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John Richard Simplot (/ˈsɪmplɒt/; January 4, 1909 – May 25, 2008) was an American entrepreneur and businessman best known as the founder of the J. R. Simplot Company, a Boise, Idaho–based agricultural supplier specializing in potato products.[2][3] In 2007, he was estimated to be the 89th-richest person in the United States, at $3.6 billion. At the time of his death at age 99 in May 2008, he was the oldest billionaire on the Forbes 400.[4]

Key Information

Early life

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Born in Dubuque, Iowa,[3] he was the third of six children of Charles R. and Dorothy (Haxby) Simplot. His maternal grandmother was English, as were both parents of both his maternal grandfather and paternal grandmother. His paternal great-grandparents were both French.[citation needed]

A year later in 1910, the family relocated a thousand miles (1,600 km) west to homestead in the newly irrigated Magic Valley of south central Idaho; the Minidoka Dam on the Snake River was completed a few years earlier. After differences with his father, Simplot left school in the eighth grade at age 14 in 1923, then worked on a farm near Declo in Cassia County. He developed a low-cost method for feeding hogs when the market fell, feeding them wild horse meat and potatoes. When the market recovered, Simplot sold his hogs at a profit and got into the potato and vegetable processing business.[2][5]

J. R. Simplot Company

[edit]
Main article: Simplot

By World War II, the J. R. Simplot Company had become the largest shipper of fresh potatoes in the nation.

In 1967, Simplot and McDonald's Corporation founder Ray Kroc agreed by handshake that the Simplot Company would provide frozen french fries to the restaurant chain. Previously, restaurants had cut potatoes at each location for fresh french fries, but the favored russet potato was not available for three months in the summer, leading to a quality control problem. Simplot was able to supply frozen russet potatoes all year long. By 1972, all fries were frozen.[6] The frozen fry deal led to expansion of Simplot potato processing plants and construction in 1977 of a new plant at Hermiston, Oregon. By 2005, Simplot supplied more than half of all french fries for the fast food chain. Simplot also produces fertilizers for agriculture.[7]

Simplot retired as president of his company in 1973, but remained as chairman until 1994. He held the title of chairman emeritus until his death in 2008. Simplot received an honorary degree from Utah State University in Logan in 2001,[8] honoring him for his many contributions to the agricultural industry of America, particularly the Intermountain West.

Simplot was responsible for the Potato Bust of 1976, after making massive short plays he refused to honor those contracts. This resulted in millions in dollars of losses for the New York Merchant Exchange. A public outcry followed, and the newly created Commodity Futures Trading Commission held hearings.[9]

Further enhancing his enormous wealth, the J.R. Simplot Company provided startup capital in the early 1980s for the fledgling Micron Technology, a Boise-based manufacturer of computer memory chips;[2] in 1994, he owned a 20% stake in the company.[10] Additionally, he invested heavily in Remington Oil.

In 1961, Simplot financed the Brundage Mountain ski area near McCall, two hours north of Boise. The Simplot Company sold its 50% interest in Brundage in April 2006 to the longtime co-owner, the DeBoer family. In the early 1950s, Simplot was the benefactor to the fledgling Bogus Basin ski area near Boise when it had financial difficulties; the base area lodge is named in his honor.

In 1995, the J.R. Simplot Company expanded into Australia, acquiring iconic food brands like Birds Eye, Leggo's, Chiko, and Edgell.[11]

Personal

[edit]

Simplot's first marriage was to Ruby Rosevear (1911–2004) of Glenns Ferry,[12] whom he had met on a blind date; he proposed to her in his Model A Ford in 1931. After 29 years and four children, the marriage ended in divorce in 1960, when she suddenly left Simplot for another man. Years later, Simplot admitted that while he was growing his business empire in the 1950s, he had not spent enough time with his family.

He and his second wife, Esther Becker (born 1934), a former opera singer, met in the mid-1960s in New York. He was on a business trip and she was working as a receptionist for the Henry Phipps Foundation; they were married in 1972.[13]

Before his death, Simplot and his wife Esther resided in the Grove Hotel building in downtown Boise, a few blocks from the company's headquarters. The couple donated their hilltop home, in Boise's north end, to the state of Idaho in late 2004 for use as a governor's mansion.[14] (Known as "The Idaho House," it was returned to the Simplot family in 2013, and demolished in January 2016.)[15]

Accident

[edit]

