ABOUT US
In 1988, Tom Thornton, Jr. founded Dixie Auction Company, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1989, Dixie Auction started working in collaboration with the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts and handles a majority of the bankruptcy sales in the northern part of the state. Dixie Auction part of the state. Dixie Auction subsequently obtained state and federal government contracts and expanded into bank sales. The first private company in the U.S. to handle a U.S. Navy contract, Dixie Auction conducts sales of surplus equipment at naval bases in Jacksonville, FL as well as Charleston, SC.
For many years, Tom has auctioned both residential and commercial real estate for the U.S. Trustee’s Bankruptcy Estates. With his knowledge of the growing interest in the real estate auction industry it seemed only natural to expand into real estate sales fulltime. This influenced his decision to become a Licensed Real Estate Broker. Hence, in March 2006, Florida 1st Realty & Auction, Inc. was founded. This is a sister company to Dixie Auction Company, Inc., which solely sells real estate.
LICENSED:
Auctioneer (Florida, Georgia & South Carolina)
Real Estate Broker
Vehicle Dealer
Firearms Dealer
MEMBER:
National Auctioneers Association
Florida Auctioneers Association
National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
Florida Notary Association
Florida Real Estate Association
HISTORY:
Attended Missouri Auction School in 1984
Sold Ford Dealership Franchise in 1988
Manager with McDougall Auctions in 1988
Founded Dixie Auction Co., Inc. in 1989 --First Auction July 1989
Attended Florida Real Estate Broker Course in 2005
Founded Florida 1st Realty & Auction, Inc. in 2006
Founded Thornton & Associates Appraisal Services in 2006