78 Years and 3 Generations of Building a Community
Our Founder Wilbur F. "Red" Thornton, Sr. b.04-17-1899 d.11-29-1971
Born in 1899, Wilbur F. Thornton, Sr. brought his family from the West Virginia coal mines to Norfolk, Virginia in the early 1900's as an employee of Norfolk & Western Railroad. He retired as one of the railroads last yardmaster's and started a real estate and insurance company called Va. Realty and Surety Co. His big gift to the industry was creating a page with a picture of a home for sale with all of the property statistics on it. It was an easy way to show prospective buyer's property that was available. This was the beginning of the multiple listing service known today as REIN.
Our Pioneer Wilbur F. "Red" Thornton, Jr. b.12-12-1932 d. 02-23-2000
Born in 1932, Jr. was a product of the Great Depression. The stories of foodline's and the fear of war coming to our country were everyday topics. Red, Jr. was a boyscout and went to officer candidate school in the U.S. Army and saw action in Korea as a 1st Lt. of our Army's first Nike Guided Missile Systems. Always a as a young boy he loved to build houses and create little townships for his model railroad cars. He wanted to do it for real one day. Upon returning home from the army he went to work for his father and built his first home on the beach in east ocean view. It was the begining of an era that Ocean View and Norfolk had never seen. By 1985, he was responsible for 80% of the new construction in Ocean View and throughout Hampton Roads. Va. Realty Company and Homemakers, Inc. were household names. He also took the Multiple Listing Service into a necesary tool for any realtor in the country. It became a platform to keep track of a realtors listings, sales and total volume for the year. An award ceremony was started for their achievements. The W.F. Thornton, Sr. Award was the most prestigous award given at the end of the year.
Our Legacy Wilbur F. "Billy" Thornton,III b.08-10-1966
Born in 1966, the Summer of Love, in Norfolk, Virginia, Billy grew up crawling on the rugs of Va. Realty Company watching his gran-father and father build a business that had to do with having a relationship with the community. He learned how to work closely with his customers and with his community to ensure that their vision was fully realized. Not only was a new housing development important to the person who buys the home but also with the neighborhood it is built in. He compounded the ideas and framework of his forefathers to make sure that the project at hand is completed on time and within budget. He turned Va. Realty, now known as Thornton Land and Home into a family that strives to exceed their expectations and to build long-lasting relationships.
Experience You Can Trust
With over 20 years of experience in the building industry, Thornton Land and Home has the expertise to handle any project. Whether it's a small renovation or a new construction project, we have the skills and knowledge to get the job done right.