at age 76 as a result of complications of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
while at his home in Coronado, California
Coronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
. He was survived by his second wife, Nancy Sanders, as well as by a daughter, a stepson, a granddaughter and three stepgrandchildren. His first marriage, to the former Collette Cupiss, ended with her death in 2002.