Head and shoulders image of Michael Gertler, Centre for the Study of Co-operatives.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Murray Fulton, Centre for the Study of Co-operatives (CSC).

Bio/historical note: Images appeared in 5 Sept. 1997 issue of OCN.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Murray Evan Fulton earned a BSA (University of Saskatchewan), a BA (Oxford University), an MSc (Texas A&M University), and a PhD (University of California, Berkeley). Dr. Fulton is a professor in the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and a Fellow in Co-operatives and Public Policy in the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives (2021). Dr. Fulton’s research and teaching interests are focused in a number of areas, including industrial organization, agricultural and rural policy, and public sector and co-operative governance. He is the co-author of a number of books and reports, including Canadian Agricultural Policy and Prairie Agriculture and Co-operatives and Canadian Society. Dr. Fulton has also written many articles and papers on industrial organization, agricultural policy, and co-operatives.

F. Hedley Auld, University Chancellor, making presentation of an honourary Doctor of Laws degree to George Urwin at Convocation held in Physical Education gymnasium. Norman K. Cram, University Registrar, prepares to hood recipient.

Bio/Historical Note: George Urwin was born in 1886 in Middlesex, England, and came to western Canada in 1906. He first worked on a farm in the Boissevain district in Manitoba, then took up a homestead at Beechy, Saskatchewan, in 1910. Urwin became the first president of the Beechy Co-operative Association, beginning at that time a record of dedicated service to the co-operative movement that was to last well over half a century. Urwin was a leader in many producer and consumer co-operative organizations, within and far beyond his own home community. Urwin was one of the first in the area to sign a Saskatchewan Wheat Pool growers’ contract in 1924, and spent a number of years as a Pool delegate. Urwin played a prominent part in community affairs and filled several offices, including that of Justice of the Peace, reeve of his municipality, and secretary of his local school district. He also served as chairman of the Boards of University Hospital, Pion Era and the Western Development Museum. In 1943 Urwin was chosen president of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Wholesale Society Limited, and remained as president of its successors, Saskatchewan Federated Co-operatives Limited, and the expanded Federated Co-operatives Limited until his retirement in 1959. Urwin continued to act as president of Interprovincial Co-operatives Limited, a Canada-wide association of co-operative wholesaling organizations. In 1957 he represented Canadian Co-operatives as a member of a Canadian trade delegation to Britain. In 1962 an honourary Doctor of Laws degree was conferred on Urwin by the University of Saskatchewan in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the co-operative movement, and service to the people through various public offices. Urwin died in Saskatoon in 1967.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Leo F. Kristjanson, University President, 1980-1989.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Leo Friman Kristjanson was born on 28 February 1932 at Gimli, Manitoba. He attended the University of Winnipeg, earning a BA and an MA in history. In 1957 he began studies in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin. Upon finishing his course work in 1959, he accepted a position with the Centre for Community Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. The Centre was established to undertake a program of applied social research related to the development of Saskatchewan communities. In 1960 he began lecturing in the Department of Economics and Political Science, and completed his PhD in 1963. Two years later Dr. Kristjanson joined the Department of Economics and Political Science. He was vice-president (Planning) from 1975-1980, and in 1980 he became president of the U of S. The atrium in the Agriculture Building at the U of S is named in honour of Dr. Kristjanson’s contribution to the University. As president he sought funding for agricultural research and a new College of Agriculture building. He formed a “Sodbusters Club” to raise planning funds and undertook a leadership role in raising over $12 million from private sources for the construction of the building. Dr. Kristjanson was also instrumental in improving the Soil Testing Laboratory, the Poultry Centre, the Kernen Crop Research Laboratory, the Horticulture Field Service Building, the Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology’s Field Facilities, and the Large Animal Research Facility. Dr. Kristjanson was also instrumental in having an art gallery become part of the new College of Agriculture building, named in honour of the first resident artist at the university, Gus Kenderdine. Also during his term as president, the Centre for the Study of Co-Operatives, Toxicology Research Centre and the Centre for Agricultural Medicine were established. Dr. Kristjanson made major contributions to rural Saskatchewan as a consultant to farm organizations, co-operatives, credit unions, and governments. He served on boards and participated in projects designed to improve living conditions for farmers and their communities. Dr. Kristjanson was chairman of the Saskatchewan Natural Products Marketing Council from 1973-1979; a member of a committee to recommend restructuring of the Department of Co-operation; and chairman of the Board of Public Inquiry into the Poplar River Power Project, a provincial study of the environment. Dr. Kristjanson also wrote extensively and gave many public speeches on co-operatives, population and rural development, marketing boards, and commissions. He retired as president in 1989 due to health reasons, a year before the end of his second term. In 1990 Dr. Kristjanson was made a Member of the Order of Canada. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame the same year. After retirement, Dr. Kristjanson moved back to his hometown of Gimli, where he died on 21 August 2005.

