When Hunt told his board of directors at a meeting in Houston that he wanted to pay a consulting firm $500,000 to do a study assessing the King Ranch's environmental problems, Tio glared at him . Prior to AMERRA, he served as senior vice president of J.D. Although 60,000 head of cattle continued to graze King Ranch's sprawling acreage and the company remained a major force in the cattle industry, King Ranch evolved into a distinct agribusiness and energy corporation during the 1990s. Tio Kleberg continued to run the ranch's day-to-day operations. Wyoming 2015 King Ranch Cheyenne, WY Leopold Conservation Award Recipient. Fiduciary board awards were broken down by company revenues and ownership type. Today only one of the estimated two hundred lineal descendants of Richard and Henrietta King works and lives full-time on the ranch: 31-year-old James Clement III, whose father, Dallas resident James H. Clement Jr., is the chairman of the King Ranch board of directors. Billionaire Stan Kroenke, owner of what are now the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, has purchased a massive Texas ranch that had a $725 million price tag. Alexander will be During the first 15 years of the 20th century, King Ranch managed once again to thrive in the face of further droughts, wars with Mexican raiders, and Kleberg's failing health. The chair (family) and CEO (currently non-family) roles are split and have been for many years. Beef was not the only thing King Ranch was able to breed successfully. top of page. Three Riverway, Suite 1600 Corporate management at the ranch predated Jack Hunt. The King Ranch itself, which covers about 825,000 acres--slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island--on four separate divisions of land in South Texas known as the "Home Ranches": Santa Gertrudis, Laureles, Norias, and Encino. "Tio" Kleberg was born in Austin, Texas, to Richard M. Kleberg Jr. and Mary Lewis Scott Kleberg. King Ranch, Inc. operates one of the largest and most famous cattle ranches in the world. The Texas Wildlife Association selected Bryant as the Texas Outdoorsman of the Year (2016) and he was inducted into the Texas Conservation Hall of Fame with Tio Kleberg, sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (2017). In order for this to happen, the cattle had to be driven thousands of miles to railroad points as far away as St. Louis, and later, Abilene, Kansas. Kingsville, TX 78364 United States. The exact . As income from both cattle and petroleum operations declined, the company was forced to look for other business areas in which to try its hand. "I was surprised when I got a call, and honored," King said Friday. Type of Private Board: Fiduciary In the 1950s the company went international. The descendants claimed that Robert Kleberg had worked for both Richard King and Chapman's widow during a land settlement issue, creating a distinct conflict of interest. In order to expand the ranch during its early years, King hired a lawyer to seek out the owners of the old land grants throughout the area. All rights reserved. Kingsville, Texas, United States. Board members review the material and send their comments/questions three days in advance, and the team responds the day before the meeting. NRM grad, professor Bryant receives TTU Distinguished Alumni Award Other businesses in which King Ranch is involved include residential real estate and a smattering of retail and commercial ventures near its Texas home turf. Company Chairman John D. Alexander Jr. and John T. Steen III Vice-Chairman commented that the King Ranch board is looking forward to working with Robert and are confident his broad professional experience along with a deep knowledge of finance and ag related investments make him a great choice to lead King Ranch into the future. more than 50,000 books and 120,000 other kinds of references. 78212-1756. Board is a leader in local involvement, supporting the company in community philanthropy. King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States. Rodney serves on the Board of Directors for the Kings Water Alliance, Central Valley Dairy Representative Monitoring Program, and the California Dairy Environmental Justice Fund. pursue new opportunities in turfgrass, permanent nut crops, and branding joint ventures. The company began actively exploring for oil and gas, rather than passively waiting for royalties on the oil and gas found on its property by others. The awards presented at the online 2021 Private Company Governance Summit on June 9, honor private company boards that best serve their stakeholders owners, shareholders, employees and community with best practices in their structure and performance. Hodgen holds a bachelors degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University and an masters degree in finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mrs. King's death brought about a web of complications stemming from the division of her estate, high estate taxes, and various debts. From 1971 to 1978 he managed the King Ranch cattle, wildlife, farm and horse operations. Who lives on King Ranch? The King Ranch