John Edward Anderson
Encyclopedia
John Edward Anderson was the president and sole shareholder of Topa Equities, Ltd. Anderson oversaw more than 40 wholly owned subsidiaries in diverse industries such as agriculture
, automotive dealerships, insurance
, real estate, oil, and wholesale beverage distribution. In 2006, he was ranked #189 on the Forbes Magazine list of the 400 richest Americans
, with a net worth of $1.9 billion. He made charitable donations to the University of California, Los Angeles
, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
, and other Southern California educational institutions during his lifetime. Anderson died from pneumonia at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
.
. He was the son of a barber. Anderson was the valedictorian of his high school class. Anderson also earned the rank of Eagle Scout
in the Boy Scouts of America
in 1931. He attended UCLA
from 1936 to 1940, playing on the ice hockey team, and graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor's degree in business administration
. While at UCLA, he was a member of the fraternity Beta Theta Pi
. He then attended Harvard Business School
on scholarship
, graduating with a MBA
after World War II
had broken out. While at Harvard, he was a George Fisher Baker Scholar. Anderson entered the military on the staff of an admiral
, and passed his CPA
exam while in the Navy. Anderson continued his education after the war, earning his JD
from Loyola Law School
in 1950. He graduated first in his class at Loyola, and was offered a full-time teaching position. For the next 25 years, Anderson taught at the law school in mornings and evenings while he worked at his law firm.
in 1965, and he married his current wife Marion in 1967. His daughter Debbie died at the age of seventeen in a car accident in 1969. Anderson's son John, Jr. is an executive vice presidents in Topa Equities, Ltd., his daughter Judith manages the agricultural ranch in Ojai
, California
. His sons also manage the family's beverage distribution and automotive businesses. He resided in the East Gate Bel Air
section of Los Angeles
, California
. Anderson has 15 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. His wife Marion runs the Marion & John E. Anderson Foundation charity.
in Los Angeles, California. In 1980, he founded Topa Properties, Ltd., which owns a sizeable amount of property in the US Virgin Islands. His portfolio
included 4000000 square feet (371,612.2 m²) of commercial property and 4,500 residential units. He was a chairman of the YMCA
of Metropolitan Los Angeles, a trustee and former president of Saint John's Hospital and Health Center Foundation
and trustee of Claremont McKenna College
. Anderson was on the Board of Visitors at the Anderson School of Management
, which is named after him. Anderson also taught several business courses at UCLA.
, where Marion Anderson is a board member. Beginning in 1987, the Andersons donated $42 million to the University of California, Los Angeles
. The UCLA Graduate School of Management was later renamed the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, automotive dealerships, insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
, real estate, oil, and wholesale beverage distribution. In 2006, he was ranked #189 on the Forbes Magazine list of the 400 richest Americans
Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September, and 2010 marks the 29th issue. The 400 was started by Malcom Forbes in 1982 and treats those in the list like...
, with a net worth of $1.9 billion. He made charitable donations to the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Children's Hospital Los Angeles, formerly Childrens Hospital Society, is a private, non-profit teaching hospital in Los Angeles. The hospital provides multidisciplinary care to over 93,000 children each year, with physician expertise in over 100 pediatric specialties and subspecialties.The hospital...
, and other Southern California educational institutions during his lifetime. Anderson died from pneumonia at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California....
.
Early years
Anderson was born on September 12, 1917 in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. He was the son of a barber. Anderson was the valedictorian of his high school class. Anderson also earned the rank of Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
in the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
in 1931. He attended UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
from 1936 to 1940, playing on the ice hockey team, and graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor's degree in business administration
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
. While at UCLA, he was a member of the fraternity Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
. He then attended Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
on scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
, graduating with a MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
had broken out. While at Harvard, he was a George Fisher Baker Scholar. Anderson entered the military on the staff of an admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
, and passed his CPA
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
exam while in the Navy. Anderson continued his education after the war, earning his JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School is the law school of Loyola Marymount University, a private Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions, in Los Angeles, California. Loyola was established in 1920. Like Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law , it...
in 1950. He graduated first in his class at Loyola, and was offered a full-time teaching position. For the next 25 years, Anderson taught at the law school in mornings and evenings while he worked at his law firm.
