Richard Clegg Obituary
Published by Legacy on Sep. 30, 2025.
Richard Alvin (Dick) Clegg, age 79, died at The Phoenix of Lake Lanier in Gainesville, GA, on Sunday, September 21 after a lengthy illness. The youngest of three sons of Lewis Lamar Clegg and Margaret Agnes (Belle Isle) Clegg of Decatur, GA, he was the grandson of Irad Thomas Clegg and Mollie Lillian (Aycock} Clegg of Social Circle, and of Alvin Looney Belle Isle and Agnes Tinsley (Nelson) Belle Isle of Atlanta. He grew up in rural DeKalb County and graduated from Decatur High School in 1963. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration with emphasis in Marketing from the University of Georgia in 1967 and, while in the USAF from 1967 until 1973 and stationed in Anchorage, received an MBA from the University of Alaska.
Dick then became a real estate broker while managing three-state fundraising and political operations for the US Chamber of Commerce from its Atlanta office until being hired in the early 1980s by Bovis/Brunning Homes' San Antonio division. He began there by supervising homebuilding, working in accounting, and other back-office roles. In 1984 when the local economy and building market waned, Dick was tasked with downsizing the division. He spent 10 months finishing 89 houses in various stages of construction, selling inventory, and terminating personnel.
With that vast experience, he returned to Atlanta in 1986 to establish his own firm, Housing Trends, Inc., with a much narrower market focus of providing highly personalized service, exacting building standards, and quality craftsmanship. Largely through word-of-mouth, Dick's no-hassle, design-build concept attracted a devoted clientele. Dick greatly enjoyed working with and getting to know his clients. For over 35 years, Housing Trends was known for providing unique, custom home building, remodeling, and renovations in northern and northeastern metro Atlanta.
Away from the office, he became an accomplished guitarist, enjoyed composing acoustic guitar music, and playing with other musicians. He also was a talented painter of wildlife and celestial scenes. And he was happiest while skiing with close friends in Colorado.
Dick is survived by his son Nicky L. Clegg (Lula, GA), Nicky's partner, Rachael Pittman, and grandchildren, Jeremiah, Kadence, and Christopher; brothers Thomas B. Clegg (Chapel Hill, NC) and William L. Clegg (Social Circle, GA); three nephews and their families.
A celebration of life ceremony for Dick will be held at 1PM on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the First Baptist Church of Social Circle. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Dick's memory to Music4Chief https://www.music4chief.com/, a tax-deductible non-profit organization offering music education and mentoring to at-risk and financially disadvantaged teens in Forsyth County, GA.
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