On January 1, 2007, while attending the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, with his wife and son, Simplot fell from a motorized scooter and suffered a cranial hematoma. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, where he spent his 98th birthday.[16] Simplot returned to Idaho several days later for further rehabilitation.[17]

Death

[edit]

Simplot died suddenly at his home at age 99 on May 25, 2008,[3] with his wife at his side, following a bout of pneumonia from which he appeared to be recovering. His death occurred moments after he had invited a friend to his home to play cards.[18]

Simplot was survived by his wife, two sons, Don and Scott, and his daughter, Gay, who was the first wife of politician Butch Otter. His eldest son, Richard, died in 1993 at age 59. He was interred at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.[19]

In 1996, Simplot was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[20]

Awards and honors

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See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

J. R. Simplot

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from Grokipedia
John Richard "Jack" Simplot (January 4, 1909 – May 25, 2008) was an American entrepreneur and magnate best known as the founder of the J.R. Simplot Company, a privately held global food and agriculture firm headquartered in , that pioneered commercial frozen and became a major supplier to . Born in , Simplot moved with his family to at age two and left school after the eighth grade at age 14 to work on farms near Declo, where he began raising hogs and growing on rented land. In 1929, at age 20, he founded his company after acquiring an electric potato sorter through a coin toss, initially focusing on and onion shipping, which rapidly expanded to make him the largest fresh shipper in the United States by the eve of . During the war, Simplot's operations supplied the U.S. with 33 million pounds of dehydrated potatoes annually from 1942 to 1945, and in the late 1940s, he innovated the first commercial frozen french fry process, with the initial sale occurring in 1946 and a secured in 1953. In 1967, he struck a pivotal deal with founder to supply frozen fries, eventually providing over 50% of the chain's needs by 2005, which propelled the company into a diversified empire encompassing fertilizer production, , and with more than 15,000 employees worldwide. Simplot retired as president in 1973 and as chairman in 1994, remaining chairman emeritus until his death, while also investing in ventures like in the early 1980s and supporting philanthropy, including donations for Boise's Esther Simplot Park and St. Luke's Hospital.

Early Life

Childhood and Family Background

John Richard Simplot was born on January 4, 1909, in , to Charles Richard Simplot and Dorothy Ann Haxby Simplot. He was the third of six children in a family rooted in Midwestern farming traditions. In 1910, when Simplot was about one year old, his family relocated approximately 1,000 miles west to a homestead near Declo in southern Idaho's Magic Valley, drawn by new irrigation systems and agricultural opportunities in the region. His father, , a practical and frugal farmer from , transported the family, along with livestock including pigs, chickens, and horses, via boxcars to establish a new life on the frontier farm. The Simplots settled into a modest built by Charles, where young Jack contributed to farm chores from an early age, such as raising orphaned lambs on the front porch with his mother's assistance. Simplot's upbringing was marked by a strict, authoritarian whose discipline shaped his strong but also sparked frequent conflicts. Charles's stern approach, including refusals over minor freedoms like attending a game, instilled resilience in Simplot but ultimately led to his decision to leave home. With limited formal education, Simplot dropped out after completing the at age 14 in 1923, amid these family tensions. His mother provided him with a small sum—accounts vary between $20 and $80 in gold—to start out on his own in nearby Declo.

Initial Business Ventures

At the age of 14 in 1923, J. R. Simplot left home following an argument with his father over attending a game, receiving $20 in gold coins from his mother to start out on his own. He relocated to a $1-a-night hotel in the nearby town of Declo, , where he took odd jobs sorting potatoes at a local warehouse and unloading coal to cover his expenses. Demonstrating early financial ingenuity, Simplot purchased interest-bearing from underpaid teachers at 50 cents on the dollar and resold it to a bank for 90 cents, using the profits to acquire a , an old , and approximately 600 to 700 hogs at $1 each. To feed the hogs cheaply amid a depressed market, Simplot hunted wild horses in the desert with his rifle, processing their meat alongside potato scraps and into a he built himself. When hog prices rebounded the following year, he sold the herd for over $7,000—accounts vary between $7,500 and $7,800—providing capital to pivot into . With these funds, he leased 120 acres of land near Declo, purchased potato seed, farm equipment, three teams of horses, and a used roadster, marking his entry into potato farming and shipping operations in the mid-1920s using borrowed and rented resources. Simplot expanded his potato endeavors by co-owning an electric potato sorter and developing a small trucking operation to haul produce, which facilitated the construction of his first warehouse in 1929 and grew into a network of 33 facilities by 1940, making him the largest potato shipper in the American West. The Great Depression brought financial volatility, including near-bankruptcy risks from market fluctuations, but Simplot navigated these challenges through relentless work and diversification into onion farming on rented land. His recovery gained momentum in the late 1930s when he built an onion dehydration plant in Caldwell, Idaho, which generated $50,000 in its first month of operation and provided a stable revenue stream ahead of World War II demands.

