PORT ST. LUCIE PEOPLE
Name: Jim Carr
Age: 52
Occupation: President of
D-Carr Investments, franchise
restaurants
Lives in: Port St. Lucie
Family: Wife Melanie, 52;
daughter Amy, 24; sons, Jimmy,
22, and Matt, 18
Background: Grew up in Cassville, Mo. Graduated from
University of Arkansas, B.S. in business. Worked in his
father’s restaurants before coming to the Treasure Coast
in 1986.
Something most people don’t know about me: “I was the
only Miami Dolphins fan in Missouri when I was 10 years old
and they went undefeated. Sometimes it has been hard to be
optimistic, but I have had season tickets for 22 years. Most
people don’t know I have played golf four times at Augusta
National.’’
What inspires me: “The lessons taught to me by my parents.
Always be friendly and treat people with respect and help
those that need it. Improve your community by helping
people in your community. Helping starts close to home. I
always ask myself, what would mom and dad want me to do
in this situation?’’
For “teenage reasons,” Carr says, he turned down the opportunity
to meet KFC’s founder, the legendary Col. Harland
Sanders. Photos of Sanders and the elder Carr hang in the
corporate office.
Every employee receives an extra check at Christmas, and
hams and turkeys are often given out to employees during
the holidays. Carr’s restaurants regularly donate food to various
charities for their fundraising functions. “Fortunately,”
Carr’s three children attended St. Anastasia Catholic Elementary
School and John Carroll High School in Fort Pierce, says
Jennifer M. Trefelner, director of institutional advancement at
the schools. “Mr. Carr’s support of John Carroll High School
has been a true blessing to our school, staff and students,”
Trefelner says. In 2012, D-Carr investments was named
“Business Partner of the Year” for 2011-12 at JCHS. Meals
have been donated for numerous events including pre-game
dinners, an alumni celebration at homecoming, staff events
and Habitat for Humanity, she says. The Carr family has
also donated funds to school programs and improvements
such as new scoreboards for the JCHS football stadium and
gymnasium. Carr was co-founder and president of the JCHS
Booster Club and his wife, Melanie, served as president of the
Parents’ Guild.
“I have always appreciated how Mr. Carr could multitask
as an involved father to his three children, serve as a loving
husband to wife Melanie, run a successful business, take
the time to volunteer, and support nonprofit organizations
as well,” Trefelner says. “He is a truly generous, caring and
thoughtful gentleman who has a passion for our community.”
As if there were a few hours left in the day, Carr likes to
work the chains on the sidelines of JCHS football games. When
his children were growing up he coached youth football (13
years), Pop Warner Football (8 years), T-ball (4 years), and soccer
(15 years.) “They had to have a soccer coach,” Carr says.
“I told the organizer I didn’t know the rules. He says, ‘You
don’t need to know the rules. You’re coaching 4- and 5-year-
Port St. Lucie Magazine 43
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PIERCE
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