John Spoor Broome

John Spoor Broome (December 1, 1917 – April 10, 2009) was an American rancher, aviator and philanthropist.

Early life He was born in Chicago, Illinois into a successful ranching family, the son of Thornhill Francis Broome and Caryl Russell Spoor. His grandfather, William R. Broome, had purchased a part of the Rancho Guadalasca Mexican land grant along the Ventura County coastline, which he later inherited in 1946 upon the death of his father.

Broome attended Washington and Lee University and obtained a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University.

Career

Aviation Broome had an early love for aviation and first soloed a plane at age 17 in 1935. He served as a transport pilot and instructor for the Army Air Forces Air Transport Command over the North Atlantic during World War II. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates purchased it for a record price, over $30 million. It was one of the first two honorary degrees awarded by the university, the other going to Robert J. Lagomarsino.

Other interests He enjoyed spending time on his yacht, Volunteer, first in San Pedro, then in Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard. In 1957, he competed in the Transpacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Hawaii, his first of three such races.