Ronald Southern

$1.55 B

Ranked #1226 in World

About Ronald Southern

Ronald Donald Southern, born on July 25, 1930, and passed away on January 21, 2016, was a foundational figure in Canada's business landscape as the founder and long-serving chairman of the Calgary-based ATCO Group. Starting with a $2,000 investment alongside his father in 1947, Southern developed ATCO into a significant enterprise, maintaining family control as of 2007 and passing leadership to his daughter, Nancy Southern, in 2000. Moreover, Southern co-founded the Spruce Meadows equestrian center with his wife, Margaret, in 1975, enhancing Canada's equestrian sports scene. His extensive corporate affiliations and honors, including being invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, underline his vast influence across various sectors, from commerce to culture and sports. Southern's legacy continues to impact Canadian society profoundly, exemplified by his numerous awards and honorary degrees, highlighting his contributions to both the business world and philanthropy.

Born

July 25, 1930 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Died

January 21, 2016 (aged 85)

Source Of Wealth

Structures, Utilities

Industries

Energy

Citizenship

Canada

Residence

Calgary

Education

Bachelor of Arts / Science, University of Alberta

Ronald Donald Southern was born on July 25, 1930, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His father, Arnold Southern, was a successful businessman who founded the Alberta Trailer Hire Co. (later ATCO) in 1947. Ronald grew up in a close-knit family and developed a strong work ethic from a young age.

Ronald Southern: Family

Ronald Southern married Margaret Southern, and together they had four daughters: Nancy, Susan, Jennifer, and Patricia. The Southern family is well-known for their philanthropy and support of various charitable organizations.

Ronald Southern: Career Highlights

Ronald Southern's career highlights include:

Co-founding ATCO Group, a diversified global corporation with operations in energy, logistics, manufacturing, and real estate.
Serving as Chairman and CEO of ATCO Group for over 50 years.
Leading ATCO Group's expansion into international markets, including the United States, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
Co-founding Spruce Meadows equestrian centre, one of the world's premier equestrian facilities.

Ronald Southern: Companies

Ronald Southern was involved with several companies throughout his career, including:

ATCO Group
Spruce Meadows
Lafarge
Southam Inc.
Chrysler Corporation of Canada
Imasco
Canadian Airlines
Fletcher Challenge
Royal & SunAlliance
Canadian Pacific
Akita Drilling Ltd.
Sentgraf Enterprises Ltd.

Ronald Southern: Major Achievements

Ronald Southern's major achievements include:

Building ATCO Group into a global corporation with over $20 billion in annual revenue.
Transforming Spruce Meadows into a world-renowned equestrian centre that hosts major international tournaments.
Serving as a director of numerous corporations and organizations, including the Trilateral Commission.

Ronald Southern: Awards & Achievements

Ronald Southern received numerous awards and honours throughout his career, including:

Member of the Order of Canada (1986)
Companion of the Order of the British Empire (1990)
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (1992)
Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) (1995)
Officer of the Order of Canada (2003)
Companion of the Order of Canada (2006)
Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (2006)
Alberta Order of Excellence (2012)
Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)

Ronald Southern: Personal Life & Legacy

Ronald Southern was known for his dedication to his family, his business, and his community.

He was a passionate supporter of equestrian sports and contributed significantly to the development of the sport in Canada. Southern passed away on January 21, 2016, at the age of 85.

Ronald Southern: Trivia

Ronald Southern was an avid art collector and had a particular interest in Canadian art.
He was a licensed pilot and enjoyed flying his own plane.
Southern was a strong advocate for education and established the Ronald Southern Alberta Heritage Foundation to support educational initiatives.

Wealth History

Timeline

July 25, 1930

Ronald Donald Southern is born.

1947

Southern invests $2,000 with his father in the original Alberta Trailer Hire Co. (later ATCO).

1953

Southern receives a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta and joins ATCO full-time.

1975

Southern co-founds Spruce Meadows equestrian centre with his wife, Margaret Southern.

1976

Southern receives an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Calgary.

1986

Southern is invested as a Member of the Order of Canada.

1990

Southern is invested as a Companion of the Order of the British Empire and receives the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award from the University of Manitoba.

1991

Southern receives an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Alberta.

1992

Southern receives the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal.

1995

Southern is inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and elevated as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

1996

Southern is named Financial Post CEO of the Year.

2000

Southern passes the title of chairman, president, and CEO of ATCO to his daughter, Nancy Southern.

2002

Southern receives the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.

2003

Southern is elevated as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

2006

Southern is promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada and inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame with his wife.

September 2006

Southern is invested as an Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

2012

Southern is appointed to the Alberta Order of Excellence and awarded the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal with his wife, Margaret.

January 21, 2016

Ronald Donald Southern dies.

Ronald Southern : FAQs

What is Ronald Southern's net worth?

As of 2015, Ronald Southern's net worth was $1.55 billion.

What are Ronald Southern's main sources of wealth?

Ronald Southern's main source of income comes from Structures, Utilities.

In which industry does Ronald Southern primarily operate?

Ronald Southern is primarily involved in the Energy industry.

What is Ronald Southern educational background?

Ronald Southern holds a Bachelor of Arts / Science from the University of Alberta.

Is Ronald Southern dead?

Yes, Ronald Southern died on January 21, 2016 (aged 85).

Who was Ronald Donald Southern and what was his contribution to the business world?

Ronald Donald Southern was the founder and chairman of the Calgary-based ATCO Group, investing $2,000 with his father in 1947 to start the business. He led ATCO as CEO until 2000, demonstrating significant influence in the corporate world.

What is Spruce Meadows and who founded it?

Spruce Meadows is an equestrian centre co-founded by Ronald Donald Southern and his wife, Margaret Southern, in 1975 to support their daughters' involvement in competitive equestrian riding.

Which corporations and committees was Ronald Donald Southern affiliated with?

Ronald Donald Southern served as a director for several major corporations such as Lafarge, Southam Inc., and Chrysler Corporation of Canada. He was also a member of the Trilateral Commission, highlighting his vast influence across multiple industries.

What honors and awards did Ronald Donald Southern receive during his lifetime?

Throughout his lifetime, Ronald Donald Southern was recognized with several prestigious honors, including being invested as a Member of the Order of Canada, a Companion of the Order of the British Empire, and being appointed to the Alberta Order of Excellence, among others.

What honorary degrees and recognitions were bestowed upon Ronald Donald Southern?

Ronald Donald Southern received honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, named Financial Post CEO of the Year, and inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame with his wife, Margaret.