- Date Of Birth: January 3, 1934
- Date Of Death: October 17, 2014
- State: Louisiana
JACOBS
William John Jacobs Jr., 80, passed away on Friday, October 17, 2014, after a long illness. He was born in New Orleans Louisiana in 1934 and grew up in Gentilly. He was the first son of William John Jacobs, Sr. and Madeline Ryninger. Very early in life, his father taught him how to earn a living and he would walk house to house to take orders for shrimp in his neighborhood. After school, he would throw a cast net off the seawall in Lake Pontchartrain to catch shrimp to fill the orders. He began helping his father in his seafood business by driving his truck to Lafitte early in the morning to pick up crabs and then ride the ferry back in time to make it to school. He joined the Navy and married his childhood sweetheart, Thelma Philips. They had five boys and raised them in Pines Village in New Orleans East. He worked for the American Can Company and also operated a part time contracting business. In 1973, he opened the first concession go kart track in the Greater New Orleans area, the Chalmette 500. He later opened the Fat City 500 in Metairie and purchased Simplex Go Kart Manufacturing Company in 1976 where he pioneered many innovations in the industry. In 1988, he had an important role in Endure Manufacturing and helped open and operate slick tracks in Metairie, Baton Rouge, and Beaumont, Texas. After suffering a disability with his hip in 1994, he invented the Wheelchair Bike which allowed users to have greater mobility with their legs. For publicity, William competed in many marathons with his invention. He is survived by his brothers, Richard T. Jacobs, Sr. and Robert Henderson, as well as four of his sons and daughters-in-law, William M. Jacobs, Richard T. and Robbie Jacobs, Mark S. and Dee Jacobs, Kirk L. and Karen Jacobs. William was very proud of his 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his son, Philip J. Jacobs.
