Rob Clements, EverBank Financial Corp. chairman and CEO
“David certainly has long had a high profile in the Jacksonville business community, but I think many people don’t fully appreciate the tremendous impact he’s had on creating so many Jacksonville jobs and businesses. You can trace the presence of several leading local companies — FIS, Fidelity National and LPS — to David, and he played a critical role putting together the investor group who purchased Alliance Mortgage, the predecessor of EverBank. Thanks to David’s leadership, our group ensured the company remained here in Jacksonville. EverBank has grown into the largest bank based in Florida, with offices and clients from coast to coast.” (Clements is Hicks' son-in-law.)
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John Delaney, University of North Florida president
“Jacksonville has many successful civic leaders, but David Hicks is so much more. His vision for a stronger community, and his tenacity to get it done, is admirable. Over the years, I’ve seen his dynamic leadership in action and Jacksonville is a better place because of him.”
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Ronnie Ferguson, former Jacksonville Housing Authority president and CEO
“Looking back it’s hard to imagine the total state of disrepair of Jacksonville’s public housing program that greeted David Hicks when he was selected by Mayor Ed Austin to be the first chairman of the newly created Jacksonville Housing Authority. ... In three years, the boarded apartments were renovated, stricter management of apartment complexes was established, management and reporting systems were vastly improved, crime prevention activities initiated and resident services processes were improved.”
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Preston Haskell, The Haskell Co. founder and director
“He is one of the most capable business executives that Jacksonville has ever had. He created a very successful enterprise. He was ahead of his time in the way in which he computerized the mortgage servicing business. He captured the lion’s share of that business nationally. He learned more about computers than any of us did.”
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Mary Kay O’Rourke, Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville Inc. president and CEO
“Through his leadership and support, David was singularly instrumental in HabiJax becoming the largest Habitat affiliate in the United States. So many families have been afforded the opportunity to become homeowners and their children have been granted college scholarships due to the generosity of David Hicks. HabiJax is eternally grateful to David for changing lives, changing communities, one family at a time.”
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Fred Parvey, Oracle, global client advisor, and former CPI associate
“Everyone at CPI, from the person in the mail room to the division executives, all felt a personal responsibility for the business. What made this all the more unique was that David is an introvert, but through the strength of his personality, his unwavering vision, and his absolute adherence to the rules he created, he molded a company full of people with a relentless pursuit of perfection in the service they delivered and the credibility they established.”
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Bob Shircliff, philanthropist
“David Hicks has been a friend for more than 40 years. We met first at the United Way. He is an extraordinary citizen of Jacksonville. He has created successful companies here and he and his family have been philanthropic in ways that have made a difference in Jacksonville. He is an extraordinary businessman and an extraordinarily generous citizen.”