Commission Creates Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award

The Commission has established the Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award to honor the late former Director of the Education and Licensing Division of the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. Larry A. Outlaw, both an attorney and licensed real estate broker, served as Director of the Education and Licensing Division for 35 years, from its  creation in January, 1979 until his retirement February 1, 2014. Sadly, Outlaw died suddenly, but peacefully, on July 6, 2015.

A native of Mount Olive, Outlaw was a graduate of Davidson College and the University of North Carolina School of Law. Prior to joining the Commission, he worked in both administration and development of educational programs at the community/junior college level.

Outlaw continually worked to improve real estate prelicensing education and to expand real estate education, creating and implementing a continuing education program in 1994 and a postlicensing education program in 2006.  He advocated for and achieved minimum standards for approval of real estate instructors that included not only effective teaching skills, but real estate brokerage experience as well, and worked to assure the excellence of the Commission’s licensing examination.  Outlaw also played a primary role in the development of North Carolina’s appraiser education and licensing program.

In 1979, Outlaw was a Founding Member of the national Real Estate Educators Association, serving as national president in 1990-1991, and promoted instructor development opportunities throughout his tenure as Director.  He also served multiple terms as Chairman of the Examination Certification Committee of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO®), an international organization.

As a researcher and author, Outlaw shouldered major responsibility from 2000 to 2014 for the biennial editions of the North Carolina Real Estate Manual, a comprehensive reference for matters concerning North Carolina brokerage practice and the current text for all postlicensing education courses.  Prior to the Manual, Outlaw collaborated with law professors James A. Webster, Jr., and Patrick K. Hetrick to produce multiple editions of North Carolina Real Estate for Brokers and Salesmen – the primary textbook for generations of North Carolina real estate prelicensing course students.

In 1990, Outlaw received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Governor James G. Martin given to outstanding individuals who have a proven record of service to the state.  He also received the Old North State Award honoring citizens who have provided exemplary service and commitment to North Carolina.

Outlaw’s legacy is one of dedication and service to the betterment of real estate brokers and educators and the creation of an educational and licensing program that serves as a national model. To recognize this legacy and honor the man who established such an exemplary program, the Commission created the Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award that will be awarded annually to an outstanding North Carolina real estate educator at the Commission’s Educators Conference each spring.  Recipients will receive an engraved version of the award to keep, while a larger version with all winners’ names engraved on it will be displayed in the Commission’s office.

The Billie J. Mercer Excellence in Education award, which honored the late former Commission member and chair, has been retired.  The Mercer award, listing the instructor-recipients from 2003 through 2015, will continue to be displayed at the Commission’s office as well.

This article came from the Feb 2016-Vol46-3 edition of the bulletin.