Gavin Semple, chair of the Brandt Group of Companies, was presented with an honorary doctor of laws degree at the University of Regina spring convocation June 1.
The next day, his brother Jack, a well-known Saskatchewan-based musician, received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree. The brothers were among six children raised on a farm north of Regina.
Gavin Semple told those gathered at the ceremony that he attended a one-room school, travelling by horse and buggy, for the first eight years of his education.
He began working at Brandt in 1972 and worked his way up to own the company that now employs about 2,000 people. His son, Shaun, is now taking over.
