CTroyMathis
23 December 2002, 10:30 PM
Honored former businessman pushes West Dallas' potential
Chamber lauds activist as being a consistent voice for development
12/24/2002
By DONNA LOGAN WISDOM / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Drawing attention to the needs of the West Dallas community was a driving force for Andy Jacobs.
His family owned Jacobs Iron and Metal near Singleton Boulevard from 1954 until it was sold about three years ago. Mr. Jacobs began working in the iron yard when he was a child. As an adult and vice president of the company, he worked to organize businesses and bring improvements to West Dallas.
"We worked on things for the betterment of the community," Mr. Jacobs said. "We felt strongly that the residential and business interests were identical."
The newly formed West Dallas Chamber of Commerce honored him this month with its first Community Service Award. Mr. Jacobs, 42, was instrumental in forming the West Dallas Business Association in 1994, which provided a foundation for the chamber.
"He has created a voice for the business community," chamber president John Cappello said. "He was able to bring a lot of attention to us."
A dogged persistence to bring better services to West Dallas has earned Mr. Jacobs wide support and respect in the community, Mr. Cappello said.
"At least in the business community, he has done more than anyone for West Dallas," Mr. Cappello said.
In an area with an annual household income of about $22,000 and the blight of old lead smelters, attracting and retaining businesses can be daunting. Mr. Jacobs' activism has centered on improving city services, roads and housing.
In May, Goodwill Industries opened a $17.7 million facility on 46 acres in West Dallas. The organization employs about 600 people and has an additional 500 in training and rehabilitation programs, said Rod Ginther, president of Goodwill Industries of Dallas. He said Mr. Jacobs played an important role in keeping Goodwill Industries in the neighborhood.
"Andy is a pretty incredible individual," Mr. Ginther said. "He just had a burning desire to try to get rid of the black cloud that has been hanging over West Dallas. Andy felt that there was a lot West Dallas had to offer the city."
Mr. Jacobs said one reason he wanted to organize the business association was to have a nonpolitical group dedicated to improvement projects. He retired when the family business was sold because of a physical disability and hasn't been as involved since then. He said he's glad the chamber has good leadership to carry on those interests.
"It's positive in that it might attract more members and get more people involved in the business community. It's an undiscovered area of Dallas," he said. "It's a great place to live and work."
Chamber lauds activist as being a consistent voice for development
12/24/2002
By DONNA LOGAN WISDOM / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Drawing attention to the needs of the West Dallas community was a driving force for Andy Jacobs.
His family owned Jacobs Iron and Metal near Singleton Boulevard from 1954 until it was sold about three years ago. Mr. Jacobs began working in the iron yard when he was a child. As an adult and vice president of the company, he worked to organize businesses and bring improvements to West Dallas.
"We worked on things for the betterment of the community," Mr. Jacobs said. "We felt strongly that the residential and business interests were identical."
The newly formed West Dallas Chamber of Commerce honored him this month with its first Community Service Award. Mr. Jacobs, 42, was instrumental in forming the West Dallas Business Association in 1994, which provided a foundation for the chamber.
"He has created a voice for the business community," chamber president John Cappello said. "He was able to bring a lot of attention to us."
A dogged persistence to bring better services to West Dallas has earned Mr. Jacobs wide support and respect in the community, Mr. Cappello said.
"At least in the business community, he has done more than anyone for West Dallas," Mr. Cappello said.
In an area with an annual household income of about $22,000 and the blight of old lead smelters, attracting and retaining businesses can be daunting. Mr. Jacobs' activism has centered on improving city services, roads and housing.
In May, Goodwill Industries opened a $17.7 million facility on 46 acres in West Dallas. The organization employs about 600 people and has an additional 500 in training and rehabilitation programs, said Rod Ginther, president of Goodwill Industries of Dallas. He said Mr. Jacobs played an important role in keeping Goodwill Industries in the neighborhood.
"Andy is a pretty incredible individual," Mr. Ginther said. "He just had a burning desire to try to get rid of the black cloud that has been hanging over West Dallas. Andy felt that there was a lot West Dallas had to offer the city."
Mr. Jacobs said one reason he wanted to organize the business association was to have a nonpolitical group dedicated to improvement projects. He retired when the family business was sold because of a physical disability and hasn't been as involved since then. He said he's glad the chamber has good leadership to carry on those interests.
"It's positive in that it might attract more members and get more people involved in the business community. It's an undiscovered area of Dallas," he said. "It's a great place to live and work."