Business Career

Founding and Early Growth of the J. R. Simplot Company

In 1929, at the age of 20, J.R. Simplot formally founded the J.R. Simplot Company in Declo, , as a and shipping operation, building on his earlier acquisition of an electric potato sorter through a coin toss with a . The venture began modestly in a potato cellar, focusing on buying, storing, and shipping fresh produce to markets across the . The company experienced rapid expansion during the early , leveraging Simplot's foundational farming skills from his teenage years raising hogs and managing crops. By , Simplot's holdings had grown to include 33 warehouses, establishing the company as a major shipper in the produce industry. Amid the economic hardships of the , the J.R. Simplot Company survived and even adapted by implementing strict cost-cutting measures, such as optimizing storage techniques to minimize waste and relying on Simplot's hands-on management to maintain low overhead. By , these efforts had solidified the company's position, with a reputation for reliability in the produce industry.

Innovations in Potato Processing and Key Partnerships

During , J.R. Simplot secured lucrative government contracts to supply dehydrated potatoes and onions to the U.S. military, marking the J.R. Simplot Company's first significant profits and establishing its reputation in . Operating from a newly built processing plant in , the company produced about 33 million pounds of dehydrated potatoes and 5 million pounds of dehydrated onions annually, leveraging efficient technology to meet wartime demands. These contracts not only fueled financial growth but also honed Simplot's expertise in large-scale potato processing. Post-war, in the late and , Simplot's engineers innovated in frozen products, focusing on to capitalize on emerging quick-freeze technologies. They perfected blanching processes—partially cooking the in hot water to remove sugars and preserve texture—followed by quick-freezing to maintain flavor and crispness upon frying. This led to the company's first commercial sales of frozen in 1946, revolutionizing the industry by enabling consistent, shelf-stable products that reduced preparation time for restaurants and households. By the early , these techniques had transformed Simplot into a leader in preservation, shifting from to a more versatile freezing method. A landmark partnership in the with founder solidified Simplot's dominance in potato processing. In 1967, Simplot struck a deal to become exclusive supplier of frozen in the United States, ensuring uniform quality and reliability for the expanding fast-food chain. This collaboration drove explosive growth, scaling Simplot's production to billions of pounds of fries annually by the 1970s to support global footprint. To accommodate this demand, the company expanded its facilities, including upgrades to the Caldwell plant and new sites like those in Nampa and Pocatello, while initiating exports to international markets in and during the decade.

Diversification into Other Industries

In the 1940s, Simplot expanded into production to secure a reliable supply for his agricultural operations, beginning with the construction of the Don Plant in , in 1944, which became the company's first phosphate manufacturing facility. This move was prompted by wartime shortages of commercial fertilizers, leading Simplot to mine phosphate rock directly from deposits in southeast starting in 1946, thereby establishing a vertically integrated that reduced costs and supported farming. By producing his own fertilizers, Simplot not only addressed immediate needs but also positioned the company as a major player in the phosphate industry, with operations that supplied essential nutrients to growers across the region. However, phosphate mining has faced environmental controversies, including selenium contamination of water sources and aquifer pollution, leading to designations, regulatory settlements, and ongoing legal actions as of 2023. During the 1950s, Simplot further diversified into livestock and cattle feeding operations, building on earlier acquisitions like the Bruneau Sheep Company ranch in 1943 to feed potato byproducts to animals. He expanded with large-scale ranches in and , utilizing feedlots to process waste from potato processing into . These ventures created synergies with his core business, as the feedlots converted surplus potatoes into a resource for production, with the company's operations eventually supporting an annual capacity of hundreds of thousands of heads across western states. In 1994, the company acquired the ZX Ranch in , which became one of the largest cattle operations in the country. In the late , Simplot ventured outside agriculture by providing seed funding to , a nascent firm founded in 1978 by three engineers in . He invested $1 million in 1980 for a 40% stake, which fueled the company's growth into a global leader in memory chips and generated substantial returns for Simplot, reportedly making him a anew through this high-tech diversification. Profits from frozen french fry sales during this period helped finance such broader expansions beyond . By the 1980s, the J.R. Simplot Company had extended into turf and products, developing specialized s and seeds for and non-agricultural uses, complementing its agricultural lines. These efforts contributed to the company's global reach, with international processing and operations established in regions like , , and , marketing products in over 40 countries and solidifying its status as a multinational .

