Chairman of the Board JM Family Enterprises, Inc. (Deceased) – Deerfield Beach, Florida
Look under “pioneer” in the dictionary and it will depict Jim Moran, of the automobile industry. For over five decades, Jim Moran, Chairman of the Board of JM Family Enterprises has been one of the automobile industry’s most revered and respected figures. From modest beginnings on the North Side of Chicago, Jim Moran saved $360 to buy a Sinclair Gas Station and turned it into the highest-volume and most profitable Sinclair Station in Chicago. Next, he purchased a Hudson dealership and turned it into the top dealership for Hudson for over ten years. Eventually, he received a Ford franchise and founded Courtesy Ford. Just thirty days after, it was recognized as the world’s largest Ford dealership. Jim’s quest for innovation and customer satisfaction led him to become the first dealer in the nation to advertise on television. His vision also led him to do something years ahead of it’s time… he equipped his cars with seat belts at no charge to the customers. Time magazine has had only one automobile dealer on it’s cover – Jim. Jim Moran retired to Florida in the late 1960’s after being diagnosed with melanoma cancer. He overcame the disease and went on to build JM Family Enterprises. Today it is the world’s largest independent distributors of Toyota vehicles and is a family affair with his wife, daughter and grandchildren taking active roles. His devotion to his fellow man, especially children, is legendary. He founded the Youth Automotive Training Center to train at-risk youth in automotive repair skills and academic education. Jim is a Founding Board Member of the Boggy Creek Gang Camp dedicated to helping chronically ill children and a litany of charities almost too many to list. “The future belongs to those who prepare for it.”
