Robert S. Everitt was the first inductee into the Colorado State University Center for Investment and Real Estate Finance - Real Estate Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the "Development: Old School, New School and the Road in Between" panel discussion held December 3, 2003 at the University Park Holiday Inn in Fort Collins. "Bob Everitt has demonstrated the pinnacle of success in his business and real estate career, coupled with philanthropic endeavors on behalf of the community of Fort Collins and Colorado State and was unanimously chosen as the first recipient of this award," said Eric Holsapple, director of the Center for Investment and Real Estate Finance at Colorado State.

The Center for Investment and Real Estate Finance in the College of Business created the Real Estate Hall of Fame as part of an outreach program to successful entrepreneurs in the real estate field with connections to Colorado State. The Hall of Fame will honor individuals with lifetime achievements or significant individual achievements in the field of real estate, complimented by a focus on education and community service. Recipients will exemplify those traits which the College of Business and the Center for Investment and Real Estate Finance wish to promote to students who are entering a career path in real estate.

Everitt was born in Enid, Okla., and graduated from Enid High School. He received his bachelor's in business from the University of Oklahoma in 1950. He was commissioned into the United States Army in 1951 and served in the Korean War until 1953.
Everitt and his family moved to Fort Collins in 1953 to manage a recently-acquired family lumberyard. Within several years, the business had expanded into real estate development. The Everitt organization continued to expand with retail stores and commercial and residential developments throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma. In 2003, the Everitt Companies celebrated its 50th year in business in Fort Collins.

Everitt's leadership in the business and civic community has included service as chairman of the board of directors of First State Bank of Fort Collins; chairman of Fort Collins Inc.; president of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce; a founding director of the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority; member of the Salvation Army advisory board; founder of the Summit Investment Fund organization for the College of Business at Colorado State; member of Colorado State University's Global Leadership Council; and committee member of the Governor's Front Range Planning Task Force.
Everitt has been honored with many awards, some of which include Colorado State University Honorary Alumni and Special Recognition Award; Poudre School District Outstanding Community Education Advocate award; Northern Colorado Business Report Bravo! Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award; Colorado State University Charles A. Lory Public Service Award; Colorado Association of Partners in Education's 1998 "Partnership in Education" award; Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce community involvement "Collins Award"; and Kiwanis Club "Community Builder of the Year."
Everitt was honored this year by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain Inc., being selected as one of this year's inductees for the Colorado Business Hall of Fame, which is in its 15th year.