Businessman and founder of Anderson Ranch and Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, James Carl (J.C.) Anderson, died on September 3, 2015, of congestive heart failure, at the age of 84.
A Nebraska-native and former member of the counter-intelligence unit of the U.S. army, Anderson made his fortune in the Alberta oilfields. He began this venture as an engineer for Amoco Corp. in Texas, and moved to Canada in 1966. In 1968, Anderson established Anderson Exploration and, two years later, made one of the largest natural gas discoveries ever, the Dunvegan field in northern Alberta.
He took his company, one of the largest oil and gas producers in Canada, public in 1988. In 1995, it took over Home Oil, expanding from western Canada up north. Anderson Exploration was sold to Devon Energy Corp. in 2001, for $5.3 billion.
Anderson ran cattle on his Anderson Ranch, just south of Calgary, where he and his wife, Barbara, also raised four children – John, Bryan, Sandra and Susan, all of whom have been members of the Canadian Equestrian Team.
Since the late 1980s, the Anderson family ran horse shows, including international show jumping competitions. In 1997, John Anderson formed Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, hosting regular tournaments at the venue. The Anderson family was inducted into the Canadian Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2011.
Learn more about J.C. Anderson on the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping Facebook Page.
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