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Robert Jackson, Life Regent, Passes

The Pepperdine community was saddened to learn of the passing on November 21 of Robert Jackson, a 25-year member of the Board of Regents. He was 80 years old. 

Andrew K. Benton, president of Pepperdine University and a close friend of Jackson, said of him, "Bob was one of those larger than life figures who personified what is meant by the term, 'servant leadership.' He was a great friend to our University and his legacy and stewardship here will be remembered for a long time to come."

Added Pepperdine University's director of church relations, Jerry Rushford, "Bob was a very enthusiastic supporter of Pepperdine's annual Bible Lectures and regularly attended the event on campus. We will all miss him very much."

Jackson was elected to the Board of Regents in June 1986. He was elected to Life Regent status in June 2009. He was a member of the Advancement and Public Affairs Committee, Investment Committee, Religious Standards Committee (where he served as vice chair), and Buildings and Grounds Committee.

Jackson retired as president of the Ford Motor Land Development Corporation in 1997, a position he had held since 1985. He joined Ford in 1957 and served in financial management positions with the Glass Division, Engine Division, Finance Staff, and International Automotive Operations. Jackson was assistant controller for North American Automotive Operations, Ford's largest operating unit before being named executive vice president of Ford Land in 1977.

A member of Woodmont Hills Church of Christ in Nashville, Jackson served as a member on a number of councils, institutes and boards, including the Henry Ford Health System, the Urban Land Institute, the Industrial Development Research Council, the Metropolitan Realty Corporation, and Michigan Christian College (now Rochester College).

Jackson, a native of Nashville, Tenn., earned his BA in economics from the University of the South in 1954, and studied at the University of the Philippines on a Fulbright Scholarship for one year before receiving his MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1957.

He is survived by his wife Jane, four children, and 11 grandchildren. Funeral services are planned for Monday, at 11:30 a.m., at the Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Nashville.