Jerome Kenneth Jay III ’12

Jerome Kenneth Jay III ’12 Receives 2022 Roaring10 Award

Jerome Kenneth “J.K.” Jay III of Laurens graduated from Clemson in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. Today, the former Clemson football player and All ACC Academic Team honoree is co-founder and president of Greenville-based LyonJay, a very successful real estate investment and development company in the Southeast.

His responsibilities range from supervising overall operations, project development and investments to creating and maintaining relationships with capital and strategic partners. The company focuses on providing attainable housing for working families. It has invested in, developed, constructed and managed hundreds of thousands of units across 11 states.

J.K. was named to Greenville Business Magazine’s Best and Brightest 35 and Under list in 2021. He is a former member of the Laurens County Transportation Committee and volunteers as an assistant baseball coach for the Laurens County Recreation Department. He sponsors YMCA teams yearly and has purchased athletic equipment, travel gear and t-shirts for Laurens High School. He also has provided meals for senior citizens, other community members and local schools.

For Clemson, J.K. regularly participates in the PAW Journey leadership initiative, which helps football student athletes prepare for future success through personal growth, life skills education and professional development. He also is on the board of directors of the Block C Club, which helps keep all former student athletes engaged with Clemson athletics.

J.K.’s family – which he calls his greatest accomplishment and responsibility – includes his wife, Katie, and their three sons: Jack, Hunter and John Thomas.