2025 TDOY Nominee

Bradford Jacobs is one of a select group of 49 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 108^th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 25, 2025.

The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Jacobs was chosen to represent the Nebraska New Car & Truck Dealers Association in the national competition — one of only 49 auto dealers nominated for the 56^th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.

“Over the years, the Jacobs family business has endured the Dust Bowl, Great Depression, World War II, and a number of economic downturns,” nominee Jacobs said. “The lessons learned, the advice given, and the love and support of family has helped us persevere and thrive even during the most difficult times.”

The business began in 1927 as an oil and gas company founded by Jacobs’ great-grandfather, Andy Jacobs. His grandfather, Lyle, worked alongside Andy and in 1941, the duo signed a contract with Ford Motor Company to sell cars. Lyle tragically died of a heart attack at age 53 and Jacobs’ father, Bill, became dealer successor at age 23.

Jacobs, who earned a B.A. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln and who served in the Army National Guard for 20 years, joined the dealership in 1988. Today, he owns the store with his father, and he is proud that his two sons, Dustin and Will, are the fifth generation to join the family enterprise.

“My father continued to pass down fundamental business practices that his father and grandfather had passed down to him,” he said. “We have worked side by side, along with our business family, to help reach many steppingstones of success. It is my hope that our family business is viewed by the public as being in a posture of servanthood to our customers and community.”

Jacobs also credits his strong faith in God with guiding him on his life’s journey.

“I can see how the time I spent at the dealership as a kid was shaping me for this moment in time. In hindsight, it reminds me of the biblical parable regarding the potter and the clay,” he said.

A longtime advocate for fellow dealers in his state, Jacobs has served on the board of the Nebraska New Car & Truck Dealers Association for 20 years. In May 2020, he was appointed by then-Governor Pete Ricketts to serve on the Nebraska Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board.

“My goal is to support dealers in their relationships with the manufactures and help guard the dealers against unlawful acts from the manufactures.”

Jacobs is currently a lay minister and on the endowment fund board for Christ Lutheran Church in Saint Paul. He attributes this posture of servanthood to his mom who introduced him to Christianity at an early age.

He and his wife, Kim, both retired from the military, were members of the 43rd Army National Guard Band. He has also performed in different bands and orchestras and Kim plays the flute at church services.

“We were blessed to serve our country as soldiers and musicians,” he said. “In order to give back, we have donated percussion instruments to our local school’s music department and tutored individuals in their quest for improved musicianship.”

Jacobs also supports the St. Paul Public Schools, Howard County Medical Center, local sports programs, and provides time off for employees to serve the community.

“Our employees are involved with their families in activities ranging from elementary school to college sports as well as Boy Scouts, 4-H, county and state fairs, FFA, individual churches and many other worthwhile programs,” he said.

Jacobs was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Loy Todd, president and general counsel of the Nebraska New Car & Truck Dealers Association. Jacobs and his wife, Kimberly, have two children.