Two head and shoulders images of Dr. Leo F. Kristjanson, University President, 1980-1989.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Leo Friman Kristjanson was born on 28 February 1932 at Gimli, Manitoba. He attended the University of Winnipeg, earning a BA and an MA in history. In 1957 he began studies in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin. Upon finishing his course work in 1959, he accepted a position with the Centre for Community Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. The Centre was established to undertake a program of applied social research related to the development of Saskatchewan communities. In 1960 he began lecturing in the Department of Economics and Political Science, and completed his PhD in 1963. Two years later Dr. Kristjanson joined the Department of Economics and Political Science. He was vice-president (Planning) from 1975-1980, and in 1980 he became president of the U of S. The atrium in the Agriculture Building at the U of S is named in honour of Dr. Kristjanson’s contribution to the University. As president he sought funding for agricultural research and a new College of Agriculture building. He formed a “Sodbusters Club” to raise planning funds and undertook a leadership role in raising over $12 million from private sources for the construction of the building. Dr. Kristjanson was also instrumental in improving the Soil Testing Laboratory, the Poultry Centre, the Kernen Crop Research Laboratory, the Horticulture Field Service Building, the Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology’s Field Facilities, and the Large Animal Research Facility. Dr. Kristjanson was also instrumental in having an art gallery become part of the new College of Agriculture building, named in honour of the first resident artist at the university, Gus Kenderdine. Also during his term as president, the Centre for the Study of Co-Operatives, Toxicology Research Centre and the Centre for Agricultural Medicine were established. Dr. Kristjanson made major contributions to rural Saskatchewan as a consultant to farm organizations, co-operatives, credit unions, and governments. He served on boards and participated in projects designed to improve living conditions for farmers and their communities. Dr. Kristjanson was chairman of the Saskatchewan Natural Products Marketing Council from 1973-1979; a member of a committee to recommend restructuring of the Department of Co-operation; and chairman of the Board of Public Inquiry into the Poplar River Power Project, a provincial study of the environment. Dr. Kristjanson also wrote extensively and gave many public speeches on co-operatives, population and rural development, marketing boards, and commissions. He retired as president in 1989 due to health reasons, a year before the end of his second term. In 1990 Dr. Kristjanson was made a Member of the Order of Canada. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame the same year. After retirement, Dr. Kristjanson moved back to his hometown of Gimli, where he died on 21 August 2005.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Leo F. Kristjanson, Vice-President, Planning, 1975-1980.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Leo Friman Kristjanson was born on 28 February 1932 at Gimli, Manitoba. He attended the University of Winnipeg, earning a BA and an MA in history. In 1957 he began studies in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin. Upon finishing his course work in 1959, he accepted a position with the Centre for Community Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. The Centre was established to undertake a program of applied social research related to the development of Saskatchewan communities. In 1960 he began lecturing in the Department of Economics and Political Science, and completed his PhD in 1963. In 1965 Dr. Kristjanson joined the Department of Economics and Political Science. He was vice-president (Planning) from 1975-1980, and in 1980 he became president of the U of S. The atrium in the Agriculture Building at the U of S is named in honour of Dr. Kristjanson’s contribution to the University. As president he sought funding for agricultural research and a new College of Agriculture building. He formed a “Sodbusters Club” to raise planning funds and undertook a leadership role in raising over $12 million from private sources for the construction of the building. Dr. Kristjanson was also instrumental in improving the Soil Testing Laboratory, the Poultry Centre, the Kernen Crop Research Laboratory, the Horticulture Field Service