10/20/2025
Christina Asbury ALC our Chapter President supprised me.
Trailblazer Award Presentation – Lou Jewell, ALC
Tonight, we honor a man whose name has become woven into the very history of land brokerage in North Carolina — and across the country.
A teacher, a leader, a soldier, a scout, and always — a land professional.
Lou Jewell, ALC, has spent decades blazing trails for those of us who followed.
Before “land education” was even a recognized concept in North Carolina, Lou was out there pushing for it — writing it, teaching it, and shaping how our industry understands land.
He helped create and advance Form 502, the Land Information Worksheet, long before most states had any land disclosure framework. His advocacy led directly to the adoption of North Carolina’s new Form 142 Land Disclosure, ensuring buyers and sellers finally have transparency on the issues that really matter — soil conditions, easements, contamination, wetlands, timber rights, and so much more.
Lou didn’t just identify problems — he built solutions. His insight guided the NC REALTORS® Commercial Forms Committee, where he served for years, and his written work, including “An Insider’s Guide to Land Investment” and his many published articles in Insight and Terra Firma, has educated thousands.
He was instrumental in connecting the dots between education, ethics, and expertise — advocating for the word “Land” to be added to Article 11 of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, making clear that land brokerage is its own discipline, deserving of its own standards and competence requirements. That single change has shaped how REALTORS® nationwide are trained and held accountable in land transactions.
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Lou’s impact extends beyond forms and classrooms.
He’s taught RLI’s Land 101 course since 2003, influencing a generation of brokers and developers. In 2009, he was named National Instructor of the Year by the REALTORS® Land Institute. And if you’ve ever taken one of his classes, you know the man doesn’t just lecture — he mentors.
He’s also a two-time RLI Chapter President, serving as President of both the NC Chapter (2003) and the Carolinas Chapter (2014–2015), and a Board member continuously since 1998.
He’s been named RLI Land REALTOR® of the Year twice — for North Carolina in 2010 and for the Carolinas Chapter in 2018.
Beyond the classroom and boardroom, Lou lives his commitment to service — as a former 2nd Lieutenant in the NC Army National Guard, an Eagle Scout, and a member of the Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad.
And for those who know him best — he’s also the steady voice behind “Let’s Talk Land,” his weekly podcast where he keeps doing what he’s always done: teaching, sharing, and challenging us all to raise the bar.
Lou, through your persistence, our profession is better.
You’ve taken “Under All is the Land” from a motto to a mission — and you’ve given this industry tools, structure, and integrity that will outlast all of us.
On behalf of the Carolinas Chapter of the REALTORS® Land Institute, it is my honor to present the Trailblazer Award to Lou Jewell, ALC — a true pioneer, teacher, and tireless advocate for the land and those who make their living on it.
Thank you, Lou, for blazing the trail that we’re all still walking.
Christina Asbury, ALC, President of our RLI-Carolinas Chapter, awarded this new Chapter award, and I am genuinely appreciative of this honor and hope I continue to live up to it. Check out my radio/podcast www.letstalkland.net. I also have a four hour class "Introduction To Land Broekrage" Contact me if you would like to attend my next class. You do have to be a real estate agent.