The DeVoe Legacy

In 2013, Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) completed a $5 million gift agreement, one of the largest donations received in its history, which led to the naming the DeVoe School of Business (DSB). The gift came from the family of James F. DeVoe, a one-time Grant County resident who owned DeVoe Chevrolet. He later became the founder of J.D. Byrider, a nationwide franchise of used car dealerships. 

In March 2006, DeVoe’s life was cut tragically short as a result of a private plane crash in Melbourne, Florida. Since that time, DeVoe’s wife, Andrea (Andy), along with her family desired to do something special to honor her husband’s memory.

Though they left Grant County in 1994, the DeVoes enjoyed a long relationship with IWU. Andy has fond memories of working closely with IWU students when she and Jim assisted the youth group at Lakeview Wesleyan Church. 

Jim DeVoe’s entrepreneurial business career started in Marion, Indiana with the opening of his first location in 1979. By the time of his death, J.D. Byrider had grown into 123 dealerships in 28 states. 

Andy DeVoe sees the DeVoe School of Business as a place where businessmen and women can be grounded in both excellent business education and solid Christian principles. Mrs. DeVoe hopes the students and alumni of the DeVoe School of Business “would combine both their talents and their God-given gifts with the guidelines and principles that He has set out in His Word, to be their foundation: to guide them, to direct them, to hold to them, to trust them, to go forward during times when they can’t go forward, to restore them…He is able when you're not able. When you are weak, He’s strong.”

The DeVoe School of Business is building upon its groundbreaking history to create an even brighter future for our students and the business community.