James ANDERSON

ANDERSON, James Carl
September 21, 1930 – Oakland, Nebraska
September 3, 2015 – Calgary, Alberta
James Carl Anderson (JC), 84, peacefully passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2015 with his family by his side in Calgary, Alberta. JC was predeceased by his son Bryan. He is survived by his special friend Karen, son John, daughters Susan, Sandra, grandsons Austin and Eric of Calgary, brother Robert (Kathey), nephews Steve and Michael and their families.
JC was born in Oakland, Nebraska, educated at Midland Lutheran College and then transferred to the University of Texas and graduated as a petroleum engineer. He worked for what later became Amoco in the United States. JC first came to Canada as Chief Engineer for Amoco in 1965. He decided to step out on his own and form his own exploration and production company in 1968. He started with an initial investment of $400,000 which he ultimately grew to one of Canada's largest exploration and production companies with a total enterprise value of $7.2 billion, with production of 200,000 BOED that was ultimately sold to Devon Energy in the fall of 2001.
In 1971, JC found the Dunvegan gas field near Peace River Alberta which proved to be one of the ten largest natural gas fields in Canada with over 1.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. In 1995, in response to a hostile takeover attempt by Amoco towards Home Oil Company, JC submitted a one billion all stock bid for Home Oil Company as a white knight. This bid was ultimately proved to be successful, and was at that time in Canadian public markets, the first successful all stock bid to succeed over an all cash hostile bid. Anderson also acquired Columbia Gas Canada, Amax Petroleum Canada, Ulster Petroleum and Numac Petroleum.
A larger than life personality, JC had a reputation of being a shrewd deal maker and a demanding taskmaster. His prodigious memory was legendary as was his passion for the nuts and bolts of exploring for hydrocarbons. To those who worked closely with JC, the days were filled not only with high expectations, but also with laughter and humour. To the end, he remembered not only the details of many deals he was involved in, but also the people he did them with and the many others he worked with over the years.
In February of 2002, JC and other members of the Anderson Exploration management team formed Anderson Energy Inc., a private company which ultimately went public in September 2005.
Business accomplishments aside, JC's family was a great source of pride, and his most special times were those spent with his children and grandchildren. JC lived to support his family's activities wholeheartedly. Known on the equestrian scene as the "A Team", JC's children all enjoyed international success in the sport and were all members of Canada's Equestrian Team. Along with the support of Barbara Anderson, a world class Show Jumping venue was constructed on the Anderson Ranch property in 1980 that continues to grow and cater the sport, which prompted the sport's National Federation to induct the Anderson Family into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in November, 2011.
JC was a philanthropist and his contributions to the community through many charities and self- directed foundations were considerable. They include: the United Way, Calgary Foundation, Mazankoski Heart Hospital in Edmonton, Stars Air Ambulance, Easter Seals Camp Horizon and numerous other charities.
The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to JC's cardiology team, including Drs. Exner and Belenkie, Lisa Semeniuk, his caregivers from Calgary Elder Care and Victoria Order of Nurses, as well as the countless others who assisted with JC's care over the past number of years.
A Celebration of JC's Life will be held at the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping Venue on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Directions: from Calgary turn west on Highway 22X and then turn south on Spruce Meadows Way, travel 5 km south to the venue. A private family memorial to appropriately place JC's remains will be held at a later date. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Stars Air Ambulance (1441 Aviation Pk NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 8M7, (403) 295-1811, http://www.stars.ca/), the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta (University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, Fund Development, Health Sciences Centre, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, (403) 210-6271, http://www.libin.ucalgary.ca/donate), Easter Seals Camp Horizon (103, 811 Manning Road NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7L4, (403) 235-5662, http:/ /www.easterseals.ab.ca/Site/index.aspx) or to a charity of the donor's choice.
In living memory of JC Anderson, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park.