KU News Release

Business leader to give annual Vickers lecture March 24 at KU

Jack DeBoer

LAWRENCE — Jack DeBoer, chairman of Consolidated Holdings Inc., will give the School of Business’ annual Vickers Memorial Lecture at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at the University of Kansas’ Lied Center.

DeBoer’s talk is titled “Success is Never Permanent, Neither is Failure: 25 Specific Things to Help You in Life and in Business.” It is free to the public. Tickets are not required.

DeBoer was a pioneer for the all-suite hotel concept. He designed and built the first Residence Inn all-suite hotel in downtown Wichita in 1975. He built and franchised 100 hotels before selling the Residence Inn Co. to Marriott Corp. in 1987.

DeBoer then co-founded Summerfield Hotel Corp., later sold to Hyatt, and then founded Candlewood Hotel Co., later sold to InterContinental Hotels. In 2002, he founded Value Place, a short-term apartment concept, which continues to expand. Today, he is chairman of Consolidated Holdings Inc.

DeBoer has been recognized several times for his work in business and civic organizations. In 1992, he was given the highest recognition by the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, “The Uncommon Citizen” award. In 1997, he was inducted into the Wichita Business Hall of Fame. In 2001, he received the University of California-Los Angeles’ hotel industry Lifetime Achievement Award and was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University.

The Vickers lecture is presented each year by the School of Business. It was created in honor of J.A. Vickers, a KU alumnus and founder of Vickers Petroleum Co., and his son, Robert.

Media advisory: There will be a news conference with DeBoer at 2:30 p.m. March 24 at 205 Summerfield Hall. Contact Toni Dixon at (785) 864-4449 or tldixon@ku.edu for more information.

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