Saddle Shop, once exclusively a supplier of cowboy gear for the kinenos, went into the retail clothing and luggage business. The bank was able to pivot in the face of COVID-19 to work-from-home arrangements and, most impressively, to drive-thru mortgage closings. Another turnover in management took place in 1995. Tio Kleberg commented on the company's diversification in a 1995 U.S. News & World Report: "We no longer see ourselves in the cattle business, as such. Both iterations of the board trained up the family members, who did not have governance backgrounds. Richard Jr. King born 1860-12-15 in King's Ranch, Texas - 1922. As the company developed its Santa Gertrudis cattle, it also engaged in the King Ranch Quarter Horse program. As the 1990s opened, King Ranch faced a number of questions. King Ranch Inc. CEO Robert Underbrink to retire, Robert Hodgen hired as Clement was replaced by Kimberly-Clark CEO Darwin Smith, who became the first chief executive in company history with no familial ties to founder Richard King. current President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert J. Underbrink, 59, of Houston, Texas. Board of Directors - Valor Ranch Before joining King Ranch, Hodgen spent six . King split his time between his two businesses, steamboating and ranching, during this period. Board is made up of six independent board members and one family member (the chairman) and includes three women and one director of color. Our alumni are progressive leaders and exceptional managers at some of the most diverse ranches in the country. King Ranch. The Board of Directors of King Ranch, Inc. appointed Mr. Underbrink as Vice President of Farming Operations in June 1998. He is a graduate of the California Ag Leadership Program (Class 36) and previously served as a Director of the National Grain and Feed Association. Chartered as a Texas non-profit corporation in 1969, the Association's stated purpose was to preserve the physical, social and cultural aspects of ranching and to perpetuate the traditions intrinsic values and history of one of our nation's most important industries. The company began actively exploring for oil and gas, rather than passively waiting for royalties on the oil and gas found on its property by others. The deal catapulted Consolidated Citrus into the upper echelon of citrus producers and secured King Ranch's position as the largest citrus grower in the United States. In 1853, Captain Richard King purchased a creek-fed oasis in the Wild Horse Desert of South Texas, sparking generations of integrity, preservation, and innovation. A replay of the awards presentation is available here: https://vimeo.com/561269813. The ranch covered more than 600,000 acres by this time. (361) 595-5683. By the end of the 1860s, King Ranch longhorns were being sold in northern markets. The family started an advisory board in 2012 and changed to a fiduciary board in 2015. King and Kenedy also used their shipping enterprise to supply the Confederate army. Today only one of the estimated two hundred lineal descendants of Richard and Henrietta King works and lives full-time on the ranch: 31-year-old James Clement III, whose father, Dallas resident James H. Clement Jr., is the chairman of the King Ranch board of directors. This snub, combined with legal haggling over oil payments to family members, led to Shelton's departure from the company a few years later. Headquartered in Texas and owner of the historic 825,000 acre King Ranch, its operations include cattle breeding and Richard King born 1825-07-10 in Orange County, New York - 1885 (Ranch Owner) Henrietta Maria King born 1856-04-17 in Brownsville, Cameron, Texas, USA - 1917. Ward 4 Board Member. Board of Directors data for 2023 *with the ability to . Beginning of the Kleberg Family Reign in the 1880s. Robert has brought to King Ranch. King Ranch Feedyard - Texas Cattle Feeders Association To ensure the most secure and best overall experience on our website, we recommend the latest versions of. The Fence Task Force will address fencing inconsistencies and appearance on Ken-Caryl Ranch and develop recommendations for improvements to community perimeter fencing that borders major roads, greenbelts, open space, and other areas as needed. In 1938 he bought Kentucky Derby winner Bold Venture as a foundation sire for the ranch's thoroughbred breeding program. . He then bought the parcels and annexed them to the ranch. A list of current Board of Directors iii. in the United States. In 1998, the company merged its Running W Citrus operations with Collier Enterprises to form Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership. These transplanted villagers went to work on the ranch. Before joining King Ranch, Hodgen was the managing director of private equity at New Yorker-based Amerra Capital Management LLC from 2015 to June 2021. . Therefore, the trial court was tasked with the ministerial duty to grant relief in strict accordance with the parties' agreements. From its beginnings in the mid-19th century as a family cattle ranch, the company has evolved into a major multinational operation active in a variety of