David W. Wilson, owner of Tustin-based Wilson Automotive, pledged $25 million to his alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa.
The donation, celebrated Friday, Oct. 20, is the largest gift in UNI history and will go toward creating the David W. Wilson College of Business.
Locals are probably familiar with Wilson’s catchy tune that promises “You won’t get a lemon at Toyota of Orange.” The Orange County dealership marked the Iowa native’s first foray into ownership back in the early 1980s. From there, Wilson grew his company to 18 dealerships in the Southwest and Mexico with annual sales that top $3 billion. The group has at least 2,500 employees.
For Wilson, who grew up on a farm in Traer, Iowa, the gift to UNI is personal. The 1970 graduate learned as a child that when something was outside the family budget, he could work and pay for it himself.
The eldest of five children, he recounted for the Register in a 2012 interview how he mowed lawns as a fourth-grader to pay for his own baseball mitt. As a college student, he worked at a car dealership to pay his tuition. That strong work ethic has followed Wilson his entire life.
His business motto also is simple: “The truth is, you can only lead by example. If you’re having trouble in your company, look in the mirror.”
While his gift to UNI will stand out for its size, the 75-year-old is not new to giving back. He’s donated equipment to Orangewood Children’s Home in Orange and even paid off $16,000 in layaways at a department store back in 2011.
His pledge to UNI carries a few firsts for the university, beyond its sheer size. The school said once the donation is approved by its regents, the David W. Wilson College of Business will be the first “named” school at UNI. His contribution also will establish two endowments, including the Wilson Endowment for Integrity and Excellence.
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