When Jim Moran saved $360 in 1939 to buy a neighborhood gas station in Chicago, he never imagined he would someday become the founder and honorary chairman of $7.8 billion automotive company JM Family Enterprises, Inc. (JMFE). Moran’s lifetime of business achievements and humanitarianism was recognized on May 28 when the City of Deerfield Beach, Fla., paid tribute to the living legend by renaming Northwest 12th Avenue Jim Moran Boulevard.
The event took place at the corner of Hillsboro Boulevard and Jim Moran Boulevard and was attended by more than 1,000 well-wishers including JM Family associates, friends, family, city officials, and community leaders.
The dedication ceremony included an invocation by Rabbi Merle Singer of Boca Raton’s Temple Beth El, presentation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Color Guard, Pledge of Allegiance led by Deerfield Beach City Manager Larry Deetjen, a patriotic medley by Lisa Kemp of the Sun-Sentinel, videotaped comments from Deerfield Beach Commissioner Amadeo “Trinchi” Trinchitella, remarks by Deerfield Beach Mayor Albert Capellini and heartfelt thanks by Moran. All guests were treated to lunch served by JM Family’s cafeteria.
“I can’t think of a more deserving person for this honor than Jim Moran,” said Deerfield Beach Mayor Albert Capellini. “Jim is one of the most remarkable businessmen of our time and also gives selflessly to help others. Deerfield Beach is lucky to have him as a resident and entrepreneur.”
The street-naming resolution was presented by Trinchitella at a recent city commission meeting before passing unanimously. The Jim Moran Foundation [www.jimmoranfoundation.org] and all Jim Moran’s companies are headquartered on Jim Moran Blvd., including Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC, the nation’s largest franchised distributor of Toyota vehicles; World Omni Financial Corp.; JM&A Group; and CenterOne Financial Services. JM Lexus, located in Margate, Fla., is the largest volume retail Lexus dealership in the world and is a JMFE company.
Jim Moran Boulevard is four lanes and runs approximately one-half mile from Hillsboro Boulevard north to the Palm Beach County line. JM Family has collaborated with the City of Deerfield Beach to make a number of road, landscaping and aesthetic improvements over the years including the installation of a fiberoptic communications loop, a computer and telephone communications system that connects all 12 of the company’s buildings on Jim Moran Blvd; installation of a crosswalk and traffic light; and installation of a large, free-standing Toyota clock in the median. The company also worked with the Florida Department of Transportation on the entrance and exit lane and traffic signal modifications to the Hillsboro Boulevard/Jim Moran Blvd. intersection.
"As a kid who grew up playing ball on the streets of Chicago, I never dreamed I'd have one named for me," Moran said to the standing room-only crowd. "This really means a lot to me."
Deerfield Beach officials attending the ceremony included Capellini, Deetjen, Vice Mayor Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, and Commissioners Steve Gonot and Peggy Noland. Also on hand to congratulate Moran was friend and former Miami Dolphin Dan Marino.
An automobile industry pioneer, Moran has built an incredible business from his early days at that Chicago service station. A string of successful businesses followed, including Courtesy Ford in Chicago, where he was known as “Jim Moran, the Courtesy Man.” Courtesy Ford became the world’s largest Ford dealership within 30 days.
Moran's success propelled him to the pinnacle of the industry, and he became the first and only automobile dealer to have been featured on the cover of Time magazine in March 1961.
In the mid-1960s, after being diagnosed with cancer at age 42, Moran retired to Florida. After beating the disease, his love of automobiles drew him back into the business. He opened Jim Moran’s Pontiac City in Homestead, Fla., and later JM Pontiac of Hollywood, Fla., which was the largest Pontiac dealership in the world for 20 years.
In 1968, Moran was presented with a franchise opportunity in the southeastern United States to become the exclusive distributor of a new kind of car from Japan – Toyota. In 1969, Southeast Toyota had just 42 dealers in the five-state region spanning Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. With Jim Moran’s determination, by 1970 SET had grown to 71 dealers and registered a sharp increase in sales in the first quarter, achieving an import market penetration of 8.1 percent and bringing sales expectations to 20,000 Toyotas for the year. Now JM Family sells that many in one month.
Today, Southeast Toyota Distributors is number one in retail sales, fleet sales, owner satisfaction, parts sales and dealer profits in the United States and in 2001, sold 297,361 vehicles to 163 Toyota dealers in the southeast.
Having risen from humble beginnings, Moran has said “giving back to the community is cornerstone to our corporate philosophy.” His philanthropy in Florida is legendary, having provided significant funding to a variety of non-profit organizations.
Moran has been recognized by many organizations including the American Heart Association, Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Florida State University, Northwood University, Florida Atlantic University, Urban League of Broward County, Holy Cross Hospital, Florida Youth Orchestra, Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, Florida Memorial College, American Jewish Committee, International Swimming Hall of Fame, National Conference for Community and Justice, Nova Southeastern University, Sun-Sentinel, United Way of Broward County, Broward Partnership for the Homeless, The Vanguard Chronicle and others.
About JM Family Enteprises
JM Family Enterprises, Inc. (www.jmfamily.com) is a diversified automotive company ranked by Forbes as the 18th largest privately held company in the United States.
In January 2002, it was ranked No. 20 by a survey in Fortune® magazine of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States.
