Jimmie Sikes founded the Sikes Corporation in 1954 and managed 3 subsidiary Florida Tile plants in Lakeland; Shannon, GA; and Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.  Sikes set up “Pop” Sikes Golf Day at Florida Southern College, where money raised from the tournament supports the FSC men’s golf program.  Jimmie made it a priority to give back to the community through his business success, often through generous, anonymous donations. 

Sikes was voted a 2003 Honorary member of the Florida Southern College Sports Hall of Fame.  In 1981, he was the recipient of the George Jenkins Award, one of the highest individual honors given by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, for contributions to the community. Sikes Hall (conference center) at the Lakeland Center is named in his honor and he has been honored on numerous occasions by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. 

Sikes’ wife set up a scholarship at FSC named in his honor that assists student-athletes playing on the FSC men’s golf team.  Jimmie was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Florida, a member of the Florida Council of 100, served as President of Kiwanis Club in Lakeland in 1959, and was honored by the Lakeland Family YMCA in 1975 for contributions made to the organization.