Building, the Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology’s Field Facilities, and the Large Animal Research Facility. Dr. Kristjanson was also instrumental in having an art gallery become part of the new College of Agriculture building, named in honour of the first resident artist at the university, Gus Kenderdine. Also during his term as president, the Centre for the Study of Co-Operatives, Toxicology Research Centre and the Centre for Agricultural Medicine were established. Dr. Kristjanson made major contributions to rural Saskatchewan as a consultant to farm organizations, co-operatives, credit unions, and governments. He served on boards and participated in projects designed to improve living conditions for farmers and their communities. Dr. Kristjanson was chairman of the Saskatchewan Natural Products Marketing Council from 1973 to 1979; a member of a committee to recommend restructuring of the Department of Co-operation; and chairman of the Board of Public Inquiry into the Poplar River Power Project, a provincial study of the environment. Dr. Kristjanson also wrote extensively and has given many public speeches on co-operatives, population and rural development, marketing boards, and commissions. He retired as president in 1989 due to health reasons, a year before the end of his second term. In 1990 Dr. Kristjanson was made a Member of the Order of Canada. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame the same year. After retirement, Dr. Kristjanson moved back to his hometown of Gimli, where he died on 21 August 2005.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Leo F. Kristjanson, University President, 1980-1989.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Leo Friman Kristjanson was born on 28 February 1932 at Gimli, Manitoba. He attended the University of Winnipeg, earning a BA and an MA in history. In 1957 he began studies in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin. Upon finishing his course work in 1959, he accepted a position with the Centre for Community Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. The Centre was established to undertake a program of applied social research related to the development of Saskatchewan communities. In 1960 he began lecturing in the Department of Economics and Political Science, and completed his PhD in 1963. Two years later Dr. Kristjanson joined the Department of Economics and Political Science. He was vice-president (Planning) from 1975-1980, and in 1980 he became president of the U of S. The atrium in the Agriculture Building at the U of S is named in honour of Dr. Kristjanson’s contribution to the University. As president he sought funding for agricultural research and a new College of Agriculture building. He formed a “Sodbusters Club” to raise planning funds and undertook a leadership role in raising over $12 million from private sources for the construction of the building. Dr. Kristjanson was also instrumental in improving the Soil Testing Laboratory, the Poultry Centre, the Kernen Crop Research Laboratory, the Horticulture Field Service Building, the Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology’s Field Facilities, and the Large Animal Research Facility. Dr. Kristjanson was also instrumental in having an art gallery become part of the new College of Agriculture building, named in honour of the first resident artist at the university, Gus Kenderdine. Also during his term as president, the Centre for the Study of Co-Operatives, Toxicology Research Centre and the Centre for Agricultural Medicine were established. Dr. Kristjanson made major contributions to rural Saskatchewan as a consultant to farm organizations, co-operatives, credit unions, and governments. He served on boards and participated in projects designed to improve living conditions for farmers and their communities. Dr. Kristjanson was chairman of the Saskatchewan Natural Products Marketing Council from 1973-1979; a member of a committee to recommend restructuring of the Department of Co-operation; and chairman of the Board of Public Inquiry into the Poplar River Power Project, a provincial study of the environment. Dr. Kristjanson also wrote extensively and gave many public speeches on co-operatives, population and rural development, marketing boards, and commissions. He retired as president in 1989 due to health reasons, a year before the end of his second term. In 1990 Dr. Kristjanson was made a Member of the Order of Canada. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame the same year. After retirement, Dr. Kristjanson moved back to his hometown of Gimli, where he died on 21 August 2005.

