James O. “Jim” King, Jr.

Founder
King + Company, CPA

James O. “Jim” King, Jr.
1951-2015

Jim was a native Louisvillian, a 1969 graduate of St. Xavier High School and a 1973 graduate of the University of Louisville, where he graduated with a degree in Accounting. During his college years, Jim worked as a production expediter at the Henry Vogt Machine Company and later joined the staff of Ernst and Ernst, became a Certified Public Accountant in 1976 and then founded his own CPA firm, King & Company, PSC in 1981. Jim’s early work with banks in Kentucky led to his acquisition of a small Nelson County bank in 1987. That bank became King Southern Bank with locations in Chaplin, Bloomfield and Louisville. Jim was recognized for his leadership in the banking industry by his election to the chairmanship of both the Community Bankers Association of Kentucky and the Kentucky Bankers Association.

In addition to running a successful Certified Public Accounting firm and growing King Southern Bank into a company recognized for five years as one of Louisville’s fastest growing businesses, Jim began a career in public service with his election to the Louisville Metro Council in 2004. After serving as Vice Chair and Chair of the Democratic Caucus, he was elected President of the Council and was subsequently re-elected as Council President for an unprecedented five terms. Jim’s accomplishments while on the Metro Council included successful negotiations to ensure financing for the YUM Center, his work on bringing the Omni Hotel project to fruition, his negotiations on a labor settlement with the Louisville Orchestra musicians and his work on initiatives to benefit the University of Louisville, Arts and Cultural organizations and his own District 10.

During Jim’s life, he also served on numerous civic boards and organizations and at his death was a member of the Board of the Louisville Arena Authority, the Louisville Orchestra, the Kentucky Derby Festival, the University of Louisville Athletic Association and Simmons College. He is survived by his wife, Debbie, 4 children and 9 grandchildren.