Meet the Ivys’

Jerry Ivy (1932-2024), who passed away in April at the age of 91, is remembered for his generosity and ability to leave a lasting legacy for the next generation.

“Jerry was a cherished friend, esteemed philanthropist, and dedicated supporter of our institution. His unwavering commitment to our university, students, faculty, and staff leaves an indelible mark on our community,” said Raisbeck Endowed Dean David Spalding. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Debbie, their family, and all those associated with their family business, Auto Chlor, which is based in Mountain View, California.”

Jerry’s impact on Iowa State University was remarkable.

On September 11, 2017, Debbie (’19 honorary) and Jerry Ivy (‘53 industrial administration) announced their historic $50 million gift, which named the Ivy College of Business. It was the largest gift in the history of the college and paved the path for ours to be the first named college at Iowa State University.

This wasn’t the couple’s first donation to the school. They also funded the Debbie and Jerry Ivy Chair in Business.

The Ivys’ commitment is a powerful endorsement of the college, our programs, leadership over the years, and vision for the future. Their gift established an endowed fund that provides almost $2 million annually to the college for short and long-term priorities. Most immediately, it built on momentum in several growing areas at the college, including entrepreneurship, business analytics, and supply chain management. The Ivy gift continues to provide scholarships, faculty support, and programmatic funding for those and other areas.

It’s only fitting that we are named after such successful entrepreneurs. Anyone who knew Jerry knows he was an entrepreneur before that became a buzzword.

After an Iowa State experience he called “totally wonderful, academically and socially” and time served in the Navy, Jerry purchased an Auto-Chlor franchise. He learned the business from the ground up. He hired Debbie, the first woman in the company, and they soon became partners in life and in business. Together, they grew their business knowledge, purchased additional Auto-Chlor franchises, and eventually purchased the entire Auto-Chlor business.

Jerry served as president and chief executive officer of Auto-Chlor System in Mountain View, California, where Debbie and son, Ed, continue to serve as active members of the executive team. Debbie, Jerry, and their team successfully grew Auto-Chlor into a national brand with more than 75,000 customers nationwide. The company provides cleaning solutions to the foodservice, healthcare, and lodging industries.

Read our tribute to Jerry Ivy in the fall issue of Ivy magazine (coming soon).