FeedsJack Demmer starts new scholarship fund
Generations of City of Wayne residents know John “Jack” Demmer as the person who sold them their first car.
Now people will know Demmer as the person who helped their children and grandchildren go to college.
The patriarch of Jack Demmer Ford was recognized during a special meeting of the City of Wayne Council on Nov. 6 for donating “a very generous amount of money” to the Wayne Parks and Recreation Foundation. The money will establish a scholarship for local high school seniors; the inaugural scholarship will be given this spring.
Demmer has received several awards from Ford Motor Co., including the Ford Distinguished Achievement Award and the Ford President Award for outstanding customer service. He said he feels that it is his responsibility to show his gratitude to the community, which has given so much to him.
“We want to display our appreciation for receiving such good business from the residents of Wayne,” said Demmer, who has been an active part of the business and community scene since he and his wife, Margaret, came to Wayne in 1957.
The first person to receive the Wayne Businessperson of the Year Award in 1996, Demmer is a member of the Wayne Chamber of Commerce, serving as president of the organization in the early 70s. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Wayne/Westland YMCA.
Demmer has sponsored numerous events in Wayne including the Wayne Wheelfest Car Shows and the Wayne Park and Recreation golf outings.
“Jack Demmer makes us proud for not only being a successful businessman, but also as an outstanding community member,” said Mayor Al Haidous. He awarded Demmer with a plaque and a resolution Monday night.
“I wanted to thank him for his generosity and community spirit,” the mayor added.
Demmer is equally proud of the community of Wayne, particularly its elected leadership in city government over the years.
“I’ve been here in Wayne for a long time. I’ve always been pleased with the people who run the City of Wayne. From the police department, fire department, city council and mayor, never a scandal,” Demmer said.
Demmer 83, who sold his first car in 1938, has passed on many of the day-to-day operations of his dealership to his children and grandchildren, but he expects the relationship between Demmer Ford and the City of Wayne to continue to flourish.
“We feel that we’re a part of the family of Wayne,” he said. “We’ll do whatever we can to help the city. It’s a family affair.”
