John Hull Dobbs Jr is an American businessman who is the president and founder of Dobbs Equity Partners LLC of Memphis, Tennessee.[1]
Early life edit
He is the son of John Hull Dobbs Sr, and grandson of James K. Dobbs, who owned car dealerships and restaurant and airline catering businesses.[2]
Dobbs graduated from the private Memphis University School in 1985.[2] He earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.[1][3]
Career edit
In 1998, the Dobbs Automotive Group was the third-largest car dealer in the US when it sold its 22 dealerships to AutoNation for $200 million in stock.[4]
Philanthropy edit
John and Katherine Dobbs are philanthropists known for funding educational initiatives. In 2012, The Children's Museum of Memphis named their campus "The John and Katherine Dobbs Family Center" following a donation from the couple.[5] Further contributions to exhibits at the museum include the H2Oh! Splash Park.[6] A water park designed to promote problem solving and language development.[7]
Katherine and John also funded the educational farm at Hutchinson school for girls.[8] The farm augments academic studies on topics such as the human impact on animal habitats, and deforestation.[9]
Personal life edit
Dobbs has always lived in Memphis, is married to Katherine Stobbs from Atlanta, and as of 2011 they had two children.[2] They have donated to the Hutchison School, and they have two daughters enrolled there.[10]
On January 5, 2021, Dobbs flew some of his friends from Memphis to Washington, DC, on his eight-seat Bombardier Challenger 300 private jet, allegedly in connection with a Stop the Steal rally.[11][12] The passengers were Dobbs, George Zanone III, Carter Campbell Sr., Vince Smith and his wife, Kaki Valerius Smith, brothers Dan and Bob McEwan, and an unidentified man.[11]
References edit
- ^ a b "John Hull Dobbs". Bloomberg LP. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "John Hull Dobbs, Jr. 2011 King of Carnival" (PDF). carnivalmemphis.org. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Mason, Jessica B. "Meet the Chairman's Circle: John Dobbs". memphischamber. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "Our History". dobbsequity.com. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Children's Museum honors Dobbs gift". Retrieved 2023-08-30 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Next Wave". Memphis Daily News. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ "H2Oh! Splash Park Parental Guide" (PDF). cmom.com.
- ^ "Hutchison's farm teaches girls more than farming" (PDF). The West Tennessee News. October 11, 2019. pp. 1–2.
- ^ Clark, Shara (2020-08-10). "On the Farm at Hutchison". Memphis Parent - Memphis, TN. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ "Hutchison's farm teaches girls more than farming". memphistransformed. No. October 10, 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ a b Abigail, Tracy (March 18, 2021). "A Private Jet of Rich Trumpers Wanted to "Stop the Steal"—But They Don't Want You to Read This". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Poe, Ryan. "Vanity Fair article linking Memphians to Capitol riot creates a stir". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 20 March 2021.