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Broward County Realtor Tom Salomone is the Florida Association of Realtors’ 2005 Realtor of the Year.

Broward County Realtor® Is FAR’s 2005 Realtor of Year

ORLANDO, Fla., September 2005 -- Tom Salomone, the 2003 president of the Florida Association of Realtors® and a member of the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale, has been named FAR's 2005 Realtor of the Year. 

The award and others were presented by President Frank Kowalski during FAR's 89th annual Convention & Trade Expo Aug. 24-28, at the Buena Vista Palace in Lake Buena Vista. More than 2,500 Realtors from across Florida attended the convention. 

Upon accepting the award, Salomone said, "I believe this is the second greatest honor one can receive. The greatest honor is being president of FAR because you have the privilege of meeting and working with Realtors across Florida. I look at this award and it's not about the hours, it's about people. Please continue to work with passion and continue to do the right things that you know in your heart are right for the citizens of Florida." 

FAR has presented both the Realtor of the Year and Associate Realtor of the Year awards for 50 years. Winners are honored as the greatest individual lifetime contributors to their local board, community, FAR and the National Association of Realtors (NAR). 

From 1980 through 1994, Salomone served on or chaired every committee for the North Broward Association of Realtors and was named its Realtor of the Year in 1992. That association later merged with the Greater Fort Lauderdale organization, and he has continued to serve or chair virtually every committee with that local association. Salomone served as president of FAR in 2003, spearheading efforts that successfully defeated legislation that would have imposed a transfer tax on every real estate transaction in Florida. 

On the state level, Salomone also has held the positions of treasurer, president-elect and District 11 vice president, served on 25 committees, chaired 14 committees and vice-chaired five committees. Since 2000, he has served as a director for NAR and on numerous committees, including as the current chairman of NAR's Large Board Subforum. 

Salomone's contributions to his community include volunteering with civic, business, charitable, church and youth organizations. He has coached a total of 47 youth sports teams in local city leagues. He also has supported his local chamber of commerce, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, the Heart Association, the Coral Springs Cancer Fund Drive and Coral Springs Muscular Dystrophy Fund Drive. In addition, Salomone spent eight years as a district supervisor for the local water control district.

The Florida Association of Realtors, the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation for more than 130,000 members in 68 local boards/associations.

© 2005 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS