Southern received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta in 1953 and began to work full-time for the company.
He passed the title of chairman, president and chief executive officer to his daughter, Nancy Southern, in January 2000.
In September 2006, Ron Southern was appointed Officer of Orange Nassau by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands.
[6] In 2012, Southern and wife Margaret were awarded the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Donald Ethell.
In 1990, Southern received the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award, presented by the University of Manitoba through the Faculty of Management.