For 46 years, Joe Steele helped Huntsville families find homes

For nearly 50 years, Joe Steele worked as a Realtor and builder, constructing some 1,600 homes, commercial properties and, at one point, owned five building companies - four in Huntsville and one in Rainbow City. His developments include Fox Run, Stallion Run, Ashley Estates, Cottonwood Estates and Northeast Chase Estates.

He laughs when talking about his career, from which he retired about seven years ago.

“I don’t know when I slept,” Steele said.

Steele, 84, has seen growth and change, from the 1960s, when $10-per-square-foot could buy you a house in Haysland Estates, to today’s homes costing nearly $300 per square foot in The Ledges. He and Alvin Blackwell, former Realtor and chairman of Huntsville Hospital, worked to develop education for Realtors that helped give credibility to the industry. Steele was also instrumental in launching the Huntsville market’s multiple-listing service.

Not all of his ventures were real-estate related: With three business partners, Steele opened the first Kwik Oil Change franchise in Huntsville.

He has been active in numerous local community organizations: The first Rocket City Marathon was the Joe Steele Rocket City Marathon, which Steele sponsored in the event’s early years. Steele has also been active with the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

A World War II veteran and former Hall of Fame Builder, Steele was recently awarded the Realtor Ameritas award from the National Association of Realtors.

Steele and his wife, Willena, operated Century 21 Steele & Associates before selling it to Willena’s son, Steve Cawthon, who serves on the state real estate board and is a former Alabama Realtor of the Year. Joe Steele’s son, Steve Steele, owns Steve Steele Custom Homes and has been named a Builder of the Year by the Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association.

The Steeles recently sat for an interview with Times Business Writer Gina Hannah. The interview has been edited for space and cla

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