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Houston Economic Group Honors Fred Griffin '60

Congratulations to Washington and Lee alumnus Fred B. Griffin, of the Class of 1960, for winning the 2013 Quasar Award from The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP).

Fred, or Buzz as W&L classmates will remember him, will receive the award next month at the organization’s 21st Annual Quasar Award Banquet. The Quasar Award is presented each year to a prominent individual “who has contributed greatly to the economic wealth and diversity of the Bay Area Houston region.”

Fred is owner and co-chairman of Griffin Partners, Inc., which operates as a commercial real estate development, management, and leasing company. The company develops office parks, industrial buildings, and healthcare-related complexes, as well as retail shopping centers, including single-tenant, large-scale, and multi-tenant buildings.

In an announcement of the award, the president of BAHEP, Bob Mitchell, said that “Fred Griffin has spent most of his life developing communities that have added greatly to the economic development of the region as well as to the quality of life of its residents.”

Fred responded to the news of the award by saying: “When I learned that I was going to be presented with the 2013 Quasar Award I was almost speechless. For the past 20 years, this award has been given to outstanding men and women who have devoted their careers to help make our lives better. To be included among them is such an honor for which I am very grateful.”

Previous recipients of the award have included Texas Gov. Ann Richards, Houston Mayor Bill White, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, and U.S. Senator John Cornyn.

After earning his B.S. degree in physics and engineering at W&L, Buzz received his M.B.A. from the University of Texas. He began his career with Exxon Company USA and began his real estate career with Friendswood Development Company, a subsidiary of Exxon.  In 1980, he formed formed Griffin/Juban Companies, the predecessor to Griffin Partners. The companies have completed ground-up development projects encompassing more than 4,000,000-square feet of corporate office and retail space.

Buzz’s son, Ed, a 1985 W&L graduate, is now president of Griffin Partners.

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