John Richard Simplot was born in Dubuque, Iowa in 1909. He was brought
to Idaho at an early age, grew up along the Snake River and through hard
work, diligence, and perhaps some good luck, gained an international reputation
as a self-made billionaire industrialist.
Mr. Simplot's contribution to the agriculture industry is well known
world wide, and his contribution to Manitoba's agriculture industry and
to our communities over the past four decades has been noteworthy.
He first learned about phosphate as an essential nutrient for his
potato crops in the 1930's. This was the start of the J.R. Simplot Company’s
Minerals and Chemicals Group, which grew to become the largest phosphate
fertilizer producer in western North America. Under his leadership, Simplot
Canada Limited established a fertilizer manufacturing facility in Brandon
in 1965, doubling its capacity in 1998. Simplot subsequently founded a
series of retail fertilizer and chemical outlets around the province of
Manitoba that for a number of years were known as "Simplot Soilbuilders".
Mr. Simplot’s involvement in the potato industry resulted in the
Simplot Food Division, one of the world’s largest potato processing organizations.
In 1962, in conjunction with the farmers in the Carberry area, a potato
processing plant was established. Because of this plant, Manitoba's potato
industry began to grow in size and prosper. The jointly owned facility
in Carberry is presently called Mid-West Food Products Inc.
The J.R. Simplot Company is currently building a potato processing
facility at Portage la Prairie. Scheduled to open in 2003 at a cost of
$120 million, it will employ 230 people and will continue to foster diversification
in Manitoba's economy.
A Simplot cattle feedlot operated for many years in Carberry, and
was one of Mr. Simplot’s favourite destinations when he travelled to Manitoba.
Mr. Simplot has served on the boards of large American companies,
including McDonald’s Corporation and Continental Life and Accident Company
and as chairman of the board of trustees of the College of Idaho. He was
one of the founders of Micron Technology and served on that company's board
for 22 years.
Mr. Simplot is married to Esther Becker Simplot and has two sons,
Don and Scott, and a daughter, Gay. A third son, Richard, is deceased.
The Simplot family believes in reinvesting in the community. They recently
donated land and material to create the Millennium Baseball Park in Brandon.
This is one of many examples of the Simplot family’s commitment to Brandon
and other Manitoba communities.
Nominated by Simplot Canada Limited
2003
