UK Benefactor Don Jacobs to Receive Honorary Degree

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2014) — The 'D' in Don Jacobs' first name could stand for many things: Determined…Dedicated…Driven…These are just a few of the traits this longtime Lexingtonian has brought to a life and career that epitomizes the American dream. On Dec. 19, Jacobs' leadership, service, and philanthropy will be recognized as the University of Kentucky awards him an honorary doctor of humanities degree during Commencement ceremonies in Memorial Coliseum.

Growing up as the son of a general store owner in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Jacobs, who would become a very successful automobile dealer and entrepreneur, learned the importance of providing excellent customer service at an early age. He credits his father with being a huge influence on his future success.

Jacobs made the most of the educational opportunities which came his way, including those provided by the U.S. Army as a byproduct of being drafted into the service as an 18 year old in 1952 during the Korean War. While in basic training, he applied for leadership school in Ft. Lee, Va., and was accepted. Six days a week, for 16 weeks, Jacobs spent nine hours a day in the company of professors from the University of Virginia in a classroom setting, followed by military training conducted by base officers for several more hours each evening. He graduated second in his class, went on to serve in the U.S. Army Airborne Infantry, and eventually became an instructor in the Army's Airborne School, training ROTC students and others.

The last stages of his military service were spent in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and after his discharge, Jacobs pursued an opportunity to sell cars at a Ford dealership in Nashville, Tennessee. Bitten by the 'car bug,' Jacobs eventually became the No. 1 retail salesperson of automobiles in the entire U.S. for two years running. He followed that by becoming sales manager at a Chevrolet dealership in Nashville, where he developed an employee training manual which stressed quality, integrity, and dependability in business dealings.

His confidence growing, Jacobs applied to General Motors to acquire his own dealership, and was offered an Oldsmobile franchise in Lexington. As the saying goes, 'the rest is history.'

From opening at its original location on High Street in downtown Lexington in 1970, Don Jacobs Oldsmobile expanded to a 19-acre site at Nicholasville and New Circle

Roads in 1974. Through the years, Jacobs added Honda, Volkswagen, and BMW to his lineup of new car offerings, while simultaneously opening dealerships in other markets in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida. 

And he did not stop at selling and servicing cars. Jacobs co-founded Dealers' Financial Services (DFS) and later established the Military Installment Loan and Education System (MILES) program to assist military personnel with their automobile financing needs.

Citing his belief that we all have a responsibility to help those around us, Jacobs, together with his wife, Cathy, have made substantial gifts to organizations in the Central Kentucky area in recent years, including the University of Kentucky.

The couple established the Don and Cathy Jacobs Health Education Center at UK's  new Albert B. Chandler Hospital. The facility serves as a central resource to help patients, families, and caregivers research their medical questions and provides other services and outreach.

In addition, the Jacobs are major supporters of UK's Markey Cancer Center and the UK College of Medicine.

"Don and Cathy's generosity is overwhelming," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK executive vice president for health affairs. "Their gifts have, and will continue to transform the health care experience of our patients."

The couple is funding the Don and Cathy Jacobs Executive Education Center as part of the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics capital campaign. And they are among the lead donors enabling the college to pay for a $65 million expansion and redesign of its facilities entirely through private donations.

"Don Jacobs epitomizes the ideal of the successful business leader who also serves the community," said David W. Blackwell, dean of the Gatton College. "Don and Cathy's generous gift to build the Don and Cathy Jacobs Executive Education Center in the Gatton College of Business and Economics is a testament to Don's passion for educating and inspiring business leaders in ethical, sustainable, and profitable business practices.  His success as a business leader is helping Kentucky citizens through Don and Cathy's philanthropy."

UK President Eli Capilouto added, "Don and Cathy Jacobs are helping us in extraordinary ways to enhance the quality of life for all Kentuckians. The positive impact of their gifts to UK HealthCare and to the Gatton College will be felt for generations to come."

The couple's financial generosity and personal involvement extends well beyond the UK campus. To cite a few examples in Lexington:

• Cathy Jacobs is a member of the Hope Center Board of Directors and serves the center in other volunteer capacities. The Jacobs Hope Cafeteria serves more than 450 meals daily to the homeless. The Don and Cathy Jacobs House offers dormitory accomodations for nearly 150 men who are learning to ovecome challenges to self-reliant, independent living.

• The Don Jacobs Personal Finance, Legal and Civic Responsibilities Seminars are providing real-world life skills training each year for the graduating students at Lexington's Sayre School where Cathy Jacobs serves on the Board of Trustees.

We can add one more word for what the 'D' in Don Jacobs' can stand for: Deserving…as in deserving of the high honor that UK will bestow on him on Dec. 19.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Carl Nathe, 859-257-3200; carl.nathe@uky.edu.

Special thanks to Wayne Rogers, Mike Richey, and Kristin Cruser of the UK Office of Development for their assistance with this story.