John Hull Dobbs

Vero Beach - JOHN HULL DOBBS, husband, father, grandfather, friend, business leader and mentor passed away July 8, 2023, at home in Vero Beach, Florida. John was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 14, 1932, the second son of James Kirby Dobbs and Celia Ellard Dobbs.

John had a great sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. He was a consummate salesman who many said could "sell sand in the desert." John was a fun-loving, hard-working, charismatic man who left an impact on his family, friends and the many people he met over the years.

Prior to graduating from Duke University in 1954, John attended Pentecost Garrison School and Central High School in Memphis. He served in the United States Air Force before beginning his business career with Dobbs House in 1956. John had some great stories to tell of his early experiences during these first years working for his father, who often sent him on business trips with very little experience and just enough advice for him to come home with the mission completed. John took the leadership role in Dobbs International Airline Catering at the age of 28 after his father died at the age of 66. Under John's leadership, the catering division became the largest independent airline catering business in the world when Dobbs International was sold to Beechnut Lifesaver in 1966. After serving on the Beechnut board for several years, John and his nephews Jimmy Dobbs, III and John Collier Dobbs formed Dobbs Automotive Group with Dobbs Ford as their flagship location. By taking on new brands at the time like Honda and Toyota, they built the company into the third largest automobile retailer in the US. before selling to AutoNation in 1997. John began to expand into various other businesses under his management company Dobbs Management Service. One of the company's biggest successes was Unison Health Care HMO, which operated in seven states and Washington, DC and was responsible for 350,000 members when it was sold to United Health Care in 2008. John was inducted into the Memphis Society of Entrepreneurs in 2004, where his friend Joe Orgill introduced him by saying "I'm not sure how to define an entrepreneur, but I know one when I see one, and John Dobbs is an amazing entrepreneur."

John always used to say the best thing anyone could have in business was a starting place, and he always gave his father credit for creating a platform for his success. John was always very humble and never sought credit for his own accomplishments, but he was proud to have passed on to his children a starting place when he semi-retired to John's Island in Vero Beach, Florida.

One of the lessons that John taught his children was to always find ways to give back to the communities that you are a part of, and he lived out what he taught. He was by nature very kindhearted, and his desire to help others was always apparent. John served on multiple boards in Memphis: Hutchison School (1968-78), Chairman (1975-78), Memphis University School (1973-89), Rhodes College (1984-88), First Tennessee Bank (1962-95), the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce (1960-64), and the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis (1984-85). He was also President of the Liberty Bowl (1969-70) and The Memphis Country Club (1982-84). He supported many charitable endeavors in both the Mid-South area and Vero Beach.

Family and friends were the most important part of John's life. His password on his alarm and many devices was always DAD. He loved deeply and was very proud of his four children, his stepchildren and their spouses, and his fifteen grandchildren. His large extended family gathered each year for Thanksgiving at the home he and his wife Susan built in John's Island. This became a time for storytelling and bonding. John always called Memphis home and John's Island paradise, but his heart was always in Memphis.

John's passion for flying was life-long. He bought his first plane shortly after leaving the Air Force and owned one until the day he died. He loved the freedom of coming and going when he wanted and the exhilaration of piloting his own plane. His many friends who flew with him over the years admired his skill and his cautious preparation. Second to flying John loved golf, tennis, hunting, bridge and travel. He was fortunate to become a member of Augusta National Golf Club in 1970 where he made many lifelong friends and was the longest tenured member at the time of his death. He attended over 50 consecutive Masters tournaments and loved taking his family and friends to the tournament and to play the course.

John showered love on his family and was always concerned with everyone's well-being. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 31 years, Susan, his children Kirby Dobbs Floyd (Glenn), John Hull Dobbs, Jr (Katherine), Juliette Dobbs Allen (Dale), Edward Johnstone Dobbs (Cindy), his stepdaughter Sully Amos Hurley (Jim), his niece Catherine Dobbs Eleazer (Ed), his nephew James Kirby Dobbs, III (Lisa), and his fifteen grandchildren: Bowen, Annabel, Andrew, Ella, Trip, Haley, Jack, Lulu, Lila, John, Stewart, Celia, Lela, Hope and Chance and many cousins. John was predeceased by his first wife Yvonne Spragins Tatum, his brother James Kirby Dobbs, Jr. and wife Catherine; Nephew John Collier Dobbs (Sara) and stepson John Ellison Amos, III (Alex).

A Celebration of John's life will be held Thursday, August 3rd at Second Presbyterian Church, 4055 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38111 at 11:00am. A reception will follow at Memphis Hunt and Polo Club, 650 South Shady Grove Road Memphis Tennessee 38120.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to The Church Health Center in Memphis, VNA/Hospice in Vero Beach FL or a charity of your choice.