younger Jacobs was an aspiring actor, appearing in minor roles in films like Biloxi Blues and Goodfellas, but he realized that his acting career wasn't advancing. Since taking over the reins, he has controlled spending, introducing an enhanced compensation plan for sales associates, along with an extensive brand study that led to the introduction of products onto store shelves for the first time. The seven-building Watkins headquarters in Winona is on the National Register of Historic Places as the J.R. Watkins Medical Company Complex. It was listed in 2004 for having national significance in the themes of architecture, commerce, and industry. It was nominated for being the longtime headquarters of the nation's largest direct sales company in the early 20th century, and for the Prairie School design of its 1911 Administration Building by architect George W. Maher. The front entrance includes a window designed by stained-glass artist Louis J. Millet depicting Sugar Loaf, a local landmark. In 2002, the story of a Watkins salesman, Bill Porter, was dramatized in the 2002 Emmy award-winning TNT movie Door to Door. Porter had a 50-year career with Watkins in Portland, Oregon, and he worked a route despite having cerebral palsy. Porter was also featured in news stories. In 2017, The Watkins Company sold the home care, personal care and over-the-counter remedies product lines to Swander Pace Capital. The newly formed sister company, J.R. Watkins Brands, focuses solely on home care, personal care and over-the-counter remedies. In September 2018, Watkins set a Guinness World Record for “Greatest number of layers in a layer cake.” The cake that achieved the record was a Lady Baltimore cake totaling 260 layers and broke the previous record by 30 layers. It stood 6 feet and 1 inch tall. Ingredients included 900 eggs, 480 pounds of sugar, 150 pounds of flour, 102 pounds of shortening, 45 pounds of butter, 32 pounds of oil, 45 pounds of milk, 30 pounds water, 2.5 pounds salt, and 7 pounds of Watkins All Natural Baking Vanilla Extract. Watkins commissioned Wuollet Bakery in Minneapolis to bake the cake, and the record breaking event took place at the Watkins headquarters during the company's 150th anniversary celebration. See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Winona County, Minnesota References Chris Serres (December 18, 2005). Winona's Watkins takes leap from door to store. Star Tribune. External links Official Website Architectural overview of the J.R. Watkins Medical