INDUSTRY LEGEND Cecil Kaplan (82) died in Johannesburg last week after suffering a heart attack. A lawyer by training, he established Micor which under his leadership became one of the industry’s most successful clearing and forwarding companies. Friend and longtime colleague Bernard Schwikkard, who worked closely with him in developing and growing Micor, recalls that Kaplan took over the family business of MIC Kaplan after completing his legal degree. The company subsequently acquired Wilson Collins to create Micor in 1971. Described by Schwikkard as a dynamic, hard-working perfectionist who possessed an extraordinary debating ability, Kaplan’s extensive knowledge of the industry gained him the respect of all. “His debates with Customs, government officials and shipping lines are legendary, and what really reflects the greatness of his character is the high esteem in which his opponents held him. “He took great pleasure in protecting the freight industry from being manipulated by the large monopoly competitors, especially those aided and abetted through government support,” Schwikkard told FTW. He was for many years president of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff), a platform he used for the benefit of the industry as a whole. Pat Henegan, who took over from Kaplan as president of Saaff, described him as a valued industry colleague. “He was extremely highly thought of, with a strong legal brain – he was largely responsible for the recognition accorded to Saaff as an industry body to be reckoned with.” His competitive and determined nature manifested itself equally on the sports field. He represented South Africa at squash and in 1997, at the age of 72, won the World Veteran Squash Championships for over 60s. This after undergoing hip replacement surgery three times. He leaves his wife Dorothy, children and grandchildren.
