J.R. Simplot, 'grandfather of the Idaho potato industry,' dies at 99
J.R. Simplot, 'grandfather of the Idaho potato industry,' dies at 99
J.R. (Jack) Simplot, a pioneer of the Idaho potato industry, founder of the J.R. Simplot Co. and one of the 100 wealthiest Americans, died of natural causes May 25 at his home in Boise, ID. He was 99.
"Former [Idaho] Gov. Phil Batt, who knew [Mr.] Simplot well, said he was among the most important figures in the state's history," stated an obituary in the Idaho Statesman. The article quoted Mr. Batt as saying, "I think [Mr. Simplot] did more to build Idaho than any other one person."
"The potato industry has lost one of its inspired leaders in the passing of J.R. Simplot," Frank Muir, president of the Idaho Potato Commission, said in a statement. "He not only pioneered many aspects of our industry, but gave back to his community in countless ways. We mourn with his family and celebrate his life and achievements."
Born Jan. 9, 1909, in Dubuque, IA, and raised in Declo, ID, Mr. Simplot quit school, left home and ventured out to make it on his own at age 14. He started a hog feeding operation and put the profits into potato farming. While still in his teens, he ran a 120-acre leased potato ranch, and within 10 years he had become the largest shipper of potatoes in the western United States.
In 2001, he told Esquire magazine, "I now own more deeded land than any man in America." In fact, his land holdings, combined with the public lands utilized by his various operations, approximated twice the total acreage of the state of Delaware.
Early on, Mr. Simplot expanded his potato business vertically, adding sorting and processing operations, and then dehydrating operations. By the start of World War II, he owned the world's largest potato dehydrating plant, and during the war he supplied dried potatoes and other vegetables to feed U.S. troops.
His company then developed a process for producing frozen french fries, and in the mid-1960s, Mr. Simplot contracted with McDonalds to supply the growing restaurant chain with frozen french fries.
Mr. Simplot's entrepreneurial pursuits extended far beyond potatoes. He became involved in the production of various fruits and vegetables and other food products, fertilizer, livestock, feed, seed, industrial chemicals and irrigation products.
He invested in oil, and he put $1 million into the start-up of Micron Technology, a computer chip manufacturer that, in his own words, became "a howling success."
He also owned ski resorts from Chile to China.
In 1994, Mr. Simplot retired as chairman of J.R. Simplot Co. His son Scott succeeded him as chairman and continues to serve in that position.
In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked Mr. Simplot No. 89 on its list of the 400 richest Americans, with an estimated worth of $3.6 billion. At the time of his death, he was the oldest billionaire in the United States.
Val Lambert, who worked in sales at J.R. Simplot Co. for 14 years before becoming Green Giant sales manager for Potandon Produce LLC in Idaho Falls, ID, told The Produce News that Mr. Simplot was "one of the kindest persons I have ever run across. He was very pleasurable to work for and very fair to his workers. It didn't matter if you were a vice president or someone working on the lines, you were treated with the same utmost courtesy. And he had time to sit and talk to you."
He was never pompous," Ms. Lambert continued. "You just never felt that you were talking to a billionaire. It was like talking to your grandfather or your father or your next-door neighbor. He was very down to earth."
Kevin Stanger, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC in Idaho Falls, ID, who also worked for Simplot earlier in his career, said that Mr. Simplot was "the epitome of a great entrepreneur. Whatever he did," whether it was in his agricultural empire or in his involvement with Micron, "he did it with passion."
Mr. Simplot was "a great asset" for the potato industry and for the state of Idaho, he said.
"From my perspective, I would say [Mr. Simplot] was the one responsible for getting Idaho on the map when it comes to potatoes," said Kevin Searle, general manager of GPOD of Idaho in Shelley, ID. "I kind of look at him as the grandfather of the Idaho potato industry, the pioneer that really kicked it off." He was "very forward-thinking," Mr. Searle added.
Dennis Herbold, president of Max Herbold Inc. in Rupert, ID, and son of the company's founder, said that his father worked with Mr. Simplot for 10 years "before he started his own business." Mr. Simplot was "very influential in this area," in part "because he started a lot of fresh [potato] plants around here." His influence will be felt "for a long time," because many of the companies he started, from potatoes to fertilizer to cattle, will "continue to exist."
Mr. Herbold also remembers Mr. Simplot as "a very patriotic individual" who made frequent mention of his love for the United States as well as his love for the state of Idaho.
