Tommy McLeod R.I.P.

globeandmail.com: MCLEOD, Thomas Hector MacDonald (Tommy) 1/4/08 3:06 PM
The morning paper brings this news. Tommy was the first person hired by T.C. (Tommy) Douglas when the CCF won power in 1944. With his son Ian, Tommy McLeod wrote a terrific biography of Tommy Douglas. If you only read one book about the Canadian left this would be the one. Tommy McLeod was a prairie socialist through and through. He never wavered in his appreciation of the party that formed the best government this country has known. His understanding of the roots of the CCF, and the meaning of socialism deserves to be widely known.

Friday January 4, 2008
MCLEOD, Thomas Hector MacDonald (Tommy)
Thomas Hector MacDonald
McLeod (Tommy)
Thomas McLeod was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan in August 1918. He was an only child. He took his schooling in Weyburn, graduating from Weyburn Collegiate with honours.
It was in Weyburn that Tommy met T.C. Douglas, the young Baptist minister who would play such an important role in his life. During the Depression, Douglas organized a boys'
group which devoted its time to sports and boxing, and to debating and drama. Douglas was a graduate of Brandon College, and persuaded several of his 'boys' to attend that venerable institution. There Tommy received a BA with distinction. After a Masters degree from Indiana University, he was urged by President Evans to come back to Brandon to teach
Economics, where he stayed for three years and also met his beloved wife Beryl.
In 1944, when T.C. Douglas led the CCF party to a landslide election victory in Saskatchewan, Premier Douglas asked Tommy to come and work for the new government.
Tommy said that he would have to consult with the College; Douglas breezily replied that he had already sent his resignation to the President. Thus began an exciting period of his life, beginning as advisor to the premier and general troubleshooter, taking on assignments as Secretary of Health Services Planning, Secretary of the Economic Planning Board, Chair of the new Budget Bureau, and ending as Deputy Provincial Treasurer. In between jobs, he earned two degrees from Harvard University, a Masters in Public Administration and a PhD in Economics.
When University of Saskatchewan President W.P. Thompson called in 1952, offering the position of Dean of the College of Commerce, Tommy decided to begin a new challenge. He
enjoyed the Saskatoon experience immensely. During this period he also served on several boards and commissions, chairing the Saskatchewan Commission on Taxation.
In 1964 Tommy returned to Regina as Dean of Arts and Vice Principal at the new university.
In 1971, the Canadian International Development Agency offered a broader mandate, where Tommy joined the senior ranks of CIDA travellers, attempting to sort out administrative
problems in several countries, including Turkey, Iran, Nigeria, and Botswana. So the family moved to Ottawa, where they stayed for 26 years. Tommy moved from CIDA to the Federal
Management Institute, acted as administrator of the Anti-Inflation Board, and held other management positions. Among other honours, he was especially pleased to be awarded the
Vanier Medal from the Institute of Public Administration in 1971 and the Order of Canada in 2003. He co-wrote a popular biography of T.C. Douglas with his son Ian; Tommy Douglas,
Road to Jerusalem was published in 1987.
In 1997 Tommy moved to Victoria, loving the gardens and life style. He died there peacefully on New Years' Day, 2008. He leaves behind his loving wife and companion of
over 62 years, Beryl, children Beth Bilson, Ellen (John Heaney), Ian (Vicki McLeod), Brian (Lorraine Thomas), and Morna (David Firman), grandchildren Max Bilson (Jane Chapco),
Kate Bilson (Paul Beke), Martin and Brendan Heaney, Adrienne and Kelly Firman McLeod, and Tom and Will McLeod. His family and many friends will remember his wit and wisdom,
his sincere modesty, his devotion to family, and pride in his children's many accomplishments, his unfailing good humour, his rapport with students, his negotiating and administrative skills, his ability to relate to almost everybody, and his keen interest in music,books, cooking and gardening. Indicative of his wide ranging tastes was that his favourite
poets were Robert Burns and Rumi.
(Epitaph)
Know thou, O stranger to the fame
Of this much loved, much
honoured name
(For none that knew him
need be told)
A warmer heart death ne'er
made cold.