Gerald D. Hines

Gerald Douglas Hines (August 15, 1925 – August 23, 2020) was an American real estate developer based in Houston. He was the founder and chairman of Hines, a privately held real estate firm with its headquarters in that city. At the time of his death, the company had assets in 25 countries.

Early life and education Hines was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 15, 1925, to Gordon and Myrte (née McConnell) Hines. His parents had moved to Gary from Nova Scotia in 1923. Hines was descended from British loyalists who fought in the Revolutionary War. Following his service as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1943 to 1946, he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1948. He was then employed by American Blower Corp, and was subsequently transferred to Houston. After working at the company for several years, he went to work for Texas Engineering. recognized Hines as one of the largest real estate firms in the world, with operations throughout the U.S. and across the globe.

At the time of his death, the Hines portfolio of projects underway, completed, acquired, and managed for third parties includes more than 1,900 properties representing approximately of office, living/housing, mixed-use, industrial/logistics, hospitality, medical, retail, and sports facilities, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments. As of 2016, his net worth equaled US$1.3 billion.

Personal life

In 1952, he married Dorothy Schwarz (died 2017) of the Schwarz family, founders of F.A.O. Schwarz toys; they have two children: Jeff and Jennifer, and divorced in 1980. Instead he became a vegetarian and followed a vigorous exercise routine. He helped to fund studies conducted by Dean Ornish. who had grown up in Australia, the daughter of Holocaust survivors. Together they had two children: Serena and Trevor.

Hines died on August 23, 2020, at his home in Connecticut. Hines has an Urban Land Institute competition and award named in his honor: the ULI/Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition. 2000: Honor Award from the National Building Museum 2002 Urban Land Institute J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionary Urban Development 2008: the first Visionary Leadership in Real Estate Development Award, a lifetime achievement award from Harvard University 2009: with his wife Barbara, the Guardian of the Human Spirit Award from the Holocaust Museum Houston 2012: honorary doctorate from the University of Houston