Fort Lauderdale Executive and Business Leader Mike Jackson Selected for Prestigious Horatio Alger Award - Class of 2014

Horatio Alger Association to honor 12 prominent leaders who have demonstrated courage, fortitude and character in pursuing personal and professional success despite significant personal adversity

News provided by

Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc.

Nov 18, 2013, 01:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, today announced that Mike Jackson, chairman and chief executive officer of AutoNation, Inc., will be inducted as a Member of this prestigious Association next spring. Mr. Jackson joins eleven other outstanding business and civic leaders from across North America in receiving this honor. Since its inception in 1947, this annual award has recognized exceptional leaders – all with a commitment to philanthropy and higher education – who have overcome significant personal challenges to achieve success.

A Philadelphia, PA native, Mr. Jackson was born to hard-working parents who dealt with the financial challenges of the time. Throughout his childhood, he worked a variety of odd jobs, including shoveling manure out of horse stalls, to pay for his Boy Scout activities. As a teenager, his entrepreneurial spirit emerged as he grew his one man lawn care business to a staff of ten, which allowed him to attend St. Joseph's College (now University) in Philadelphia. There he majored in political science and planned a career in law. On his way to Washington, D.C. to begin law school, Mr. Jackson's car broke down. To cover the cost of the repairs, Mr. Jackson offered to do odd jobs around the car dealership. His fascination with the auto industry grew from there and when offered an apprenticeship as a mechanic, he immediately accepted, launching his now legendary career. He joined Mercedes-Benz as a master technician in 1974, and in 1979 he purchased a Mercedes-Benz dealership, which became so successful that it laid the foundation for him to be named president and CEO of the company's North American operations. In 1999, Mr. Jackson departed Mercedes-Benz to become CEO of AutoNation, an auto retailing start-up. Today, Mr. Jackson serves as chairman of AutoNation, America's largest automotive retailer, which has been named Fortune magazine's most admired company in its industry for six of the past eight years. Most recently, AutoNation has had four consecutive quarters of all time earnings per share.

"Horatio Alger, Jr., often wrote stories about hard work being the true key to success, and no one embodies that more than Mike Jackson," said Tony Novelly, president and CEO, Horatio Alger Association and 2000 Horatio Alger Award recipient. "His ability to recognize opportunities and to succeed in situations that might have defeated others is truly remarkable. We are very proud to welcome Mr. Jackson as a lifetime Member of the Association."

AutoNation and Mike, personally, have become generous corporate citizens, contributing funds and supporting volunteer efforts for dozens of foundations and community organizations across the country. In 2003, Mr. Jackson was named Automotive Hall of Fame Industry Leader of the Year, and in 2009, he was designated as one of the "Fifty Visionary Dealers" of all time by Automotive News. In 2012, he was named by Fortune magazine as one of the "Top 50 Global Business Leaders."

In accepting this honor, Mr. Jackson commented, "I have always been an individual who believed in hard work and pursuing your passion. It is both gratifying and humbling to be inducted into such a prestigious organization, which values those same principles and is committed to passing them onto future generations through higher education. I look forward to supporting this mission in any way I can."

Mr. Jackson and his cohort will officially be inducted as Members during the Association's annual three-day induction ceremonies, which will be held in Washington, D.C. in April 2014. In addition to honoring these outstanding leaders, Horatio Alger Association will also recognize its 2014 National Scholarship recipients, providing an opportunity for Scholars and Members to meet and exchange stories of their respective perseverance and success.

In addition to presenting its annual award, Horatio Alger Association administers one of the largest, privately-funded scholarship programs for at-risk students in the United States and Canada. Funding for its scholarships, which annually provides more than $9 million to selected students in need, is wholly supported by private donations from Association Members and friends.

For more information about Horatio Alger Association and a full list of its Class of 2014, please visit http://horatioalger.org/news_pr_members2014.cfm.

About Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans:
Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., fulfills its mission of honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. Horatio Alger Association supports students through annual undergraduate and graduate need-based scholarships and mentoring programs across the United States and Canada. Since 1984, the Association has awarded more than $100 million in college scholarships to deserving young people. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.