Mr. Simplot was very generous, making many donations over the course of his lifetime to the local community, the state and various other causes, according to Mr. Herbold. "His home in Boise, he donated to the state," and that is "now in process of being converted into the governor's mansion," he said.
"Former [Idaho] Gov. Phil Batt, who knew [Mr.] Simplot well, said he was among the most important figures in the state's history," stated an obituary in the Idaho Statesman. The article quoted Mr. Batt as saying, "I think [Mr. Simplot] did more to build Idaho than any other one person."
"The potato industry has lost one of its inspired leaders in the passing of J.R. Simplot," Frank Muir, president of the Idaho Potato Commission, said in a statement. "He not only pioneered many aspects of our industry, but gave back to his community in countless ways. We mourn with his family and celebrate his life and achievements."
Born Jan. 9, 1909, in Dubuque, IA, and raised in Declo, ID, Mr. Simplot quit school, left home and ventured out to make it on his own at age 14. He started a hog feeding operation and put the profits into potato farming. While still in his teens, he ran a 120-acre leased potato ranch, and within 10 years he had become the largest shipper of potatoes in the western United States.
In 2001, he told Esquire magazine, "I now own more deeded land than any man in America." In fact, his land holdings, combined with the public lands utilized by his various operations, approximated twice the total acreage of the state of Delaware.
Early on, Mr. Simplot expanded his potato business vertically, adding sorting and processing operations, and then dehydrating operations. By the start of World War II, he owned the world's largest potato dehydrating plant, and during the war he supplied dried potatoes and other vegetables to feed U.S. troops.
His company then developed a process for producing frozen french fries, and in the mid-1960s, Mr. Simplot contracted with McDonalds to supply the growing restaurant chain with frozen french fries.
Mr. Simplot's entrepreneurial pursuits extended far beyond potatoes. He became involved in the production of various fruits and vegetables and other food products, fertilizer, livestock, feed, seed, industrial chemicals and irrigation products.
He invested in oil, and he put $1 million into the start-up of Micron Technology, a computer chip manufacturer that, in his own words, became "a howling success."
He also owned ski resorts from Chile to China.
In 1994, Mr. Simplot retired as chairman of J.R. Simplot Co. His son Scott succeeded him as chairman and continues to serve in that position.
In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked Mr. Simplot No. 89 on its list of the 400 richest Americans, with an estimated worth of $3.6 billion. At the time of his death, he was the oldest billionaire in the United States.
Val Lambert, who worked in sales at J.R. Simplot Co. for 14 years before becoming Green Giant sales manager for Potandon Produce LLC in Idaho Falls, ID, told The Produce News that Mr. Simplot was "one of the kindest persons I have ever run across. He was very pleasurable to work for and very fair to his workers. It didn't matter if you were a vice president or someone working on the lines, you were treated with the same utmost courtesy. And he had time to sit and talk to you."
He was never pompous," Ms. Lambert continued. "You just never felt that you were talking to a billionaire. It was like talking to your grandfather or your father or your next-door neighbor. He was very down to earth."
Kevin Stanger, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC in Idaho Falls, ID, who also worked for Simplot earlier in his career, said that Mr. Simplot was "the epitome of a great entrepreneur. Whatever he did," whether it was in his agricultural empire or in his involvement with Micron, "he did it with passion."
Mr. Simplot was "a great asset" for the potato industry and for the state of Idaho, he said.
"From my perspective, I would say [Mr. Simplot] was the one responsible for getting Idaho on the map when it comes to potatoes," said Kevin Searle, general manager of GPOD of Idaho in Shelley, ID. "I kind of look at him as the grandfather of the Idaho potato industry, the pioneer that really kicked it off." He was "very forward-thinking," Mr. Searle added.
Dennis Herbold, president of Max Herbold Inc. in Rupert, ID, and son of the company's founder, said that his father worked with Mr. Simplot for 10 years "before he started his own business." Mr. Simplot was "very influential in this area," in part "because he started a lot of fresh [potato] plants around here." His influence will be felt "for a long time," because many of the companies he started, from potatoes to fertilizer to cattle, will "continue to exist."
Mr. Herbold also remembers Mr. Simplot as "a very patriotic individual" who made frequent mention of his love for the United States as well as his love for the state of Idaho.
Mr. Simplot was very generous, making many donations over the course of his lifetime to the local community, the state and various other causes, according to Mr. Herbold. "His home in Boise, he donated to the state," and that is "now in process of being converted into the governor's mansion," he said.
