HOUSTON  — Ken Stockton, a longtime leader with NorthMarq Capital, passed away in Houston on Thursday, June 28, at the age of 68. Stockton was one of the founding members of Houston mortgage banking company Stockton, Luedemann & French, which later became Stockton, Luedemann, French, Jackson and West, and was acquired by NorthMarq in 1998.

“Ken accomplished many things over his short time with us,” says Ed Padilla, CEO of NorthMarq Capital. One that will live with many of us was his impact on the growth and development of our great company, NorthMarq Capital. We are forever grateful for his counsel, leadership and contributions.”

Stockton, Bill Luedemann, Kerry French, Dan West and John Burke founded their firm in 1985 after careers with another mortgage banking firm in Houston. SLFJ&W was the first of 13 acquisitions that NorthMarq made between 1998 and 2005, resulting in doubling of the offices and increasing the number of employees from 130 in 1998 to 360 in 2005.

“Ken, Kerry, John, and I worked together for more than 30 years,” says Luedemann. We will miss his wisdom, his counsel, and his sense of humor.”

"I had the privilege and pleasure of knowing and working with Ken for more than 40 years,” says Louis Sklar, retired executive vice president of Hines. “His calm and low-key personality ensured that his clients received the best available financing in the marketplace. Although the technical aspects of the commercial financial world have changed markedly over these 40 years, Ken was always there to provide a reliable benchmark for the development community. We will all miss him."

Stockton was involved in the financing of many Houston landmarks, including 1001 Main, One Shell Plaza and Two Shell Plaza office buildings, and The Galleria-Houston. His clients included Gerald Hines Interests, Trammell Crow Co., Weingarten Realty, The Finger Companies and a number of other prominent Texas investors. According to French, “Ken was a skilled mortgage banker who never lost the common touch. After his retirement three years ago, he continued to be an asset for our company, and this office. He was a great friend.”

Prior to the formation of SLFJ&W, Stockton was employed for 13 years by the commercial mortgage banking firm of Ben G. McGuire & Co. in Houston where he served as senior vice president in charge of loan production and then as president of the firm. He also had experience in the real estate area of The Travelers Insurance Company. He was a graduate of the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration — Marketing and Real Estate. His professional affiliations included the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, the Urban Land Institute and the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association.