Ralph Thrall Jr., owner and overseer of the 56,000 acre McIntyre Ranch in southern Alberta, died of leukemia Oct. 28 at the age of 78.
The ranch has been in the Thrall family since 1948 and is known for its history in the settling of Alberta’s Del Bonita region and for its sheer size and environmental stewardship.
Thrall was born in Lethbridge and earned a bachelor of arts in geology and an MBA from the Wharton Business School before returning to the ranch he inherited from his father.
He also co-founded the McIntyre Collegium, a group dedicated to nonpartisan discussion of local, provincial, national and global issues.
Thrall helped found the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs and served as a board member on several organizations.
He was an honorary Kainai chief and the recipient of an honourary doctorate of laws from the University of Lethbridge.
As well, he received the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for lifetime conservation efforts.
Thrall is survived by his wife, Catherine, four children and their spouses, and eight grandchildren.
