Thomas G. (Tom) Cousins, (1931-) is a real estate developer and philanthropist. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a major in Finance, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and has been associated with real estate all of his career. Serving as President, Chief Executive Officer, or Chairman of the Board, Atlanta based Cousins Properties Incorporated is a publicly held Real Estate Investment Trust traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The company is involved in developing and managing office buildings, retail centers and residential subdivisions. Some of Cousins Properties Inc.'s most notable Atlanta landmarks include the CNN Center, the Omni Coliseum, Georgia World Congress Center, Pinnacle Building, Bank of America Building, Wildwood Office Park, and 191 Peachtree.
In addition, Cousins has served as the President of the High Museum and Chairman of the Board of the Georgia Research Alliance. He has also served on the Board of Directors or Trustees of NationsBank, Shaw Industries, Governor's Economic Development Council, Emory University, Carter Center, Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center, and others. He has been an active member of the North Avenue Presbyterian Church of Atlanta for many years. The CF Foundation, the Cousins's Family Foundation, has been awarding grants to Atlanta's worthy causes since 1988. Cousins's most notable philanthropic venture has been the restoration of the East Lake Golf Club and Community through his East Lake Community Foundation. Cousins purchased the struggling East Lake Golf Club, the home course of Bobby Jones, in 1993. The club and course went through extensive renovations in order to restore East Lake to its former glory and create a fitting tribute to Bobby Jones. The surrounding neighborhood, once one of the most dangerous in Atlanta, has also been restored. The East Lake Meadows public housing unit has been replaced by the Villages of East Lake, a mixed income community. The Charlie Yates Public course has opened complete with a Junior Golf Academy for the children of East Lake. The East Lake Community Foundation also oversaw the creation of Atlanta's first charter school, Drew School, and the East Lake Family YMCA.
Mr. Cousins has won numerous awards for real estate development and philanthropy, including the USGA Bobby Jones Award, UGA's Hartman Award, and NAIOP's Developer of the Year. Mr. Cousins married the former Ann Draughon of Auburn, Alabama in 1946 and they have three children and four grandchildren