‘Just a farm boy from Stoney Creek’
Ex-tim Hortons CEO credited with opening hundreds of new outlets
Paul House rose to the top of the Canadian business world as president of Tim Hortons — getting credit for opening hundreds of new stores — but he never forgot his humble roots.
House was fond of saying he was just a peach farmer from Stoney Creek and he had a reputation of being able to talk to anyone, from executives to staff and franchisees.
He spent about three decades in the corporate offices of the coffee and doughnut giant and, even after he stepped down as president and CEO in 2008, he was called back as interim CEO when there was a boardroom shake up in 2011.
“He was genuine, low key, a humble individual,” said nephew and family spokesperson Dave House. “He was straightforward, no BS, but he had a great sense of humour. “Not too many had anything bad to say about him. He was just a farm boy from Stoney Creek.”
House, who left Tim Hortons in 2013, died Oct. 25 after battling an undisclosed illness. The Jordan Station resident was just five days short of his 78th birthday.
In a statement, Tim Hortons said it had “lost one of its visionaries.” On its website, it said under his leadership the chain “achieved outstanding growth and success.”
David Clanachan, former chair of Restaurant Brands International, which owns Tim Hortons, said the food service industry had lost one of its “greatest leaders.” Clanachan, also commissioner of the Canada Premier League, worked under House at Tim Hortons.
“Paul was a mentor, teacher, ‘Boss,’ motivator, father figure and a friend to all,” he said on social media. “His name will be forever synonymous with the iconic Tim Hortons brand.”
Burlington franchisee Greg Hogarth noted House joined the company about the same time he opened his first outlet in 1985. He said he had a folksy wisdom and had the ability to distil complex issues down to their essential elements.
House joined Tim Hortons as vice-president of marketing when there were about 200 stores in the chain. He climbed up the corporate ladder and became president and chief operating officer in 1995 and then president and chief executive officer in 2006. When he stepped down to become executive chair in 2008, the company had more than 3,200 outlets in Canada and almost 400 in the United States. Today, the company — which opened its first outlet in Hamilton in 1964 — has 5,000 outlets around the world.
House downplayed his impact. “The hero here is the company, not me,” he told The Spec in 2012. “No person is built around one company. We have a great team.”
House was born Oct. 30, 1943, to Harvey and Elva House, who ran a farm on Queenston Road in Stoney Creek. In 1960, the family moved to Mount Albion Road and rented farms, primarily growing peaches, cherries and vegetables.
House attended Saltfleet High School and graduated from Grade 13 at Delta. He worked the family’s orchards and fields and sold produce at the Hamilton
Farmers Market.
He said his mother taught him the value of customer service. “She was still going to the market at 72,” House said. “For her, the customer was No. 1.”
House earned an economics degree at Mcmaster in 1969. He was a partner in a couple of Shell stations in Hamilton, and ran a peach farm with his brother Robert in Jordan, but eventually became a district manager for Dairy Queen. He became vice-president of the Canadian operations and was first approached to come work at Tim Hortons by co-founder Ron Joyce in 1980.
House loved to travel and was a big fan of the Blue Jays and Hamilton Tiger-cats. He was a member of the Brock University Board of Trustees and received an honorary doctorate in 2008. He had a vineyard at his Niagara property.
House is survived by his wife, Juliet, children Marnie and Ryan and three grandchildren. He is also survived by brother Robert, sister Patricia, stepchildren Jennifer and Michael and two step grandchildren. He was predeceased by first wife Carolee in 2004.