Longtime businessman John W. Rollins, Jr., 71, died on Wednesday, July 3, in Santa Fe, N.M. He was a director of Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment and Dover Motorsports.
The companies operate a harness track, casino, hotel and NASCAR racing complex in Dover.
He also headed Rollins Truck Leasing prior to its sale and was involved in other family businesses.
“I have known John Rollins personally for over 60 years,” said Henry B. Tippie, chairman of Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. “Ours was a truly rewarding friendship – both professionally and personally. John made his mark in business with the success of Rollins Truck Leasing Corp., where he served for decades as president and CEO before retiring in 2001. We all benefited greatly from the expertise John brought to us from his involvement with Rollins Truck Leasing and various other public & private companies founded by the Rollins family.”
“John was generous with his advice and with his friendship and made countless contributions over the years to our board and to the board of our affiliated company, Dover Motorsports, Inc. He will be greatly missed on many different levels.”
While having a lower profile than his colorful father, enterepreneur John Sr., Rollins was credited with building Rollins Truck Leasing into an industry leaders with 50,000 trucks and 267 branch locations. The business had its roots in Lewes, where John Rollins was in the automobile business.
Click here for a biography and announcement of services from the Cape Gazette.
