Jimmy Rane is the founder and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving, the largest pressure-treated lumber producer in the world ¹. He has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion, making him the wealthiest person in Alabama ². Here are some other interesting facts about Jimmy Rane’s life and career:
Early Life
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Born in 1947 in Abbeville, Louisiana ¹
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His father was a World War II veteran and operated several restaurants and hotels ¹
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His mother’s family has lived in Abbeville for over 200 years ¹
Education
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Graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration ¹
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Earned his Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1971 ¹
Career
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Founded Great Southern Wood Preserving in 1970 with his brother ¹
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Began operating the plant in 1970 and made his first delivery in 1971 out of the back of a pickup truck ¹
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Quit his job as a judge in 1977 to focus on the company and his law practice ¹
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Enrolled in Harvard Business School’s owner/president management program in 1984 ¹
Business
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Great Southern Wood Preserving has grown to over 14 facilities in states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Texas ²
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The company’s yearly revenue was $1 billion USD as of 2017 ²
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The company’s flagship product, YellaWood® brand products, quickly became a household name in the Southeast ³
Personal Life
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Resides in his hometown of Abbeville ¹
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Married and has five children and 13 grandchildren ¹
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Member of the board of trustees at Auburn University since 1999 ¹
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Significant donor to Auburn University, donating $12.5 million to a new culinary science center in 2017 ¹
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Founder of the Jimmy Rane Foundation, which has awarded over 600 scholarships since its establishment in 2000 ¹