Personal Life

Marriages and Family

J. R. Simplot married Ruby Adeline Rosevear in 1931 after meeting on a ; the couple had four children together: sons , Don, and Scott, and daughter . The marriage lasted 29 years and ended in in 1960, reportedly after Rosevear left Simplot for another man. Despite the divorce, Simplot maintained close relationships with his children, who became deeply involved in the . Sons Don and Scott, along with daughter , served on the company's executive committee and held key leadership roles, such as Scott's position as board chairman. , the eldest son, died in 1993. Simplot's daughter was previously married to C. L. "Butch" , who later served as Idaho's and worked for the Simplot company for 30 years before their 1993 divorce. In 1972, Simplot married Esther Becker, a former opera singer whom he met in New York in the mid-1960s; the marriage lasted until his death in 2008 and produced no additional children. Esther played a significant role in the family's philanthropic activities, particularly supporting arts organizations in Boise.

Philanthropy and Personal Interests

Throughout his life, J.R. Simplot demonstrated a commitment to philanthropy, particularly in supporting agricultural education. He and his company provided significant funding to institutions like the University of Idaho, including contributions that helped sustain the Parma Research and Extension Center, a key facility for potato and crop research in Idaho. The J.R. Simplot Company Foundation, established in 2000, has continued this legacy through various grants. More recently, the J.R. Simplot Family Foundation provided a multimillion-dollar endowment for the university's first deanship in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, honoring Simplot's contributions to Idaho agriculture. Simplot also backed cultural initiatives in Boise through family philanthropy, often in partnership with his wife, Esther Simplot, who led efforts to advance the local arts scene. Esther, an aspiring opera singer, was a charter member and first president of the Boise Civic Opera (now Opera Idaho), founded in 1973, and championed ballet and orchestral programs; J.R. supported these endeavors, including a joint $1 million donation in 1980 to the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts and funding for the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy, a facility built for the Boise Philharmonic, Ballet Idaho, and Opera Idaho. In later years, the J.R. Simplot Company Foundation, focused on community development and environmental causes in Idaho, extended this support with grants to arts organizations and local nonprofits. Beyond philanthropy, Simplot pursued personal interests rooted in the rural he knew from his . An avid horseman and big game hunter, he maintained extensive ranches across six western states, including the large ZX in , where he ran 15,000 head of —not primarily for profit, but because he cherished the land and the animals, often stating, "I love the land and I just love the cow." His daily routine reflected a simple, hands-on approach even in his later years: rising at 6 a.m. for , attending meetings, taking an afternoon nap in his office, and driving himself to work or the , frequently stopping at for an Egg McMuffin and .

Later Years and Death

Retirement and Ongoing Involvement

In 1973, at the age of 64, J. R. Simplot retired as president of the J. R. Simplot Company, appointing longtime associate to the position, though he continued to guide the organization informally. He retained the role of chairman of the board until 1994, when his son succeeded him, allowing for a gradual transition of leadership while preserving the company's private, family-held structure. Even after stepping down as chairman, Simplot maintained an influential advisory role, offering counsel on key strategic decisions as chairman emeritus. This included oversight of the company's significant stake in , where his early 1980 investment had fueled substantial growth into a major semiconductor producer, and he served on its board until 1999. His guidance also extended to international expansions, such as the 1995 acquisition of Australian food brands including and Edgell, which marked a pivotal step in globalizing the family business. The successes in diversification, particularly into semiconductors and phosphate mining, provided the financial stability that supported Simplot's secure retirement. By , his personal wealth had reached an estimated $3.6 billion, ranking him 89th on ' list of the richest Americans, largely tied to the enduring value of the privately held J. R. Simplot Company owned by his family.

