scooter and suffered a cranial hematoma. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, where he spent his 98th birthday. Simplot returned to Idaho several days later for further rehabilitation. Death Simplot died suddenly at his home at age 99 on May 25, 2008, with his wife at his side, following a bout of pneumonia from which he appeared to be recovering. His death occurred moments after he had invited a friend to his home to play cards. Simplot was survived by his wife, two sons, Don and Scott, and his daughter, Gay, who was the first wife of politician Butch Otter. His eldest son, Richard, died in 1993 at age 59. He was also survived by 18 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. He was interred at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise. In 1996, Simplot was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Awards and honors Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement (1967) Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (1996) Honorary degree from Utah State University in Logan (2001) See also Jack's Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) References External links Simplot company web announcement of death of founder J.R. "Jack" Simplot May 2008 profile of J.R. Simplot from The Oregonian Profile of J.R. Simplot's early career, from Idaho Public TV Simplot's Story, reprinted from The Idaho Statesman, 1999, from idahopotato.com Simplot articles, from the Idaho Statesman J.R. Simplot obituary, from The New York Times, May 28, 2008 American atheists American billionaires American food company founders American people of English descent American people of French descent Businesspeople from Iowa Businesspeople from Idaho People from Dubuque, Iowa People from Boise, Idaho Utah State University people Deaths from pneumonia in Idaho 1909 births 2008 deaths Micron Technology people 20th-century American businesspeople