Family life
In 1942, Anderson married his UCLA sweetheart, Margaret Stewart, and they had five children. Margaret died of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1965, and he married his current wife Marion in 1967. His daughter Debbie died at the age of seventeen in a car accident in 1969. Anderson's son John, Jr. is an executive vice presidents in Topa Equities, Ltd., his daughter Judith manages the agricultural ranch in Ojai
Ojai, California
Ojai is a city in Ventura County, California, USA. It is situated in the Ojai Valley , surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.-History:Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His sons also manage the family's beverage distribution and automotive businesses. He resided in the East Gate Bel Air
East Gate Bel Air, Los Angeles
East Gate Bel Air is a very small and very wealthy area within the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, California...
section of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Anderson has 15 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. His wife Marion runs the Marion & John E. Anderson Foundation charity.
Business life
Anderson was the founding partner of Kindel & Anderson law firm in 1953. On April 1, 1956, Anderson founded Ace Beverage Co. with exclusive rights to distribute BudweiserBudweiser (Anheuser-Busch)
Budweiser is a 5.0% abv American-style lager introduced in 1876 by Adolphus Busch and one of the highest selling beers in the United States. It is made with up to 30% rice in addition to hops and barley malt. Budweiser is produced in various breweries located around the world...
in Los Angeles, California. In 1980, he founded Topa Properties, Ltd., which owns a sizeable amount of property in the US Virgin Islands. His portfolio
Portfolio (finance)
Portfolio is a financial term denoting a collection of investments held by an investment company, hedge fund, financial institution or individual.-Definition:The term portfolio refers to any collection of financial assets such as stocks, bonds and cash...
included 4000000 square feet (371,612.2 m²) of commercial property and 4,500 residential units. He was a chairman of the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
of Metropolitan Los Angeles, a trustee and former president of Saint John's Hospital and Health Center Foundation
Saint John's Health Center
Saint John's Health Center is a hospital in Santa Monica, California, United States. The hospital was founded in 1942 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.-List of famous patients:*Former US President Ronald Reagan, 2001, taken to St...
and trustee of Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college and a member of the Claremont Colleges located in Claremont, California. The campus is located east of Downtown Los Angeles...
. Anderson was on the Board of Visitors at the Anderson School of Management
Anderson School of Management
Anderson School of Management may refer to:*UCLA Anderson School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles*Anderson School of Management *A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management, University of California, Riverside...
, which is named after him. Anderson also taught several business courses at UCLA.
Philanthropy
Among his charitable endeavors, Anderson and his wife Marion donated more than $50 million for the construction of a new building for Children's Hospital Los AngelesChildren's Hospital Los Angeles
Children's Hospital Los Angeles, formerly Childrens Hospital Society, is a private, non-profit teaching hospital in Los Angeles. The hospital provides multidisciplinary care to over 93,000 children each year, with physician expertise in over 100 pediatric specialties and subspecialties.The hospital...
, where Marion Anderson is a board member. Beginning in 1987, the Andersons donated $42 million to the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. The UCLA Graduate School of Management was later renamed the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management.
Awards
- 1985 — Distinguished Service Award, Loyola Law School
- 1987 — UCLA Graduate School of Management was renamed the John E. Anderson School of Management after he donated $15 million
- 1987 — Southern California Entrepreneur of the Year
- 1988 — Outstanding Individual Philanthropist on National Philanthropy Day
- 1995 — UCLA Alumnus of the Year
- 1995 — UCLA Medal
- 2002 — Master Entrepreneur of the Year
- 2002 — John E. Anderson Distinguished Alumnus Award, UCLA John E. Anderson School of Management
- 2003 — Business Person of the year, Business Hall of Fame
- 2004 — Humanitarian Award, National Conference for Community and Justice
- Unk — Distinguished Eagle Scout AwardDistinguished Eagle Scout AwardThe Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...