Publisher Description

Follow the life of a celebrated guru, from hardscrabble boy to self-made man In Ringside Stories, real estate guru Dick Corbett reveals the secrets to his success in business and in life, tracking the rough-and-ready life of a man who won't accept failure as an outcome. Setbacks large and small are taken as lessons for the future, and one small success leads to another, larger one until the dream achieved is grander than any restless youth could have imagined. In Corbett's long and remarkably successful career, his commitment to economic development and growth management have been stunningly reflected in the more than one billion dollars of complex real estate ventures he's financed, developed, and constructed—including International Plaza, a three million square foot mixed-use retail, office, and hotel development at Tampa's International Airport. Corbett's work has generated thousands of permanent jobs, hundreds of new commercial sales entities, office space, adjunct hotels, and restaurants—all producing hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the regional economy. Richard A. Corbett's story begins with an alcoholic mother, an absentee father, and a search for self that resulted in boxing titles, street smarts, wilderness survival skills, degrees from Notre Dame and Harvard, a spot on the Kennedy presidential campaign, and later a place at Robert Kennedy's side when he died. This book documents the events that built this remarkable life, with lessons learned and wisdom gained. Mine the insight of a recognized real estate investing guruLearn how delicate relationships contributed to Corbett's successSee the Kennedy family from the inner circle's perspectiveDiscover how sheer ambition built Tampa's International Plaza Life is precious—everyone gets exactly one. Few can say they've truly lived, but Corbett's experiences mark him as a man who has been there, done that. Ringside Stories is the story of how wisdom found a truly self-made man.

Back Cover

"This is a great story of how a hardworking, focused kid from Rochester literally fought his way to academic, political, and business success through personal and national challenges. Dick's story is a great read and a slice of American political and business history." --JACK NICKLAUS, Legendary Pro Golfer and Course Designer "My good friend, Richard 'Dick' Corbett, takes readers on a journey into the world of one man's determination to overcome personal challenges and tragedies and fight his way to academic, political, and business success. His fascinating life story is well worth the read." --TED TURNER, Environmentalist and Philanthropist "Dick's story is a great read, capturing a distinctive slice of American political and business history. Dick's reflection of the people and events that shaped his life are a powerful meditation on resilience and leadership." --REV. JOHN I. JENKINS, C.S.C., President, University of Notre Dame "Dick Corbett's story of a hardworking, focused kid from Rochester is one of many lessons for all of us. He overcame challenges, worked hard, took risks, and has achieved great success. Ringside Stories is a wonderful read." --JEB BUSH, Former Governor of Florida Discover how Richard Corbett overcame obstacle after obstacle to live life to the fullest. Corbett's amazing experiences mark him as a man who has been there, done that . . . in remarkable style. Ringside Stories is the biography of a truly self-made man.

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"This is a great story of how a hardworking, focused kid from Rochester literally fought his way to academic, political, and business success through personal and national challenges. Dick's story is a great read and a slice of American political and business history." --JACK NICKLAUS, Legendary Pro Golfer and Course Designer "My good friend, Richard 'Dick' Corbett, takes readers on a journey into the world of one man's determination to overcome personal challenges and tragedies and fight his way to academic, political, and business success. His fascinating life story is well worth the read." --TED TURNER, Environmentalist and Philanthropist "Dick's story is a great read, capturing a distinctive slice of American political and business history. Dick's reflection of the people and events that shaped his life are a powerful meditation on resilience and leadership." --REV. JOHN I. JENKINS, C.S.C., President, University of Notre Dame "Dick Corbett's story of a hardworking, focused kid from Rochester is one of many lessons for all of us. He overcame challenges, worked hard, took risks, and has achieved great success. Ringside Stories is a wonderful read." --JEB BUSH, Former Governor of Florida Discover how Richard Corbett overcame obstacle after obstacle to live life to the fullest. Corbett's amazing experiences mark him as a man who has been there, done that . . . in remarkable style. Ringside Stories is the biography of a truly self-made man.

Author Biography

RICHARD A. CORBETT has financed, developed and constructed more than $1 billion in complex real estate ventures. As a presidential aide in the Kennedy White House, a senior staffer for Bobby Kennedy, and a manager of the Kennedy family real estate business, he learned to balance powerful political and financial forces to achieve stunning personal and community success.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii Prologue ix Chapter 1 Robert Kennedy is Buried in My Clothes 1 Chapter 2 My Father Was a Bona Fide Hero 9 Chapter 3 My Mom Was an Alcoholic, and I Struggled to Hide It 17 Chapter 4 I Almost Ate a Boy Once 29 Chapter 5 I Found a Mentor—and a Kindred Spirit 35 Chapter 6 I Love Punching a Man in the Face 43 Chapter 7 I Am a Workaholic 51 Chapter 8 I Became a Part of History 57 Chapter 9 One of My Saddest Days: When JFK Was Inaugurated 65 Chapter 10 I Was Once One of the Most-Hated Men in the Kennedy Empire 79 Chapter 11 Mentored by an Invalid 91 Chapter 12 It Takes Guts to Write Checks for Money You Don't Have 99 Chapter 13 Life Partnering 107 Chapter 14 Only an Idiot Would Purchase a Lease on Land Owned by a Federal Airport 119 Chapter 15 I Will Be Forever Grateful That I Injured My Back and Ribs 131 Chapter 16 Before I Could Be a Joe Kennedy, I Had to Be a Daniel Boone 145 Chapter 17 Getting Down to the Business of Making a Dream 155 Chapter 18 Who Shops at Malls, Anyway? 165 Chapter 19 A Day in the Limelight Becomes a Day of Darkness 171 Chapter 20 I Built Myself into Our Home 175 Chapter 21 Not Dead Yet, Just Getting a Third Wind 179 Chapter 22 Life Comes Full Circle 185 Chapter 23 Never Take Your Eye Off the Ball 191 Epilogue More of What's Important, Not More of the Same 201 About the Author 205 Index 207

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