The William C. Jennings Award for Commercial Transaction of the Year stands as a testament to the legacy of William C. Jennings, Sr., a distinguished figure in Texas real estate who dedicated his career to leadership and excellence. The award honors individuals who embody REALTOR® values and recognizes outstanding commercial real estate transactions that benefit clients, enhance community life, and drive economic development.

Applications will be available from September 15 through November 15.

Eligibility

  • All commercial brokers and agents who are members of Texas REALTORS® can enter. 
  • The deal must have closed within the past 3 years. (Non-winning deals submitted previoulsy can be resubmitted.)
  • The project does not need to be operational to qualify. 
  • If you are the primary agent on a transaction and receive support from a team, all participating agents must be members of the board.
  • The deal must benefit the client, enhance the community’s quality of life, and contribute to the economic development of the applicant’s market.
  • Transaction does not have to be a multimillion-dollar deal.
  • Anyone on the evaluation panel is ineligible to apply.
  • Past winning deals cannot be resumitted. 
  • Only one entry per REALTOR® members

Submission Guidelines

  • Narrative describing the deal and its impact.
  • Evidence of improved communication with local associations.
  • Documentation of the deal’s impact on quality of life and community benefits.
  • Documentation of the deal’s contribution to economic development.
  • Description of the applicant’s role in the project.
  • Before and after pictures of the project.
  • Third party recommendations or testimonials in support of your application (optional)

Judging Criteria

  • Creativity and Innovation of the Deal (30%): Demonstrated creativity in structuring, repositioning, or repurposing a commercial real estate transaction. This may include innovative problem-solving, strategic decision-making, or forward-thinking design that added value to the deal or addressed a unique challenge.
  • Community Impact (35%): The transaction’s positive effect on the surrounding community. This includes contributions to economic development, improved quality of life, enhanced infrastructure, or increased access to services. Judges will consider how the project meets local needs or elevates the area.
  • Transaction Complexity (15%): The level of difficulty involved in completing the deal. Factors may include legal or regulatory hurdles, multi-party coordination, financing challenges, or complicated negotiations. The deal should reflect a higher-than-average level of effort and execution.
  • Applicant’s Role in the Deal (10%): Clarity and significance of the applicant’s involvement in the transaction. Preference is given to applicants who led key phases of the deal, made strategic decisions, or played a central role in its success from conception to completion.
  • Quality of the Application (10%): Overall presentation of the submission. Applications should be complete, clearly written, and provide sufficient detail to evaluate each judging criterion. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Award-Winner Perks

  • Plaque and recognition at the annual Texas REALTORS® Winter Meeting Awards Luncheon
  • The winner of the award will be featured in Texas REALTOR® magazine
  • Nominated for recognition at the national level.
  • Recognition across Texas REALTORS® social media platforms

Judging Panel

  • Texas REALTORS® Commercial Committee Leadership
  • The immediate past chair of the Texas REALTORS® Commercial Committee

Application Timeline

  • Applications accepted from September 15 to November 15
  • Winner notified in December

About William C. Jennings

William C. Jennings, Sr. served as president of the Fort Worth Board of REALTORS®, president of Texas REALTORS®, and served on the Executive Board of the National Association of REALTORS®. He founded the Commercial Investment Division of Texas REALTORS® and was appointed by the governor of Texas to be chairman of the Texas Real Estate Research Center. His career accomplishments were recognized when he received the REALTORS® statewide award for the commercial real estate transaction of the year, and a real estate professorship at the University of Texas at Austin was named in his honor.