Harry Joseph Joachim

Harry J. Joachim, known as the “Dean of Mississippi Real Estate” died Wednesday, November 21st in Gulfport. He was 92 years old. A native and lifelong resident of Biloxi, Joachim was a successful merchant and real estate professional and a noted civic leader. A devout Catholic, Harry was a lifelong member of the parish of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joachim was the product of both parochial schools, “sister schools” as he always referred to them and public schools. As a teenager he enjoyed the Biloxi Yacht Club and Mardi Gras, having been selected in 1928, to serve as a page to King Mark Miller and Queen Mercedes Wilkes. In 1936, Harry left Biloxi when he was appointed to serve as a page to the U.S. House of Representatives, by then Congressman William (Bill) Colmer, during the Roosevelt Administration. He graduated from the Capitol Page School in 1938; his diploma presented to him by then First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt who was also the commencement speaker. He enrolled in George Washington University and was named Overseer of the Pages in the House. Later he transferred to the University of Alabama. Harry left college and entered into military service. He spent his early time at Keesler Air Force Base where he was Assistant Sergeant Major of the Post. Chosen to attend Officer Candidate School, Harry graduated at the top of his class. Captain Joachim served with distinction as the Executive Officer of the 12th Fighter Escort Squadron, 13th Army Air Corps in the Pacific, earning seven battle stars for combat in the Solomon Islands, New Guinea and The Philippines. Under his leadership, Joachim’s squadron was awarded a Presidential Citation for meritorious service which also included downing the plane which carried the Japanese Admiral Yamamoto who engineered the attack on Pearl Harbor. Harry returned to Biloxi and along with brother Mark, spent the next 25 years managing the family business, Combel Hardware and Supply Company, two hotels, real estate interest and land sales. Under their direction, the company prospered and grew to three stores with the most successful Frigidaire Appliance franchise in the Deep South. Their business even included exporting appliances to the Bahamas. In 1960, Harry turned his family’s lifelong interest and career in real estate into a profession and earned his broker’s license. He opened Joachim Realty Company that same year, practicing real estate appraisal as well. For a number of years he was the chief appraiser for First Federal Savings and Loan Association. He was the most active member of the Biloxi-Ocean Springs Association of REALTORS® and later served as its President. Harry was honored as “REALTOR® of the Year” on four separate occasions by the Association, the only person in the history of the Association to be so honored. As Harry’s success in real estate grew, so did his level of activity in the profession. Joachim opened and operated with his brother Mark the Weaver School of Real Estate, the first of its kind in Mississippi. In 1971, he served as President of the Mississippi Association of REALTORS® He was also awarded the STATE REALTOR of the Year for his commitment to the profession. Joachim also was extremely active on the national level, having chaired several committees for the National Association of REALTORS®. He was instrumental in working for many changes to license law and the implementation of the federal licensing of the appraisal profession. Now nationally known, Harry was appointed in 1973 to the Mississippi Real Estate Commission by Governor Bill Waller. He was reappointed by three subsequent governors and served on the licensing body for 18 years, longer than anyone in the history of the State. The Mississipi Real Estate Commission named its library in honor of Harry for his commitment to the law and ethics of the profession. Harry served as Chairman of the Mississippi Real Estate Commission on several occasions, leading him to be elected as President of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) which at the time represented 2.5 million real estate licensees in the U. S. and Canada. He was the only REALTOR® in Mississippi to hold the national presidency. A nationally recognized real estate educator and speaker, Harry was also an author of articles and monographs on real estate and general business topics winning awards for his efforts. He led the effort to bring continuing education requirements for real estate licensees in Mississippi. In addition, Harry earned several designations in specialty disciplines in both real estate and appraisal. He served as president of the state chapters of the National Association of Master Appraisers, the Independent Fee Appraisers Society, the American Society of Appraisers and the Real Estate Educators Association. He was also inducted into the National Association of REALTORS® Rho Epsilon Fraternity for meritorious service to the profession and into the MAR Hall of Fame in 1994 for his untiring commitment to the betterment of the profession through education and service. Harry maintained his interest in the profession long after his retirement, still reporting daily to the company office owned and operated by daughter Cynthia. For the last two years of his life, he was REALTOR® Emeritus at Coldwell Banker Alfonso Real Estate, Inc. and could be found at his desk there until the age of 91. He has often been touted as Mississippi’s Most Honored REALTOR® and maintained a wall covered with plaques, certificates, awards and diplomas from his prolific career. Still, Harry found time to maintain active memberships in a variety of other organizations in his active years including the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Biloxi Yacht Club, where he served as Commodore. Harry was the devoted husband of Patricia Ann Streiff whom he married in 1947. They were married for 58 years until her death in 2005.The last remaining child of U.S. (Jack) and Stella Joachim, Harry was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Marilyn Joachim Janca and her husband Frank, Clare Joachim Maddox and her husband Carl, and brothers Mark G. Joachim and wife Catherine, John S. (Jack) Joachim, Sr. and wife Rose and a daughter, Patricia Ann Joachim. Survivors of Harry include daughters Cynthia Joachim, Cheryl Joachim both of Biloxi and sons Robert Joachim and wife Brynn, also of Biloxi and Harry B. Joachim and wife Rhonda of Williamsburg, VA. Other survivors include Harry’s two grandsons, who he loved dearly, (Harry) Joel Joachim and Kellen C. Joachim both of Biloxi and dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins. Those wishing to remember Harry may do so with a contribution to the Mississippi Association of REALTORS® for the Harry J. Joachim Real Estate Education Fund, P. O. Box 321000, Flowood, MS 39232 or to the Stained Glass Window Fund at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 12:30pm at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Biloxi where family and friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until the celebration of the Mass. Interment will follow in Southern Memorial Park. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.