John B. (Jack) Gilbert

Honorary Alumni

John B. (Jack) Gilbert is a California-born entrepreneur whose business accomplishments span over a half century. He is founder of Zero Corporation, electronics packaging specialists, started in 1952 in Burbank, California. In 1973, Mr. Gilbert turned over day-to-day operations of Zero and moved to Ventura County to found Thousand Oaks Land and Development Company.  After a decade of solid growth and profitability, TOLD Corporation became one of the county’s largest and most respected real estate developers. TOLD has built numerous public and private buildings, totaling nearly 5 million square feet, including the East County Sheriff’s Station and the Multi-Purpose Building constructed at La Reina High School, both in Thousand Oaks.

An Honorary Doctor of Law degree was conferred on Mr. Gilbert in May 1990 by the Board of Regents of California Lutheran University in recognition of his life-long contribution to the advancement of higher education, the enhancement of Ventura County and the protection of the area’s natural resources and ecology.

Mr. Gilbert has been a generous supporter of CLU since 1985 and has most recently presented the University with the lead gift for the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center in the new athletics complex.