The vision on an entrepreneur and his wife of 61 years will benefit the Foothills community for years to come.
The Foothills community mourned with others across Alberta and the country, with the passing of Ron Southern on Jan. 21 at the age of 85.
Southern founded Atco Gas back in 1947 with his father, Samuel Donald, which went on to be a multi-billion dollar business.
However, it is the majestic show-jumping facility, which he and his wife Margaret — who grew up in the Okotoks area — established in 1975 for which the Southerns will be most remembered.
What a legacy.
The majestic Spruce Meadows is considered one of the finest show-jumping facility in the world, and indeed Olympic champions such as Eric Lamaze have competed — and won — there.
The Southerns and Spruce Meadows have done nearly the impossible. They have taken a sport considered only for the ultra-elite and opened it up to the world.
Sure, the facility has been visited by the likes of the Queen Elizabeth II and The Boss — Bruce Springsteen — but also hundreds of thousands of folks, including charity groups, children and others have gone through the Spruce Meadows gates at virtually no cost.
The facility has become an ideal place for family and community.
Ron and Margaret Southern were elected to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 for building Spruce Meadows.
They have proven they lived their life like another great hall of famer, the late Roberto Clemente.
The Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder was known for his strong right arm, but also his large heart. He was killed in a plane crash while transporting goods to earthquake-victims in Nicaragua on New Year’s Eve, 1972.
Clemente lived with an edict of: “Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.’’
Ron Southern made a difference.
The family is working on establishing a fire hall in the Spruce Meadows area to benefit the community. Spruce Meadows has always given back to the community.
It’s an impressive legacy and one that will continue with Ron and Margaret’s daughter, Linda Southern-Heathcott as president and CEO of Spruce Meadows, handling the reins.