The 2007 Accident

On January 1, 2007, J. R. Simplot, then 97 years old, suffered a fall from his motorized scooter while exiting the parking lot of University of Phoenix Stadium in , following Boise State's victory in the . The incident occurred late in the evening as Simplot was leaving the event with his wife and son; he struck his head on the pavement, resulting in a cranial hematoma that caused significant swelling. He was immediately transported to St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, where emergency surgery was performed the following day to relieve the pressure on his . Simplot remained in the at St. Joseph's Hospital for several days, where he gradually regained and stabilized, with his reported as normal post-surgery. His 98th birthday on January 4 fell during this hospitalization, marking a subdued celebration amid his recovery from the . Doctors noted a large at the site of impact prior to the procedure, but family members expressed optimism about his progress, citing his prior resilience despite past health challenges like heart and . By January 10, Simplot had improved sufficiently to be transferred via air ambulance to , where he was admitted to the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital for further care focused on his . At the rehabilitation facility, he continued to show steady improvement in responsiveness, though initial challenges included difficulty in communicating effectively with others. The accident had a limited long-term medical impact directly attributable to the , as Simplot returned home following rehab, but it contributed to a noticeable decline in his overall mobility during his final months.

Death and Immediate Aftermath

John Richard "J.R." Simplot died on May 25, 2008, at the age of 99 in his condominium in downtown Boise, Idaho, from natural causes, with his wife of 36 years, Esther Simplot, by his side. His health had been in decline since the scooter accident the previous year. A private family burial was held at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise, attended only by close family and associates. In contrast, a public memorial service took place on June 1, 2008, at Qwest Arena in Boise, drawing approximately 1,000 attendees who paid tribute to Simplot's deep ties to Idaho's agricultural heritage and his role in elevating the state's potato industry. The J.R. Simplot Company issued an immediate statement acknowledging his passing, emphasizing that Simplot had long stepped back from daily operations and that the business would proceed unchanged under family stewardship. , J.R.'s youngest son and the company's executive , affirmed the seamless transition, noting that the company would continue its agricultural focus without leadership disruptions. Following his death, the Simplot family managed the estate to maintain the company's status as a privately held entity, with family members retaining control through board positions and ownership stakes, ensuring continuity in operations.

Legacy and Honors

Enduring Business Impact

Following J.R. Simplot's death in 2008, the continued to expand as a global , maintaining its family-owned structure under the leadership of his heirs and executives. By 2025, the company employed more than 15,000 people worldwide, with operations spanning , , and production across multiple continents. Its core focus remained on , exemplified by the 2025 acquisition of Belgium's Clarebout Group, a major frozen potato producer, which was completed on November 7, 2025, and strengthened its international for frozen products. This growth underscored the enduring scalability of Simplot's vision, transforming a regional potato farming operation into a privately held enterprise generating billions in annual revenue while staying committed to family control. In , the company's economic footprint has been profound, supporting thousands of jobs in manufacturing, agriculture, and related sectors, and ranking among the state's top private employers. As a key player in the industry, Simplot contributes significantly to Idaho's gross state product through potato farming, processing, and exports, bolstering rural economies in areas like the Magic Valley. The company has also driven innovations in sustainable farming, partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) since 2022 to integrate tools with conservation practices, enhancing soil health, water quality, and resource efficiency for Idaho growers. These efforts promote long-term agricultural viability, reducing environmental impacts while optimizing farm profitability in the state's potato-dependent regions. The J.R. Simplot Family Foundation has perpetuated Simplot's commitment to agriculture and education, providing ongoing grants for initiatives that advance these fields. In 2024, the foundation established the first endowed deanship at the University of 's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, funding leadership to support land-grant research and extension programs in . This builds on prior contributions, such as endowments for agricultural facilities at institutions like the College of Western , fostering workforce development and innovation in 's sector. Simplot's pioneering role in the frozen food industry endures through its foundational contributions to the global french fry market, particularly as the first supplier of fries to starting in 1967. By 2005, the company provided more than half of the chain's french fry requirements, revolutionizing fast-food supply chains by enabling consistent, year-round availability of high-quality products derived from potatoes. This legacy continues to influence the industry, with Simplot remaining a dominant player in frozen potato processing and a vital link between agriculture and international markets.

Awards and Recognitions

In 1967, J.R. Simplot received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement, recognizing his entrepreneurial excellence in . Simplot was inducted into the at the in 1996, honoring his contributions to the Western American heritage through his pioneering work in and industry. In 2001, awarded Simplot an honorary Doctor of Agricultural Sciences degree for his significant impacts on the agricultural and food industries. Simplot's rags-to-riches journey from a young farmer to a major leader also earned him induction into the Potato Hall of Fame in 1996, celebrating his transformative role in the state's industry.

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  61. https://www.facebook.com/groups/114625865783301/posts/709768192935729/
  62. https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/all-honorees/
  63. https://www.usu.edu/trustees/nominations/recipients.cfm
  64. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/sep/26/five-names-added-to-potato-hall-of-fame/
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