Russell K. Booth, a REALTOR® from Salt Lake City, Utah, was the 1997 president of the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR, The Voice for Real Estate®, is the nation's largest trade association, representing nearly 700,000 members involved in all aspects of the real estate industry.
Booth, a REALTOR® since 1972, is president of Mansell Commercial Real Estate Services Inc., in Midvale, Utah, a full-service commercial/investment brokerage, property management and development company. Booth is a Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI®), and holds the designations of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM®), Counselor of Real Estate (CRE®), and Certified Real Estate Broker (CRB®). Additionally, Booth received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Brigham Young University (BYU).
An NAR director since 1982, Booth has held numerous leadership positions with NAR. In 1991, Booth served as vice president and liaison to committees. He has served on numerous task forces, presidential advisory groups and committees, including the Strategic Planning Committee, Executive Committee, Political Affairs Committee and the Structural Audit Committee. In 1995, he served as first vice president for NAR. In 1996, Booth served as president-elect for NAR.
As president, Booth helped spur passage of the 1997 tax bill, which, among other things, reduced capital gains for real estate investors, eliminated capital gains for most homesellers, and provided for an eventual 100 percent health insurance premium deduction for the self-employed.
Booth also logged time in the nation's capital promoting reform of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, a law that regulates --- and in some cases hinders --- brokers' operation of ancillary businesses, such as title and mortgage companies.
When he wasn't on Capitol Hill, Booth was likely to be found crisscrossing the country to deliver the message that's near and dear to his heart --- that the REALTOR® organization stands as one in serving members' interests and preserving private property rights. It's no coincidence that on his watch the association launched a mega-website, One Realtor PlaceTM at www.REALTOR.COM, where members can link to information from the national, state, and local levels.
Booth represented NAR at the 53rd Presidential Inauguration where Bill Clinton, as the nation's 42nd president and Al Gore, as the nation's 45th vice president, were sworn in for a second term. Booth also represented REALTORS® at "The House That Congress Built" project," /> which kicked off National Home Ownership Week in June, marking a special nationwide celebration recognizing the pride of home ownership and the right to own property. During his presidency, Booth also appeared as NAR spokesman on a number of national broadcast media programs and was quoted in numerous publications for his expertise in the real estate industry.
On the state and local level, Booth served as the 1984 president of the Utah Association of REALTORS® and the 1980 president of the Salt Lake City Board of REALTORS®. He was voted REALTOR® of the Year in 1982 by the Utah Association and in 1980 by the Salt Lake City Board.
Outside of real estate, Booth is a member of Rotary International's Salt Lake City Club and her serves on the board of directors of the City Repertory Theatre and the Utah Key Republican Club. He is a past director for the Bonneville Exchange Club, and has served on the Planned Gifts Committee of the Primary Children's Hospital, the Salt Lake County Housing Authority Bonding Committee and the Utah Valley Community College Capital Advisory Board.
Booth has taught real estate courses for the Utah Association of REALTORS®, the University of Utah and in private real estate schools.
Booth and his wife, Nina, reside in Salt Lake City. They have six children.
Source: Archives of the National Association of REALTORS®, (Chicago).