Ross Video founder John Ross named honorary member of SMPTE

John Ross will join some of the most influential names in the history of film and television engineering such as Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, George Lucas and Ray Dolby, who also received this distinction.

The founder of Ross Video, John Ross, will be named Honorary Member of the SMPTE, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers at the SMPTE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, which will be held this year from November 10 to 12 as a virtual event.

Honorary Membership is the highest recognition of the society. John Ross will join some of the most influential names in the history of film and television engineering as Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, George Lucas y Ray Dolby. This recognition also adds to the impressive number of titles and accolades John has already received. Among other achievements, in 2013 he was awarded the Order of Canada, the highest honor that can be awarded to a Canadian citizen, and in 2015 he became an Honorary Member of the IABM.

As a teenager, John Ross became very interested in the design and construction of amateur radio equipment. In 1950, the chief engineer at radio station CKY in Winnipeg, Manitoba offered him a summer job as a transmitter operator, launching John's career in broadcasting at the age of 14.

In 1954, John joined the staff of the CBWT television network in Winnipeg. Inspired to see The Jackie Gleason Show and the show's innovative use of curtains, John built his own studio production mixer to reproduce the effect. It became Canada's first mixer with keying and transition erase capabilities, and was used by CBWT for many years. In 1968, John entered the University of Manitoba to become an engineer, having been urged to do so by the head of CBC Studio Engineering. During the summers, John worked for CBC Engineering in Montreal where he did TV studio design and installation.

In 1963, John left the CBC to found the broadcast equipment division of Central Dynamics Limited in Montreal, a company then producing aircraft landing gear. John assembled a talented engineering team and over the next 11 years achieved many “world firsts.” This included the first fully transistorized production mixer, the first automated master control mixer, the first computer-based videotape editing system, and the first digital character generator display system for television that was used in any broadcasting equipment. John was also granted a seminal patent for the first chroma keyer that offers easy selection of any key tone with a single knob. This was quickly adopted by all changing table manufacturers and led to the use of green screen.

Encouraged by Jim Leitch (of Leitch Video) to start your own business, John founded Ross Video in 1974. To finance the new venture, he sold the World War II training aircraft he had restored. At Ross Video, John designed several series of production switchers as well as many unique signal processing and distribution products, including a compact NTSC to digital converter specifically for use on the International Space Station. In 1991, John's son and current CEO David Ross joined the business.

John retired in 2006 and has continued his activities in the aviation industry as manager of the local municipal airport which he built and donated to his community. In addition to enjoying flying and maintaining his two aircraft, he has designed and financed many local recreational facilities. To those who know him well, John is a rare blend of intellect and humility, and Ross Video's rapid success in the early days was a direct result of his passion for the industry, his infectious enthusiasm and his people-oriented approach.

John Ross said he is "extremely grateful to the President and members of SMPTE for this prestigious honour, which is most unexpected. As an engineer, it is especially appreciated to be recognized by a society that has had so many illustrious names in my field as members and I am honored to be recognized among their number. I have also had the privilege of working with many great engineers and teams throughout my career; I share this success with them and thank them for their encouragement and advice over the years."

From the executive management of the SMPTE, Barbara Long, has welcomed John Ross to the list of honorary members, noting that "with his work and inventions spanning more than five decades, John Ross is the true embodiment of a role model, mentor and leader. We are pleased to honor his achievements."