Jacobs, David

I am a second-generation billboard guy, although I didn't start out my working career that way. After getting my degree from the University of San Francisco in 1973, I got offered a job as the Dean of Students, social studies teacher, and basketball, football, and baseball coach, at a college prep high school near Sacramento, CA. I continued that line of work for ten years.

During the summer of 1984 I was offered a job as a salesman for Thompson Dislplays in Sacramento, Stockton, and Modesto. At the end of the summer I was offered a Sales Manager job and thus ended my teaching career. I attended my first ESOAA convention in 1984. It was in San Antonio and I met many "legends" of the industry. In 1985, after mentioning that Region V of the ESOAA was not very active, I was elected Region Director. Also in 1985, through a number of intersting events, I purchased the Sacramento division of Thompson Displays. I renamed it Capitol Outdoor. In 1988 I purchased the Stockton and Modesto branches of the company.

In 1989 I was elected Vice-President of the ESOAA, and then served as President in 1991 and again in 1992. I served as Chairman in 1993 and in 1994.

During my tenure as the ESOAA President I was involved in a company name dispute with a company in the Eastern United States. Instead of going to court I decided to change the name of my company to Jacobs Billboard Company because I was told by people in the industry never to use the term "billboard" in a company name. 😉

In 1994 I became Executive Director of the ESOAA. (Eight Sheet Outdoor Advertising Association) That group has since been renamed the JBA or Junior Billboard Association.  I took over the Executive position from one of my industry heroes, Ron Waggener who retired.

On the personal side, I have been married to Carol since 1976. She was the school secretary where I started my first career. We have two children.