IRVINE, CA-Bill Langston, co-founder of Snyder Langston, a real estate and construction advisor to Fortune 500, mid-size and start-up companies, has passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer; he was 80 years old. Langston leaves his family, co-workers and friends with memories of a man who made the most of his life.
Langston, along with Don Snyder, founded the firm in 1959. According to chairman Steve Jones, he mentored many employees, who were fortunate to know him as a leader, one of the great joke tellers and someone who could be counted as a friend. “I have often referenced his unusually entrepreneurial orientation that always sought to see any aspect of the business that would serve our clients as an area worth understanding and mastering,” Jones said in a prepared statement.
One of nine children, Langston was born in Farmville, NC. As a teenager, the family settled in Myrtle Beach, SC, where he played semi-pro baseball for two years as a first baseman. He also served as a volunteer fireman. In 1953, he married Beverly Kath, his partner and the love of his life for 59 years.
Langston had worked in the construction industry as a tradesman, but soon became an entrepreneur, building his first home with his wife while in their 20s with a “handshake” loan from a local bank. Their children, Catherine and Alan, were born during this time.
Responding to a business opportunity, the family moved to Wisconsin, where they built their second home. After four year, they decided to move to California, ending up in Orange County. Here, he met and teamed up with Snyder, who also worked in the trades with his father in a construction. Snyder Langston pioneered in developing Orange County. “Central to their success was integrity, strong relationships and creativity,” said Jones. “Today, that tradition carries on.”
Langston had a passion for flying, learning languages and fly fishing, which took him to many corners of the globe. He is survived by his wife and two children, as well as two granddaughters, Perrin and Jillian.
It was Langston’s desire to have a private family service, so there will be no formal service. The family wants friends to know that they appreciate the outpouring of love and condolences and are very grateful to his many loyal friends for maintaining their relationships during the last difficult months of his illness.
In lieu of flowers, for those wishing to make a donation, Langston dedicated his efforts to the City of Hope and the Southern California College of Optometry.
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Carrie Rossenfeld
Carrie Rossenfeld is a reporter for the San Diego and Orange County markets on GlobeSt.com and a contributor to Real Estate Forum. She was a trade-magazine and newsletter editor in New York City before moving to Southern California to become a freelance writer and editor for magazines, books and websites. Rossenfeld has written extensively on topics including commercial real estate, running a medical practice, intellectual-property licensing and giftware. She has edited books about profiting from real estate and has ghostwritten a book about starting a home-based business.
