2008 Recipient:
Jack DeBoer
Jack P. DeBoer
Jack
DeBoer
began
his
career
selling
real
estate
during
the
summers
while
in
high
school
in
Kalamazoo,
MI.
After
graduating
from
high
school,
he
attended
Michigan
State
University
where
he
graduated
with
a
business
degree
in
1952.
Following
two
years
as a
Military
Police
Officer
in
the
Korean
War,
he
returned
to
Michigan
to
team
up
with
his
father
to
build
homes.
In
1966,
he
began
building
apartments
across
the
country
and
by
1973
his
company
had
built
over
16,000
apartments
in
30
cities.
At
the
time,
National
Real
Estate
Investor
recognized DeBoer
as
the
"second-largest
multi-family
developer
in
the
United
States."
He
also
planned
and
assembled
the
4,000
acre Comotara
neighborhood
development
in
northeast
Wichita.
In
1975,
DeBoer
designed
and
built
the
first
Residence
Inn
all-suite
hotel
located
in
downtown
Wichita.
He
was
a
pioneer
in
the
all-suite
hotel
concept
and
he
built
or
franchised
100
hotels
before
selling
the
Residence
Inn
Company
to
Marriott
Corporation
in
1987.
During
that
time,
he
also
developed
the
Grand
Champions
Club
in
Aspen,
a
world
class
tennis
facility
and
health
club,
to
which
Maroon
Creek
Golf
Course
and
residential
lots
have
since been
added.
In 1995 DeBoer founded Candlewood Hotel Company, an extended stay hotel concept. He served as Chairman and CEO of Candlewood until its purchase by Intercontinental Hotels Group in December 2003. In June 2002, Jack founded Value Place, an unique hybrid concept that blended the extended stay hotel and short-term apartment concepts. Value Place went on to become the fastest growing hotel chain in the nation with 100 locations opened in less than five years.
In addition to his numerous successful business ventures, DeBoer is active in many business and civic organizations. He has served as past-President of the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce and served as a trustee of Innkeepers Real Estate Investment Trust. In addition, he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Youth for Understanding, the world's leading student exchange organization. He also served as a Board Member of the Wesley Medical Endowment Foundation and the Greater Wichita Community Foundation. In 1990, he spearheaded the movement to revitalize downtown Wichita and continues to be a leader in downtown growth and revitalization through his WaterWalk development.
Mr. DeBoer has been presented with many distinguished awards for his lifetime of achievements. In 1992, he was given the very highest recognition by The Wichita Chamber of Commerce, “The Uncommon Citizen” award. In 1997 was inducted into the Wichita Business Hall of Fame. In 1999 Jack was included in The National Registry of Who’s Who™. In January 2001 he received UCLA’s hotel industry Lifetime Achievement Award. In October, 2001 he was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University. In May 2005, he was honored with a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Sterling College, Kansas.
In
addition to his
professional
achievements, DeBoer
also leads a dynamic and
rich personal life.
As an active pilot and
collector of World War
II aircraft, DeBoer
frequently flies his
aircraft as Captain, and
he
currently holds the 3
kilometer world speed
record for jet aircraft
under 18,000 pounds. In
1988, DeBoer and his
wife, Marilyn, completed
a four month around
the-world trip in his
Gulfstream II. The
itinerary followed the
history of man for the
past 7,000 years, and
they studied the needs
of the world. From this
experience, they are now
deeply involved in World
Vision projects in
Burma.
The WSU Center for Real
Estate and the Kansas
Chapter of CCIM are
proud to honor the great
achievements of Jack
DeBoer by choosing him
as the recipient of
their 2008 Lifetime
Achievement Award.
