2022 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 16
BY SENATOR BOUDREAUX
A RESOLUTION
To commend Robert "Bob" Giles on being named the 2022 TIME Dealer of the Year and to
recognize his many years of outstanding community service.
WHEREAS, Bob Giles has been a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, since 1982,
where he met and married his wonderful wife Sandy, and together they have two children;
and
WHEREAS, originally from Texas, Bob began his training in the retail automotive
industry at the young age of eleven, when he was paid twenty-five cents an hour to wash
vehicles on the lot of his father's Ford dealership in Denison, Texas; and
WHEREAS, at the age of twenty-four, Bob starting selling cars and landed a role as
sales manager at his father's automobile dealership; and
WHEREAS, Bob purchased a Volkswagen dealership in Lafayette, Louisiana, and
in 1982, he moved to Lafayette on his twenty-eighth birthday and established what has
become Giles Automotive, Incorporated; and
WHEREAS, over time, Bob grew Giles Automotive, Incorporated to more than
fifteen new and used car dealerships across the United States before scaling back in recent
years to three locations in Lafayette, one location in Opelousas, and another in El Paso,
Texas, and as one of his career accomplishments, Bob is credited as instrumental in
launching in 1984, Lafayette's very successful annual car show and sale involving several
dealerships in a variety of brands coming together at an offsite location for a car shopping
extravaganza; and
WHEREAS, each year TIME magazine, in partnership with Ally Bank and the
National Automobile Dealers Association, honors new car dealers across America and their
tireless efforts to improve their communities and the world around them with the Dealer of
the Year award; and
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WHEREAS, it was announced at the National Automobile Dealers Association show
in March that this year's top recipient of this prestigious award, out of the nearly sixteen
thousand dealers across the country, was Bob Giles for his efforts in the Acadiana area, of
Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Bob's community involvement includes partnering with a local
television station to create the Acadiana Community Heroes campaign which recognizes
deserving individuals or nonprofit organizations that make a difference in the area with
exposure for their cause and a monetary prize; and
WHEREAS, Bob started Giles Gives Back to provide financial support and exposure
to several local community organizations including Red Bird Ministries (grief support
ministry that focuses on bereaved families who have experienced the loss of a child),
Lafayette Education Foundation (provides grants and recognition to teachers to support and
promote excellence in education), Lafayette Police Department's Fallen Heroes Fund
(provides funding for the families of Lafayette officers killed in the line of duty), Dreams
Come True of Louisiana (grants dreams to children with life-threatening illnesses), Acadiana
Animal Aid (a no-kill animal adoption center), Hunters for the Hungry (local sportsmen
provide fish and game for meals at homeless shelters), Boys and Girls Club of Acadiana
(provides youth programming in the Acadiana area), and the Outreach Center (addresses the
root causes of homelessness and assists women and children in need by providing critical
recovery services); and
WHEREAS, in addition, for one day in 2009, Bob sold gas at his dealership for
ninety-nine cents a gallon, donating proceeds to local outreach programs; in 2019, he
announced a thirty-day challenge to the community regarding three churches that were
burned in St. Landry parish and agreed to match funds raised; and during the recent
pandemic, he launched Giles Essential Errand Running Service offering grocery and
essential item deliveries by the dealership staff to senior citizens and immunocompromised
individuals; and
WHEREAS, Bob Giles' generosity with his time and resources truly epitomizes the
kind of community service that is both inspirational and effective, and the pride he brings
to this state with national recognition for his actions should be celebrated.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby recognize and congratulate Robert "Bob" Giles on being named the 2022 TIME
Dealer of the Year and commend him on his many years of outstanding community service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Robert "Bob" Giles.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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