Alvin B. Cates Award

About the Award

The Alvin B. Cates Award is one of the most prestigious honors presented by the Atlanta Commercial Board. It recognizes an outstanding and noteworthy commercial real estate transaction distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and skill rather than transaction volume or monetary value.

The award’s history dates to 1937, when Alvin B. Cates, Sr. presented the Georgia Association of REALTORS® with a large sterling silver trophy. He requested that the trophy be awarded annually to the association member who completed the most outstanding real estate transaction of the calendar year.

For many years, the Alvin B. Cates Award was presented to an Atlanta Board member in recognition of an exceptional commercial transaction. In the late 1950s, the Georgia Association of REALTORS® retired the trophy to the Atlanta Board. Since that time, the Atlanta Commercial Board has continued the tradition of presenting this distinguished award at its annual Million Dollar Club Banquet. The recipient holds the historic silver trophy for one year before it is presented to the following year’s honoree.

Each year, the selection committee is entrusted with identifying the transaction that best exemplifies the award’s distinguished criteria. Only one transaction is selected, reflecting the exceptional nature of this honor.

The Atlanta Commercial Board is proud to recognize the accomplished ACBR members whose extraordinary work, professional expertise, and innovative approach have earned them a place among the recipients of the Alvin B. Cates Award.

Past Alvin B. Cates Recipients