Three Generations of Business
Over fifty Years of Service
In the mid-1960s, Thomas Galloway and his late wife Bridget began independently selling real estate and insurance out of their home. Eventually, Tom opened his own agency known as Galloway Real Estate. His one-man office was located on East 7th Street in Oswego, NY.
Local business owners and residents were very encouraging of the new venture. Through hard work and long hours, the business grew. Tom bought into the Realty World franchise and expanded his office to 12 agents, all while serving as chief tax assessor for the city of Oswego.
The next venture for Tom was purchasing a Century 21 Real Estate franchise from retiring broker Harold Wallace. Once Galloway Real Estate was affiliated with Century 21, they never looked back. Tom would go on to serve as president of the Oswego County Board of Realtors and take the business he built to new heights.
Looking back, Tom said he is most proud of what he and his family accomplished, from working out of his home to making Century 21 Galloway Realty a staple in Oswego.
Genuine Partnership
At 18 years old, Tom’s son William (known as Bill) earned his real estate license. Bill did real estate on the side while working at Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (now known as Exelon) for 10 years.
In 1994, Bill and his wife Elaine purchased CENTURY 21 Galloway Realty from his father Tom. Bill became the broker/owner and has devoted more than 40 years of his life to real estate.
“He (Bill) is willing to help anyone, any time of day, any day of the week,” said Elaine.
Elaine’s contribution to the business cannot be understated. In 2001, Elaine retired from Niagara Mohawk after 19 years to join CENTURY 21 Galloway Realty as the business manager.
“I love working with technology to ensure we provide our agents the resources they need to manage a very busy business,” said Elaine about the role of technology in the office.
“Technology changes daily, so you have to stay on top of it,” Elaine said. “Our agents have great tools to help make their jobs easier and to optimize the customer experience.”
Three Generations
Bill and Elaine have two sons, Ryan and Brandan, and both have used their skills in technology to help the family business.
Brandan, currently living in Rochester, NY, obtained his master’s degree in human computer interaction from SUNY Oswego. He used those skills to help CENTURY 21 Galloway Realty with advertising, social media, and to improve office efficiency with technology.
Ryan worked on the office management side of the business for several years, extensively in advertising, social media, and as the office compliance coordinator. Recently Ryan earned his real estate license, making him the third generation of the Galloway family to join the business.
“I literally grew up in this business,” said Ryan. “I remember running around the old CENTURY 21 Galloway Realty offices as a kid, distracting my Aunt Deb who also worked in the office for a time.”
“I’m excited to help carry on the family legacy,” Ryan said. “I absorbed a lot of information from my father and grandfather over the years that I use to help people find their dream homes or help any of their real estate needs.”
Bill added, he would be pleased to see the family name continue on for another 50 years.
“Being in business for over 50 years is a huge accomplishment and the Galloway family is proud beyond words of that feat,” Bill said. “We look forward to providing top quality real estate service to the Oswego community for many years to come.”
Family Traditions, Modern Service
Bill learned a lot from following in his dad’s footsteps and combined that experience with his own. He believes in working hard, being honest, and providing the best service possible for his clients. Bill grew up in Oswego and has stayed in Oswego because he felt it was important to give back to his community.
“Serving Oswego for half a century is one of the most important things the Galloway family is proud of,” Bill said. “One of the ways CENTURY 21 Galloway Realty has continued to evolve as the world has changed with the rise of the internet is through social media.”
Century 21 provides access to social media in conjunction with additional training tools for agents. Social media is a great way to connect with our clients.
“We have the most experienced agents in the industry on our team,” Bill said. “Without our team, we wouldn’t still be here after 50 years. We provide our clients with top quality service and are proud to consistently earn the highest-level awards within the Century 21 network.”
