William Lobeck
William E. Lobeck is co-founder of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation. An entrepreneur, he has a strong desire to help others break down the barriers of successfully launching their own businesses. He began his career in Norfolk, Virginia creating the first dealer repurchase program and established a special purpose leasing company which became significant financing components of the daily car rental industry.
In 1971, Lobeck became CEO of Dallas-based American International. During his tenure, the company grew from 18 offices to nearly 300 offices across the country. In 1981, Lobeck and partners purchased Thrifty Car Rental in Tulsa. Under Lobeck’s leadership the company’s profitability and growth led to a successful initial public offering in 1987.
Chrysler acquired Thrifty in 1989 and as CEO Lobeck formed Pentastar Transportation Group and acquired three additional car rental companies. In 1995, Lobeck together with his wife Kathy Taylor and partners acquired National Car Rental from General Motors. Lobeck then sold National to AutoNation, and he became president and CEO of AutoNation’s Rental Group. Lobeck retired from AutoNation in 1999.
In 2003, Lobeck and Cerberus Capital Management acquired the assets of Autonation car rental, bringing them out of bankruptcy as Vanguard Car Rental USA and moved the headquarters to Tulsa. The company became one of the industry’s most financially successful companies. In 2007, Lobeck and partners sold Vanguard to Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Lobeck has served on the Boards of Nordam, a Tulsa based aviation and aerospace company, Legal Shield, a provider of legal services, the Board of the Philbrook Museum of Art and a Trustee of the University of Tulsa. Lobeck has been inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame, the TU Business Hall of Fame as Outstanding Business Leader and the Old Dominion University Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame. He holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Old Dominion University.
He enjoys every opportunity to spend time sailing, cruising in one of his classic cars, relaxing at home with pets, Chieftain and Lola, or traveling with family and friends.
