John Noland, a businessman, philanthropist and community leader known for working toward development in Baton Rouge, died Wednesday at his home in North Carolina. He was 80.
In 1987, Noland began All-Star Automotive Group with Matt McKay, who died in August. The business grew to become one of the largest auto dealership groups in h.
Noland's work in the Baton Rouge community, however, surpassed his business success. He was a cofounding member of the senior living community St. James Place, as well as a longtime board member and supporter of Baton Rouge Area Foundation.
“While he was a titan of business, I believe his legacy will be defined by his good works,” said Lucas Spielfogel, Baton Rouge Youth Coalition CEO. “His commitment to philanthropy and civic leadership will have ripples in our community for generations to come.”
Noland and his wife, Virginia, contributed to LSU Press and also to Baton Rouge Arts Council. The Virginia and John Noland Black Box Theater in the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center is named for them.
“The thing about him that I always admired and enjoyed was that he had a good sense of stewardship,” said the Rev. Chris Andrews, a fellow supporter of downtown development and Baton Rouge Area Foundation. “He was the living embodiment of somebody who, I think, captures to whom much is given much is required. He did a lot of good things for a lot of people.”
Noland was born in Natchitoches, where his father was rector of an Episcopal church. The family moved to Alexandria and later to Baton Rouge.
Noland attributed his interest in community service to his parents.
He attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill on a Morehead Scholarship. He married Virginia Bailey the summer he graduated from UNC. Then, he entered LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
After graduation in 1970, he joined Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson.
In 1981, through his involvement and membership at St. James Episcopal Church, Noland was on the formation committee for St. James Place. He served on the board for more than 30 years.
“John Noland is a cherished founder of St. James Place, a long-time board chairman and contributor of his time, talent and treasurer,” Dick Wager, president and CEO of St. James Place, wrote in an email. “When St. James Place was in a challenging time years ago, it was his leadership and innovation that got us through.”
In the late 1990s, Noland spearheaded the effort to design, build and open an expansion that ended up doubling the size of the St. James campus in 2001, Wager said.
Wager shared one story that epitomized Noland's character.
When Noland learned that the St. James Place Health and Wellness Building was named had been named in his honor, he insisted his name be removed. They compromised with a picture of him and a plaque in the building to honor him.
“This is an example of John Noland. He did not want fanfare or excessive attention brought to himself,” Wager said.
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation was another passion of Noland's life. He was named foundation chairman in 1986. He recruited the first full-time executive director, John Davies, who then would serve for 33 years and grow the foundation from $5 million to $722 million in assets.
Noland went on to be involved with Together Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Youth Coalition and Dialogue on Race.
He also helped establish Build Baton Rouge, formerly the East Baton Rouge Parish Redevelopment Authority, and was chairman and volunteer head of the organization until he stepped down at 73 in 2019.
In addition to his wife Virginia, Noland is survived by his son, John (Jay) B. Noland Jr., and his daughter, Scott Hickson.