Chattanooga businessman G. Larry Wells Jr. died at his home in Hixson on Sunday night. He was 50.
Mr. Wells, a native of Dayton, Tn., had developed a network of cell towers through his Wireless Properties firm.
He later started Lemay Development after acquiring numerous tracts for cell tower use.
Former City Councilwoman Marti Rutherford said Mr. Wells "was an amazing person. He was one of the smartest people I have ever known. He had the ability to be doing and thinking about several things at the same time."
Ms. Rutherford said, "Larry was a true entrepreneur. And he was a dear friend."
She said he had not been feeling well over the past week.
Mr. Wells at one point had sold a number of cell towers to Signal One. He later sued over the deal and won.
He recently had competed to build a new cell tower at Lookout Mountain, Tn., but his firm was not chosen.
His Lemay Development is proposing a controversial residential project at the Hixson Pike S Curves.
Mr. Wells attended UTC, but his main focus was always business.
He was on the Airport Authority Board from 2006 to 2010.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, from 5-7 p.m. and on Friday, from 1-2 p.m., at the Chattanooga Funeral Home-North Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Friday, at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Dick Fisher officiating, and he will be laid to rest at Chattanooga Memorial Park following the funeral service.