Emmett M. Hall, University of Saskatchewan, making presentation of an honourary Doctor of Laws degree to Lewis L. Lloyd at spring Convocation held at Centennial Auditorium.

Bio/Historical Note: Lewis L. Lloyd was born in 1898 in Brookings County, North Dakota, Lloyd was president of the United Farmers of Canada for five years, an office from which he learned much about economics. He was an associate member of the Saskatchewan Farm Union. Lloyd was chairman of two school boards in the Province of Saskatchewan. He was active in organizing the Agricultural Improvement Association and became chairman. Lloyd was manager of a local co-operative for eight years and manager of a Credit Union for seven of those years, and assisted with co-op educational work for several local co-operatives in southwestern Saskatchewan for a period of eighteen months. In 1950 Lloyd accepted a position with the Department of Co-operation with a special field officer and held this position for thirteen years. Lloyd served four terms as a Wheat Pool delegate.
His years of experience as board member and manager of local cooperatives culminated in 1944 with his election to the Board of Directors of what is now known as Federated Co-operatives Limited. At that time Lloyd held a record of twenty-four years of service, for fourteen of which he was vice-president, and for four years as president. Lloyd also served on the board of the Credit Union League, as vice-president of the Co-operative Union of Canada, and as the first president of the Western Co-operative College. Lloyd died in 1987 at age 88, and is buried at St. John Cemetery at Antelope, Saskatchewan.

Emmett M. Hall, University Chancellor, making presentation of an honourary Doctor of Laws degree to Charles S. Mitchell at Convocation held at Centennial Auditorium.

Bio/Historical Note: Charles (Charlie) Mitchell, farmer, leader in rural municipal affairs and co-operator, was born in Preeceville in 1909. He attended public and high schools at Preeceville and at an early age became involved in community activities. He was one of the organizers of the Preeceville Union Hospital in 1937, and served on its board for many years. Mitchell served on the local school board and for three years was chairman of the Sturgis School Unit Board. He was elected reeve of the Rural Municipality of Preeceville No. 334 in 1957 and held that position for 25 years. In 1959 he was elected to the executive of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. After two years as SARM vice-president, he commenced a three-year term as president in 1974. His leadership role in SARM led to a wide range of other commitments. He was a member of the Municipal Employees Superannuation Commission, of the board of examiners for the RM administrators and of the Grid Road Surfacing Commission. Mitchell served as SARM delegate to the Saskatchewan Federation of Agriculture for more than 20 years, seven as vice-president. He also was on the board and executive of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. Charlie Mitchell was a member of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool for more than 40 years and was active in other co-operatives. When the Sturgis Co-operative Farm was formed in 1944, he was the first president. This farm served as a model for other such co-operatives in North America. In 1979 Mitchell was awarded the Order of Canada and in 1983 he received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Mitchell died in 1986.

Dr. Leo F. Kristjanson, newly-installed University President, speaking from podium during ceremony held at Centennial Auditorium.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Leo Friman Kristjanson was born on 28 February 1932 at Gimli, Manitoba. He attended the University of Winnipeg, earning a BA and an MA in history. In 1957 he began studies in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin. Upon finishing his course work in 1959, he accepted a position with the Centre for Community Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. The Centre was established to undertake a program of applied social research related to the development of Saskatchewan communities. In 1960 he began lecturing in the Department of Economics and Political Science, and completed his PhD in 1963. In 1965 Dr. Kristjanson joined the Department of Economics and Political Science. He was vice-president (Planning) of the University from 1975 to 1980, and in 1980 he became president of the U of S. Illness prevented him from completing his second term, and he retired in 1989. The atrium in the Agriculture building at the U of S is named in honour of Dr. Kristjanson’s contribution to the University. As president he sought funding for agricultural research and a new College of Agriculture building. He formed a “Sodbuster’s Club” to raise planning funds and undertook a leadership role in raising over $12 million from private sources for the construction of the building. Dr. Kristjanson was also instrumental in improving the Soil Testing Laboratory, the Poultry Centre, the Kernan Crop Research Laboratory, the Horticulture Field Service Building, the Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology’s Field Facilities, and the Large Animal Research Facility. Dr. Kristjanson was also instrumental in having an art gallery become part of the new College of Agriculture building, named in honour of the first resident artist at the university, August (Gus) Kenderine. Also during his term as president, the Centre for the Study of Co-Operatives, Toxicology Research Centre and the Centre for Agricultural Medicine were established. Dr. Kristjanson made major contributions to rural Saskatchewan as a consultant to farm organizations, co-operatives, credit unions, and governments. He served on boards and participated in projects designed to improve living conditions for farmers and their communities. Dr. Kristjanson was chairman of the Saskatchewan Natural Products Marketing Council from 1973 to 1979; a member of a committee to recommend restructuring of the Department of Co-operation; and chairman of the Board of Public Inquiry into the Poplar River Power Project, a provincial study of the environment. Dr. Kristjanson also wrote extensively and has given many public speeches on co-operatives, population and rural development, marketing boards, and commissions. He retired as president in 1989 due to health reasons, a year before the end of his second term. In 1990, Dr. Kristjanson was made a Member of the Order of Canada. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame the same year. After retirement, Dr. Kristjanson moved back to his hometown of Gimli, where he died on 21 August 2005.

