Founder & Chairman, Lithia Motors -cl A
Search every verified Sidney Deboer interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Sid DeBoer, founder and chairman of Lithia Motors, has described his upbringing in Ashland, Oregon, where he worked at his father's dealership, Lithia Motors, performing tasks such as oil changes and tire work. Following his father's death in 1968, DeBoer said the family "had to have a way to survive" and expanded the business by purchasing a store in Medford. He stated that he has "always had a vision, a 10 year vision" for the company, which as of 2022 had grown to nearly 300 locations and employed about 6,100 people in Southern Oregon. DeBoer has emphasized the importance of providing jobs and opportunity in the region. DeBoer and his wife Karen have focused their philanthropy through the Sid and Karen DeBoer Foundation, supporting organizations primarily in Jackson County. DeBoer said they find it "more rewarding to give generously to one or two organizations that can influence the lives, largely of young people." Their contributions have included $12 million to Southern Oregon University and over $10 million to restore a Girl Scout camp at Lake of the Woods, which was later gifted to the YMCA. DeBoer has also been involved in efforts to add a ski slope on Mount Ashland. In 2016, he publicly opposed Oregon's Measure 97, a proposed tax on large C corporations, arguing it would be passed on to consumers and cost Oregon families an estimated $800 to $1,200 per year. He advocated for a "half a percent gross receipts tax on all companies in Oregon" as an alternative.
“I worked in the in the in the shop as a mechanic, sort of. I did lube and tires and oil changes and all that kind of stuff.”
“And we had it up where we made $20,000 in one year and that was a big deal to my dad, so by 1968.”
“When he died, you know, we had to have a way to survive. It was a tough time.”
“I've always had a vision, a 10 year vision of where we could go, but I don't think we have any limit.”
“There's about 6,100 people working here now. It's also really important to see the company flourish and provide opportunity and jobs here in Southern Oregon.”
“We wanted to do make a difference in our community. We find it more rewarding to give generously to one or two organizations that can influence the lives, largely of young people.”
“And we've been able to make our home better and be a part of that and share in that joy.”
“It is not something thats going to be easily swallowed and paid for by big corporations. That is a misnomer thats been propagated by those who are for it.”
“I agree that Oregon needs more revenue but taxing just large corporations like Lithia Motors when our competitors wont have to pay the 2.5 percent sales tax as it were, they cant be passed on to the customer because our competitors wont have to pay it.”
“Only large C Corporations will have to pay this tax so everything from Healthcare from Banking from Utilities from groceries, has got to go up. All of those business have very thin margins and cant afford to just swallow a tax on their sales.”
“This is so discriminatory against companies like ours. It takes all of our profits in Oregon in those years where were just an average earnings season and it takes all of this money, even if we dont make a profit.”
“Im asking people to please vote no and help us recreate a new way to tax Oregonians and tax corporations that would be fair to all corporations. Something like a half a percent Gross receipts tax on all companies in Oregon.”
“They consistently have said it will cost Oregonians every family and they estimate it somewhere between 800 and 1200 dollars a year which is around 100 dollars a month for every family in Oregon and they also estimated that there would be an elimination or reduction in the growth of jobs in Oregon in the private sector...”
“This is an attempt to expand government in Oregon and pay for it on the backs of large corporations when in reality the people, the citizens of Oregon will pay for it and most of the lower income people will pay more as the share of their revenue and their income than will the more wealthy people.”
“We hope to stay because we dont pay taxes as a corporation because were in Oregon. Our stores that are in Oregon pay a tax and were wrestling with how we deal with that.”
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