Roy McKenzie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Roy McKenzie
ONZ KBE
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| Born |
Roy Allan McKenzie
7 November 1922 Wellington, New Zealand
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| Died | 1 September 2007 (aged 84) |
| Spouse(s) |
Shirley Howard
(m. 1948) |
| Relatives | John McKenzie (father) Peter McKenzie (son) George Carter (uncle) |
Sir Roy Allan McKenzie (born November 7, 1922, died September 1, 2007) was a famous New Zealander. He was known for breeding and racing horses. He was also very generous, giving a lot of money and help to many good causes. This is called philanthropy.
Contents
About Roy McKenzie
Roy McKenzie was the son of Sir John McKenzie. His father started the popular McKenzies shops. Roy was born in Wellington, New Zealand. He went to school in Timaru and then to the University of Otago. During World War II, he was a bomb aimer in the air force. He served in both the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Royal Air Force. In 1948, he married Shirley Howard. They had three children: Peter, John, and Robyn.
An Olympic Skier
Roy McKenzie was the captain of the New Zealand ski team in 1952. This was the first time New Zealand sent a team to the Winter Olympics. Even though he was the captain, he could not compete. He had an injury that stopped him from skiing.
His Work Life
After the war, Roy McKenzie became an accountant. He worked as an Executive Director for McKenzies (NZ) Ltd from 1949 to 1970. He also worked as a director for several other companies.
Horse Breeding and Racing
From 1955, Roy McKenzie was in charge of the Roydon Lodge horse stud. A horse stud is a place where horses are bred. He bred, trained, and raced many top horses. Some of his famous horses included Roydon Glen, Sundon, Game Pride, and Smooth Fella.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Roy McKenzie was very involved in helping people. From 1947 to 1993, he was on the board of the J R McKenzie Trust. His father started this trust in 1940. Its goal was to use some of the money from his businesses to help people in New Zealand. Roy McKenzie led this trust for 23 years. He also created two other groups that gave out money: the McKenzie Education Foundation and the Roy McKenzie Foundation.
Roy McKenzie supported many other important groups. He was a patron of the Outward Bound Trust. This group helps young people develop skills and confidence. He also helped start New Zealand's first hospice, Te Omanga, in 1978. A hospice provides care for people who are very ill. He also supported the Seabrook McKenzie Centre. This center helps people with learning difficulties. In 1990, he played a big part in starting Philanthropy New Zealand. This group brought together different charitable organizations in New Zealand.
Awards and Recognition
Roy McKenzie received many important awards for his work. In 1989, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This was for his services to education and the community. In 1995, he became a Member of the Order of New Zealand. This is a very high honor. He also received special degrees from Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University.
In 2004, a film about his life was made. It was called Giving It All Away. The film was shown at the SXSW Film Festival in 2005. Roy's son, Peter, also became well known. He worked hard to protect nature in New Zealand.
See also
- Harness racing in New Zealand