Head and shoulders image of Harry Fowler, honourary Doctor of Laws degree recipient; taken possibly near time of presentation.

Bio/Historical Note: Henry Llewellyn (Harry) Fowler was born in 1895 in Prince Edward Island into a family that moved to Alberta while he was in his teens. After an education that led him to the threshold of a career in teaching, Fowler turned instead to banking, from which he departed in 1922 to enter a farm implement and oil agency in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. The depression of the thirties inevitably turned the attention of farmers to reducing costs by cooperative efforts and Harry Fowler, almost equally inevitably, became the manager of an oil distribution co-op at Wilcox. Fowler became linked to the development of the co-operative movement in Saskatchewan. He played a role in organizing the world’s first cooperative oil refinery; it came into production in 1935, and remains the only refinery of any size owned entirely by Canadians. In addition Fowler was active in the organization of fourteen more co-ops, one of the original incorporators of eleven, a director of sixteen, president of eleven, and manager of five. The co-ops that have felt his influence have included several of the largest in the province, and his co-op career culminated in his election as president of Federated Co-operatives Limited, from which post he retired in 1963. Fowler served on the Board of Governors of the University of Saskatchewan from 1963-1964. From 1952-1956 he was a member of the Royal Commission on Agriculture and Rural Life. Harry Fowler died in 1980 in Abbottsford, British Columbia, at age 85.

Head and shoulders image of Charles W. Gibbings, lecturer, School of Agriculture.

Bio/Historical Note: Charles William Gibbings was born in 1916 near Rosetown, Saskatchewan. After earning a BSc in Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan, Gibbings taught at the University's School of Agriculture and conducted youth training programs across the province, both while continuing to farm. In 1946 Gibbings was elected as a delegate to the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool; within six years he was on the board of directors and three years after that made vice-president. In 1960 he became the Pool's first Saskatchewan-born president and served as such until 1969. In that capacity Gibbings hired its first general manager and reinforced the management team by hiring employees who had been trained in accounting and other management skills. During his presidency Gibbings worked hard to knit the four prairie grain elevator Co-operatives into one; it was his view that the Alberta Wheat Pool, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Manitoba Wheat Pool and the United Grain Growers should amalgamate to better serve prairie farmers. He did not succeed in this endeavour, but there is evidence of some collaboration: all four organizations became members of X-CAN Grain Limited, a company established to market grains not covered under the Canadian Wheat Board. Gibbings advised Canadian delegations involved in the negotiation of international agricultural trade terms. He served as a commissioner on the Saskatchewan Royal Commission on Agriculture and Rural Life, and was a member of the U of S Senate. He was also chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Canadian Wheat Board. Gibbings left his position as Pool president in 1969 to become a commissioner of the Canadian Wheat Board; in this role he travelled the world helping negotiate sales of prairie grains. Among the many honours he received was the Canada Centennial Medal in 1967. He was also named a Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada in 1967 and awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree by the U of S in 1971. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1986. Gibbings died in 2009 in Kelowna, British Columbia, at age 93.

E.M. (Ted) Culliton, University Chancellor, making presentation of an honourary Doctor of Laws degree to Harry Fowler at Convocation held in Physical Education gymnasium.

