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                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

                     Statement of Chief Executive Officer OF
                           HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

     In connection with the Quarterly Report of Highwoods Properties, Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2002 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I,
Ronald P. Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350, as adopted pursuant to ss. 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
        15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
        respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
        Company.


   /s/ RONALD P. GIBSON
-------------------------------------
Ronald P. Gibson
President and Chief Executive Officer
November 14, 2002

