Bob giving back to St. Landry churches
About:
Robert E. Giles (Bob) was born on February 17, 1954, in Huntsville, Alabama, while his father was stationed there with the U.S. Army. Shortly after his father’s service ended, the family moved to Houston, Texas, where Bob was raised. He spent much of his youth in both Houston and Denison, Texas, where his father owned a Ford dealership from 1960 to 1970. During Bob’s junior year of high school, the family relocated to Friendswood, Texas, after his father purchased a Volkswagen and Volvo dealership in Texas City.
About
2025 Lafayette Civic Cup Honoree
Robert E. Giles (Bob) was born on February 17, 1954, in Huntsville, Alabama, while his father was stationed there with the U.S. Army. Shortly after his father’s service ended, the family moved to Houston, Texas, where Bob was raised. He spent much of his youth in both Houston and Denison, Texas, where his father owned a Ford dealership from 1960 to 1970. During Bob’s junior year of high school, the family relocated to Friendswood, Texas, after his father purchased a Volkswagen and Volvo dealership in Texas City.
Bob’s journey in the automotive industry began early—at just 11 years old—washing cars for 25 cents an hour at his father’s dealership. He worked in nearly every department over the years, gaining hands-on experience that would shape his future. In 1972, he enrolled at Texas A&M University, graduating in 1976 with a BBA in Accounting.
After college, Bob returned to Texas City, working in sales and later as sales manager at his father’s dealership. At the age of 26, he reached out to Volkswagen in search of a dealership opportunity and was awarded the VW franchise in Lafayette, Louisiana along with Porsche and Audi franchises. He purchased property on Johnston Street and opened Giles Volkswagen Porsche Audi in April 1982, having moved to Lafayette on his 28th birthday.
Later that year, Bob met his future wife Sandy at Red’s, introduced by a mutual friend. Sandy, a court reporter, had recently relocated from New Orleans to Lafayette for work. The couple became engaged at Christmas in 1983 and married on June 30, 1984. They have two daughters: Halley, who lives in Lafayette with her daughter Vivienne, and Ashley, who lives in Houston with her husband Bobby Debelak and their daughter Fiona Giles Debelak and son Robert Paul Debelak IV.
Bob is the owner of Giles Automotive, Inc., which now encompasses eight dealerships: Giles Nissan of Lafayette, Giles Nissan of Opelousas, Giles Volvo Cars Lafayette, Giles Volvo Cars El Paso, Giles Hyundai of Alexandria, Nissan of Elk Grove, California, and Mazda of Elk Grove, California.
Bob receiving Dealer of the Year with his wife and father.
