A community builder in every sense of the word, attorney and civic leader Ben W. Hale, Jr. has left an enormous legacy on the central Ohio community that he played a significant role in shaping, literally and figuratively. Hale died May 28 at the age of 70.

“Ben has expertly navigated difficult waters to bring parties together that often had vastly different opinions and was able to achieve consensus while earning the respect and admiration of all involved,” noted Les Wexner, founder, chairman and CEO of L Brands. “He had uncompromising integrity and dedication to his community, family and friends.”

From Dublin to New Albany and Muirfield Village to Easton Town Center, his influence can be felt throughout the region. In fact, Hale had the distinction of having worked in virtually every community in central Ohio. His humility, wit and wisdom enabled him to find common ground and get the best results even in seemingly irreconcilable situations.

“Ben was one of the most influential and trusted colleagues with whom I have ever had the pleasure of working,” said Terry Foegler, director of strategic initiatives/special projects for Dublin and president of Terry Foegler & Associates, LLC. “On a personal level, he was one of the most engaging and sincere people I have ever known.”

It is nearly impossible to find a colleague, client or opposing legal counsel who did not also consider Hale a friend. “He was the rare combination of trusted advisor, business partner and, most importantly, friend,” recalled Don Casto III, partner, Casto. “He was better at understanding and reconciling competing agendas than any one with whom I’ve ever worked and it was rare that the various stakeholders in a transaction failed to realize that they had been well served by his abilities.”

Many throughout the central Ohio community agreed. “As a friend to many of us in the development community, Ben will be missed,” added J. Jeffery McNealey, partner, Porter Wright. “Ben always counseled his friends and clients wisely.”

According to Robert H. Schottenstein, CEO of MI Homes, Inc., Hale was a man of “immeasurable talent.” “He had superior judgment and an uncanny and uncommon way of assessing people and situations…he was the consummate problem solver and he always did things the right way,” Schottenstein said. “Perhaps more than anything, however, Ben was a man of extraordinary integrity and all who knew him experienced first hand the sheer force of his character.”

Hale was a featured speaker at a recent “Storyteller Series,” hosted by the Columbus District Council of the Urban Land Institute, where he addressed a sell out crowd and credited meditation for his sharp focus and shared his personal philosophy of “being nice to everyone.”

Last year, Hale received a Lifetime Achievement Award from NAIOP (Central Ohio Chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association) and the New Albany Chamber of Commerce where he resided with his wife, Jan. His work in his hometown of Huntington, West Virginia helped jump start a stalled downtown urban renewal project that became the successful Pulman Square and resulted in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch naming Hale one of its outstanding citizens.

For nearly 30 years, Hale served on the Franklin County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, twice as its president. He was founding member and first chairman of Creative Housing, Inc., a non-profit corporation that provides community housing alternatives for individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. The program has become a national model.

Hale received his bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and a law degree from The Ohio State University. He joined the firm of Smith and Tobin, which later became Smith & Hale where he specialized in real estate law.

Written by: Cheryl Pentella, Communications Chair, ULI Columbus

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