Our Donor
Gary W. Keller established the Gary W. Keller Endowment for The Keller Center for Research in the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University in 2006.
Keller, who earned a BBA in Real Estate and Finance from Baylor in 1979, is co-founder and chairman of the board of Keller Williams Realty International (KWRI). KWRI was established in 1983 - only four years after his graduation from Baylor - and is the largest and fastest-growing residential real estate franchise in North America. KWRI is known as an employee- and customer-friendly agency and for its particular emphasis on ethics, integrity and education.
Keller discovered a love for learning at Baylor - a passion that remains strong today. He provides strategic direction for all Keller Williams divisions and affiliate companies, including Keller Williams University, which provides training and instruction for agents in real estate sales and management.
The Keller Center for Research at Baylor extends his passion for learning by providing the funding to support and highlight academic research being conducted around the globe in the areas of marketing and sales, management, technology and ethics, among others, with implications for today's real estate professionals.
Based on his leadership and contributions to the global real estate industry, Keller has received numerous awards and distinctions throughout his tenure at KWRI, including Baylor's 2011 Medal of Service for Business and 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award. Additionally, he was named to the 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders in 2010, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Central Texas and dubbed second most influential person in the real estate industry in 2003 and voted as one of five "Most Admired People" by REAL Trends magazine in 2000.
Keller also authored three nationally best-selling books for the general public - The ONE Thing, The Millionaire Real Estate Agent and The Millionaire Real Estate Investor - all of which have enjoyed numerous months on the national best-seller list.
Keller lives in Austin, TX and is married to Mary Pfluger (BA '77). They have one child, John. He enjoys playing the guitar, reading, movies, sports, traveling, helping others and spending as much time as possible with his family and friends.