Bio/Historical Note: Henry Llewellyn (Harry) Fowler was born in Prince Edward Island into a family that moved to Alberta while he was in his teens. After an education that led him to the threshold of a career in teaching, Fowler turned instead to banking, from which he departed in 1922 to enter a farm implement and oil agency in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. The depression of the thirties inevitably turned the attention of farmers to reducing costs by cooperative efforts and Harry Fowler, almost equally inevitably, became the manager of an oil distribution co-op at Wilcox. Fowler became linked to the development of the co-operative movement in Saskatchewan. He played a role in organizing the world’s first cooperative oil refinery; it came into production in 1935, and remains the only refinery of any size owned entirely by Canadians. In addition Fowler was active in the organization of fourteen more co-ops, one of the original incorporators of eleven, a director of sixteen, president of eleven, and manager of five. The co-ops that have felt his influence have included several of the largest in the province, and his co-op career culminated in his election as president of Federated Co-operatives Limited, from which post he retired in 1963. Fowler served on the Board of Governors of the U of S from 1963-1964. From 1952-1956 he was a member of the Royal Commission on Agriculture and Rural Life. Fowler died in 1980 in Abbottsford, British Columbia, at age 85.

J.W.T. Spinks, University President, making presentation of an honourary Doctor of Laws degree to Clifford H. Whiting at Convocation held in Physical Education gymnasium.

Bio/Historical Note: Clifford Henry Whiting, farm and community leader, was born in 1908 in a log house on the family farm at Pleasant Valley, Saskatchewan. His formal schooling was obtained in a rural school, in Melfort High School and in the School of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. Except for two years when he worked for a farm implement agency in Melfort, Saskatchewan, his home and his career has been on the family farm at Pleasant Valley. He was a school trustee in his district for 22 years; a councillor of the Rural Municipality of Flett’s Springs No. 276 for 10 years; president of the Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies Association; director and chairman of livestock and oil co-operatives; Saskatchewan Wheat Pool delegate for 17 years; 4-H Club leader for five years; and a board member of the 4-H Foundation, convener of farm boys’ camps; a board member of Northern Co-operative Trading and Co-operative Fisheries; a member of the provincial council of the Commonwealth Co-operative Federation; a member of the Saskatchewan Jubilee committee (1955); and a member of the Thompson Advisory Committee on Medical Care (1959-1961). Whiting served 12 years (1946-1958) on the Board of Governors of the University of Saskatchewan, five as chairman. He was honoured by the Saskatchewan Agricultural Graduates, Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies, the Melfort Agricultural Society, the Melfort Credit Union, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and the Canadian Council on 4-H Clubs. He received the Co-operative Certificate of Merit. In 1963 the University of Saskatchewan conferred on him an honourary Doctor of Laws degree. Whiting retired from his grain and livestock farm in 1987. He died in 1997 at age 89.

Head and shoulders image of Clifford H. Whiting, chairman, University Board of Governors, 1955-1958, and honourary Doctor of Laws degree recipient. Image taken possibly near time of presentation.

Bio/Historical Note: Clifford Henry Whiting was born in 1908 in a log house on the family farm at Pleasant Valley, Saskatchewan. His formal schooling was obtained at a rural school, at Melfort (Saskatchewan) High School and in the School of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. Except for two years when he worked for a farm implement agency in Melfort, his home and his career has been on the family farm at Pleasant Valley. He was a school trustee in his district for 22 years; a councillor of the Rural Municipality of Flett’s Springs No. 276 for 10 years; president of the Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies Association; director and chairman of livestock and oil co-operatives; Saskatchewan Wheat Pool delegate for 17 years; 4-H Club leader for five years; and a board member of the 4-H Foundation, convener of farm boys’ camps; a board member of Northern Co-operative Trading and Co-operative Fisheries; a member of the provincial council of the Commonwealth Co-operative Federation; a member of the Saskatchewan Jubilee Committee (1955); and a member of the Thompson Advisory Committee on Medical Care (1959-1961).
Whiting served 12 years (1946-1958) on the Board of Governors of the U of S, five as chairman. He was honoured by the Saskatchewan Agricultural Graduates Association, Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies, the Melfort Agricultural Society, the Melfort Credit Union, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and the Canadian Council on 4-H Clubs. He was awarded the Co-operative Certificate of Merit. In 1963 the U of S conferred on him an honourary Doctor of Laws degree. Whiting retired from his grain and livestock farm in 1987. He died in 1997 at age 89.