Owner Biography
Arthur J Kobacker
Arthur J. Kobacker
Arthur Kobacker was a longtime client of the Weill brothers of New Orleans. At one time he owned both the siderographer's block (Positions 81-82/91-92) and the centerline block (Positions 45-46/55-56).
Arthur Kobacker was a graduate of the Columbus Academy (1941) and Yale University (1945) and served as a Lt. JG in the US Navy during World War II. He incorporated the Kobacker Shoe Company and, in 1960, opened his first shoe store. The business grew to 700 self-service shoe stores in 32 states.
In Columbus, he was the recipient of many honorary degrees and awards including Humanitarian awards from Temple Israel, Sertoma, Ronald McDonald House, and Columbus Education Association, and was honored by Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, US Peace Corps Partners for Peace Award, and the Columbus Foundation. He was the President of Children's Hospital, a member of the Young Presidents Organization and the Advisory Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
For many years, he was passionately interested and active in the economic issues of African communities, and worked to help develop and implement programs to assist African peoples in achieving prosperity and health. He was also a former Trustee of the Ohio Humanities Council, Columbus College of Art and Design, Life Care Alliance, Heritage House, United Way of Franklin County, Council for Ethics in Economics, Governor's Commission on Educational Choice, Columbus Museum of Art, Boy Scouts of America, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Affordable Health Council, Private Industry Council of Franklin County, Franklin University, Columbus Academy, Temple Israel, American Red Cross of Jefferson County, and the American Cancer Society.
In Florida, he was a Trustee of the Urban League of Palm Beach County and the United Way of Palm Beach County. He also served on the Board of the National Foundation of Alternative Medicine. Mr. Kobacker was a former Director of the Lionel Corporation and CoFounder of Dollars for Scholars in Steubenville, OH. The Kobacker Company participated in the Adopt - A - School program with an inner-city elementary school in Columbus. Mr. Kobacker's gift to ''I Know I Can'' helped ensure that no Columbus High School graduate would be prevented from going to college due to a lack of funds.
Arthur Kobacker was a graduate of the Columbus Academy (1941) and Yale University (1945) and served as a Lt. JG in the US Navy during World War II. He incorporated the Kobacker Shoe Company and, in 1960, opened his first shoe store. The business grew to 700 self-service shoe stores in 32 states.
In Columbus, he was the recipient of many honorary degrees and awards including Humanitarian awards from Temple Israel, Sertoma, Ronald McDonald House, and Columbus Education Association, and was honored by Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, US Peace Corps Partners for Peace Award, and the Columbus Foundation. He was the President of Children's Hospital, a member of the Young Presidents Organization and the Advisory Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
For many years, he was passionately interested and active in the economic issues of African communities, and worked to help develop and implement programs to assist African peoples in achieving prosperity and health. He was also a former Trustee of the Ohio Humanities Council, Columbus College of Art and Design, Life Care Alliance, Heritage House, United Way of Franklin County, Council for Ethics in Economics, Governor's Commission on Educational Choice, Columbus Museum of Art, Boy Scouts of America, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Affordable Health Council, Private Industry Council of Franklin County, Franklin University, Columbus Academy, Temple Israel, American Red Cross of Jefferson County, and the American Cancer Society.
In Florida, he was a Trustee of the Urban League of Palm Beach County and the United Way of Palm Beach County. He also served on the Board of the National Foundation of Alternative Medicine. Mr. Kobacker was a former Director of the Lionel Corporation and CoFounder of Dollars for Scholars in Steubenville, OH. The Kobacker Company participated in the Adopt - A - School program with an inner-city elementary school in Columbus. Mr. Kobacker's gift to ''I Know I Can'' helped ensure that no Columbus High School graduate would be prevented from going to college due to a lack of funds.