agricultural and energy-related activities. Mrs. King, who outlived her husband by 40 years, made Kleberg the full-time manager of the ranch. During the 1940s and 1950s, a number of innovations improved production and kept King Ranch at the cutting edge of the cattle industry. An independent Transition Committee of the board, consisting of the four independent directors, guided LDG through its transition from a 60% ESOP to a 100% ESOP in 2020 and selected the third CEO in the companys history. Robert has been an energetic and respected leader for the Company, commented John Alexander, who chairs the His buying trips frequently took him into Mexico. The sixth annual awards recognize fiduciary boards (those tasked with protecting shareholders, with the authority to vote on decisions that are binding for company management) as well as advisory boards (more informal boards that have no binding regulations, but often a significant strategic role). 1989. Growth has been aggressively pursued. In addition, he is the equine veterinarian for King Ranch and has served on the King Ranch Board of Directors. The King Ranch Legacy - King Ranch The company represents a colorful part of Texas history. Texasmonthly.com: The King's Palace By this time, the newer, nonagricultural businesses were accounting for more than half of the company's income, and Tio Kleberg was the only King descendant still actively working the ranch. He will continue to serve as an advisor to the Company on various matters. These four Divisions are located in six South Texas counties: Brooks, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, and Willacy. Under Tio Kleberg's guidance, the company continued to update its cattle, horse, and farming operations. The external directors are adding value in development of a strategic plan that allows the company to grow and create value for employee-owners (debt, cash flow, investments). Indeed, by the late 1990s King Ranch's portfolio was hugely diversified, ranging from oil to citrus to cattle. Mrs. King's death brought about a web of complications stemming from the division of her estate, high estate taxes, and various debts. The City Council serves as the Board of Directors. On-site handling of all carbon, solar, and other renewable business development projects . It is mainly a cattle ranch, but also produced the Triple Crown winning . He quickly formed a partnership with another friend, Texas Ranger Captain Legs Lewis. Corporation Service Company d/b/a CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, agent. He served as Secretary - Treasurer of King Ranch, Inc. from 1974 to 1980. Kleberg built fences to divide the sprawling ranch into more manageable units. In 1867 King began using the Running W brand to mark his cattle. HOUSTON, February 24, 2022, For Immediate Release King Ranch, Inc. announced the continued expansion of King Ranch Ag & Turf in East Texas, with new stores planned in Livingston and Huntsville. the top of most pages, or via the "Related Topics" box in the sidebar. The King Ranch, Inc., Board of Directors announced that Robert Hodgen will be the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the company effective today. Black Angus Beef Cattle, Feeder Calves and Replacement Heifers. And we all feel we have a lot of resources to manage.". More and more emphasis was placed on applying modern business principles to these tradition-bound endeavors. As President, he serves as principal executive officer, reporting directly to the board of directors, presiding over board-of-director meetings when present. The work of the EPC consists primarily of formulating, organizing, and presenting a variety of continuing education programs for the AAEP. Robert J. Underbrink | President/CEO, King Ranch, Inc. Hodgen, 45, brings nearly 25 years of executive leadership and investment management experience in the agribusiness and food sectors to the role. He began his career within the Animal Nutrition Division management team of Cargill, Inc. King Ranch has a rich, world-renowned legacy. 267 were here. The King Ranch Inc. board of directors announced Robert Hodgen will be the new president and chief executive officer of the company effective today. President, CEO and a member of the board for 10 years, and an employee for 36 . Tio Kleberg | East Foundation King split his time between his two businesses, steamboating and ranching, during this period. Todays King Ranch is a major agribusiness with interests in cattle ranching, farming (citrus, cotton, grain, sugar cane, and turfgrass), luxury retail goods, and recreational hunting. California Cattle Council Board - California Cattle Council Its been a journey of a lifetime, Underbrink said. Parts of King Ranch's property were opened not only to hunters, who pay nearly $3 million a year to shoot at deer, turkeys, and other animals, but to tourists as well. Board has advised management on issues including strategic planning, risk management, organizational design to show employees they have a path for growth and development within the firm, which areas of growth to invest in, DEI, COVID pandemic response.