J. Ronald (Ron) Terwilliger (born September 1941) is the Chief Executive Officer of Trammell Crow Residential. He is primarily known for being the principal owner of the Atlanta Dream, a franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association.

[edit] Background

Terwilliger graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1963.^[1] After serving five years in the United States Navy, he attended Harvard University where he received his MBA and was elected a Baker Scholar.^[2] Since 1986, he has been the head of Trammell Crow Residential, the largest developer of multi-family housing in the United States.^[3] He is known for his charitable efforts in Atlanta and has worked with Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin.

From 1999 to 2001, Terwillger was chairman of the Urban Land Institute.^[4] In 2007, Terwilliger was elected to serve as chairman of Habitat for Humanity International's board of directors. In 2009, Terwilliger committed $100 million to Habitat for Humanity, a donation that will help an estimated 60,000 families.^[5]

Terwilliger has two children, both girls. He has two granddaughters, his first grandchild being born in 1998.

[edit] Sports

Terwilliger describes himself as a "sports nut". He played baseball and basketball at the Naval Academy,^[6] and he currently serves a subcommittee chair of the Naval Academy's Athletic Committee. He has also owned the Atlanta Attack, a franchise of the Major Indoor Soccer League (2001 – 2008), bailing out after losses exceeded $1 million.^[6] Terwilliger also led an investment group that made a bid for ownership of the Atlanta Braves in 2006.^[7]

In 2007, Terwilliger was approached by a committee wanting to bring a WNBA franchise to Atlanta. Terwillinger began exploring the idea and in October 2007 in a press conference in Atlanta, WNBA President Donna Orender named Terwillinger the owner of the franchise that was to become the Atlanta Dream.^[8][9]

Terwilliger paid $1 million upfront for the Dream. He will pay another $1 million between 2009 and 2012 and pay $8 million in annual installments beginning in 2012.^[6]

[edit] References