Donald G. Willmot
Encyclopedia
Donald Gilpin "Bud" Willmot (1916 - January 31, 1994) was a Canadian
businessman, philanthropist, and owner of the Kinghaven Farms
thoroughbred
horse racing
stable
.
Willmot was the President and CEO of Anthes Imperial Co. Ltd., a diversified Canadian public company he joined in 1949 that owned a number of businesses including those involved in construction equipment rental, steel materials, office furniture and supplies, and public warehousing. The company would be acquired by Molson Industries, Ltd.
in 1968. Willmot was appointed Chairman of Molson and oversaw a series of successful acquisitions in the early 1970s.
In his 1975 landmark book, The Canadian Establishment
, author Peter Newman
quoted (p. 145) Willmot's
opposition to the Federal Government's plan to create the Canada Pension Plan
stating that it was a threat to Canada's free enterprise system
.
and a member of its Board of Trustees. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
in 1991. He would later become a member of The Jockey Club
in the United States. In 1984, Willmot lost out in the bidding to Jack Kent Cooke
in an attempt to buy the prestigious Elmendorf Farm
near Lexington, Kentucky
from the estate of Maxwell H. Gluck. Although planning to remain in racing, on November 7, 1988, Kinghaven held a dispersal sale of its breeding stock.
In 1989 he was given an honorary Doctor of Laws from Brock University
in St. Catharines, Ontario
. He was a benefactor to a number of charities including Brock University that annually awards the "Dr. D.G (Bud) Willmot Scholarship in Business." Each fall and spring, the university conducts the "Willmot Distinguished Lecture Series."
After battling cancer for six mionths, Bud Willmot died on January 31, 1994. Two days later his widow, Ivy Willmot, also died of cancer.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman, philanthropist, and owner of the Kinghaven Farms
Kinghaven Farms
Kinghaven Farms is a thoroughbred horse racing stable founded in 1967 by Donald G. "Bud" Willmot. Located in King City, Ontario, north of Toronto, the success of the stable would see it expand to the United States with the acquisition of a farm and training center near Ocala, Florida. Kinghaven...
thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
stable
Stable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals...
.
Willmot was the President and CEO of Anthes Imperial Co. Ltd., a diversified Canadian public company he joined in 1949 that owned a number of businesses including those involved in construction equipment rental, steel materials, office furniture and supplies, and public warehousing. The company would be acquired by Molson Industries, Ltd.
Molson
Molson-Coors Canada Inc. is the Canadian division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is the second oldest company in Canada after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St...
in 1968. Willmot was appointed Chairman of Molson and oversaw a series of successful acquisitions in the early 1970s.
In his 1975 landmark book, The Canadian Establishment
The Canadian Establishment
The Canadian Establishment is the first reference book published in Canada to catalogue the richest families and individuals in the country. It was published in 1975 by economic journalist, Peter C. Newman...
, author Peter Newman
Peter C. Newman
Peter Charles Newman, CC, CD is a Canadian journalist and writer.Born in Vienna, Austria, Newman emigrated from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia to Canada in 1940 as a Jewish refugee. His father, Oscar, was a self-made wealthy factory owner. Newman was educated at Upper Canada College, where he was...
quoted (p. 145) Willmot's
opposition to the Federal Government's plan to create the Canada Pension Plan
Canada Pension Plan
The Canada Pension Plan is a contributory, earnings-related social insurance program. It forms one of the two major components of Canada's public retirement income system, the other component being Old Age Security...
stating that it was a threat to Canada's free enterprise system
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
.
Thoroughbred racing
In 1973 he became a founding member of the Jockey Club of CanadaJockey Club of Canada
The Jockey Club of Canada was formed in 1973 to oversee thoroughbred horse racing in Canada. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the club is responsible for the annual Sovereign Awards program and the Canadian Graded Stakes Committee.Founding members:...
and a member of its Board of Trustees. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario to honor those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness and thoroughbred horse racing in Canada....
in 1991. He would later become a member of The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
in the United States. In 1984, Willmot lost out in the bidding to Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke was a Canadian entrepreneur and former owner of the Washington Redskins , the Los Angeles Lakers , and the Los Angeles Kings , and built The Forum in Inglewood, California and FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.-Early career:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Cooke moved with his family to...
in an attempt to buy the prestigious Elmendorf Farm
Elmendorf Farm
Elmendorf Farm is a Kentucky Thoroughbred horse farm in Fayette County, Kentucky, and has been involved with horse racing since the early 19th century...
near Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
from the estate of Maxwell H. Gluck. Although planning to remain in racing, on November 7, 1988, Kinghaven held a dispersal sale of its breeding stock.
In 1989 he was given an honorary Doctor of Laws from Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
in St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
. He was a benefactor to a number of charities including Brock University that annually awards the "Dr. D.G (Bud) Willmot Scholarship in Business." Each fall and spring, the university conducts the "Willmot Distinguished Lecture Series."
After battling cancer for six mionths, Bud Willmot died on January 31, 1994. Two days later his widow, Ivy Willmot, also died of cancer.