# David R. Emery

> David R. Emery (1944-2019) was a Nashville real estate developer who founded Healthcare Realty in 1992, led it as president and CEO until 2016, and served as chairman until shortly before his death. His work also included Nashville City Center, majority ownership of Spruce Point Inn & Resort, and board leadership at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

- **Role:** Real estate developer and business executive
- **Organizations:** Healthcare Realty Trust, Emery Partnership, LLC, R.A. McDowell, Spruce Point Inn & Resort, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club
- **Education:** Red Bank High School, B.S. in Business Administration, Tennessee Technological University
- **Known for:** Founded Healthcare Realty and oversaw its 1993 public offering., Developed Nashville City Center and West End Avenue properties., Helped lead design and construction of the botanical gardens visitor center opened in 2018.

## Career timeline

- **1967** — After college, joined R.A. McDowell in Nashville, buying and selling interstate-adjacent land.
- **1973** — Began the Rokeby Apartments development on West End Avenue.
- **1983** — Metro Council rejected condemnation of his Church Street property, 21 votes against to 17 in favor.
- **1988** — Completed the 27-story Nashville City Center.
- **1992** — Led the team that founded Healthcare Realty.
- **1993** — Oversaw the NYSE IPO, raising $117 million for 21 initial properties.
- **2010** — Purchased majority ownership of Spruce Point Inn & Resort.
- **2013** — Rang the NYSE opening bell on May 20 for the company’s twentieth listing anniversary.
- **2016** — Became executive chairman as Todd Meredith became president and CEO on December 30.
- **2018** — The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens visitor center opened following his work leading its design and construction.
- **2019** — Became chairman emeritus; died September 30, aged 75; received the HREI Insights Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.

## Achievements

- Founded Healthcare Realty and oversaw its 1993 public offering.
- Developed Nashville City Center and West End Avenue properties.
- Helped lead design and construction of the botanical gardens visitor center opened in 2018.
- Received the 2019 HREI Insights Lifetime Achievement Award.

## Latest updates

- **2023-05** — Healthcare Realty’s thirtieth-anniversary LinkedIn posts revisited Emery’s leadership and his 2013 NYSE bell-ringing ceremony.
- **2019-12** — Received the HREI Insights Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.
- **2019-09** — Died September 30, aged 75.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/david-r-emery
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23