Image of Dr. Hilda Neatby, Department of History, 1936-1971, seated in her office.

Head and shoulders image of Donald Newton, instructor, School of Physical Education, and coach of the Huskies men's basketball team from 1962-1966.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Donald McKay Newton was born 23 June 1932 in Cardston, Alberta. He was a gifted athlete in boxing, track & field and especially basketball. After completing his BEd/PE in 1954 at the University of Alberta, he went on to earn an MSc from Brigham Young University in 1957 and an EdD from the University of Northern Colorado in 1969. He later coached at the University of Saskatchewan from 1962-1966 and the University of Calgary from 1967-1970. He taught at the University of Calgary and was named Professor Emeritus upon his retirement in 1987. Throughout his career he was a powerful spokesman for the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (CAHPER), serving as national president from 1977 to 1978. He was honored with the Queen’s Medal for Outstanding Service and Leadership in 1977 and the R. Tait McKenzie Medal for Outstanding Service in 1980. Don Newton died 30 July 2019 in Sammamish, Washington at age 87.

Overhead view of the University Orchestra in rehearsal in Convocation Hall.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Niels O. Nielsen, dean of Veterinary Medicine, 1974-1982.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Niels Ole Nielsen was born 3 March 1930 in Edmonton, Alberta. He earned his DVM in 1956 (University of Toronto), and his PhD in Veterinary Pathology in 1963 (University of Minnesota). He joined the University of Saskatchewan in 1964 as associate professor, was promoted through the ranks to full professor (1968), head of the department of Veterinary Pathology (1968), and dean of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (1974), a position he held until 1982. Dr. Nielsen was instrumental in the establishment of the Prairie Swine Centre and, among his considerable academic achievements, was one of the team of researchers who first established that mercury pollution was a problem in Canada and a potential hazard to humans. Dr. Nielsen moved on to the Ontario Veterinary College (1985-1994) at the University of Guelph. He is well-published in the areas of livestock disease, biomedical science, ecosystem health and conservation, and veterinary professional affairs and education. Dr. Nielsen was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2016 “for his contributions to veterinary medicine in Canada as an academic and administrator”. Dr. Nielsen is Professor Emeritus, Department of Pathobiology, OVC (2023).

Head and shoulders image of Sister Marian Noll, OSU, graduate of College of Arts and Science with great distinction at the spring Convocation.

Image of students (mostly women) sitting in a tiered lecture theatre in the Physics Building.

Image of Dr. Howard R. Nixon, instructor, School of Physical Education, seated at his desk.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Howard Ronald Nixon was born 19 May 1928 and raised in Saskatoon, where his parents owned a plumbing business. He completed his Journeyman's plumbing certification, but not satisfied to make this career he headed out for bigger things. Dr. Nixon loved sports, first as a participant, then this love grew to seeing sport as a community activity that benefitted youth, and then on to the bigger picture as a way to promote health and wellbeing for all members of the community. He was a high school and university athlete himself; at UBC Dr. Nixon competed on the wrestling, football, swimming and gymnastics teams. He joined the School of Physical Education at the University of Saskatchewan as an instructor. At that time every student was required to take Physical Education, and if they were non-swimmers were required to take at least one swimming class. Many a rural student had their first aquatic experience in the little pool in Qu’Appelle Hall where Dr. Nixon was determined they would be swimming by the end of the class, and most succeeded. He went on to become director and was instrumental in the formation of the College of Physical Education. He became the college’s first acting dean in 1972 and was dean from 1974-1977. Dr. Nixon also served for one year (1982) as acting dean of the College of Home Economics. He returned to the College of Physical Education and went on to become assistant vice-president of University Student Affairs and Services. Dr. Nixon coached the Huskies wrestling and swimming teams to considerable success. He became involved in the Western Canada University sport fraternity, and in the development of sport and recreation organizations and programs throughout Saskatchewan, where he was often called upon as a speaker or organizer. Dr. Nixon also was an active member of committees for our city's Canada Games hosting, and in particular the Western Canada Summer Games in 1979, which led to the construction of the Field House. He was a member of the group that brought PARTICIPACTION to Saskatoon; he masterminded the Umea/Saskatoon competition. His commitment was recognized by both the Saskatoon (1986) and Saskatchewan (1987) Sports Halls of Fame, and the Sports Wall of Fame at the U of S (1984). He was a Kinsman Sportsman of the Year (1974) as a builder. He completed his own MA and PhD in Physical Education in Bloomington, Indiana. Dr. Nixon then returned to the U of S. After much campaigning the School of Physical Education achieved college status and he was appointed the first dean. In 1965-1966 he was seconded by the provincial government to look at the needs and activities of youth in the province. The report, "Youth in Our Time" led to the establishment of the Provincial Youth Agency, which later became the Department of Culture and Recreation. A request from Ottawa took him on a year's leave from the U of S and one of his most gratifying achievements, the establishment of a national youth program to bring young people together from every part of the country and give them an opportunity to visit and serve in different communities. Dr. Nixon became founding co-chairman of KATIMAVIK, the national youth exchange program, which is still going today. In 2000 he became an Officer of the Order of Canada for this work. From 1982-1985 he served as alderman for the City of Saskatoon. Dr. Nixon retired from the U of S in 1992. In 2000 he was conferred Honourary Alumni Member of the U of S for the many positive contributions he made. Howard Nixon died 6 January 2015 in Saskatoon. Nixon Crescent in the Dundonald neighbourhood of Saskatoon honours him.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Howard R. Nixon, professor and director, School of Physical Education.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Howard Ronald Nixon was born 19 May 1928 and raised in Saskatoon, where his parents owned a plumbing business. He completed his Journeyman's plumbing certification, but not satisfied to make this career he headed out for bigger things. Dr. Nixon loved sports, first as a participant, then this love grew to seeing sport as a community activity that benefitted youth, and then on to the bigger picture as a way to promote health and wellbeing for all members of the community. He was a high school and university athlete himself; at UBC Dr. Nixon competed on the wrestling, football, swimming and gymnastics teams. He joined the School of Physical Education at the University of Saskatchewan as an instructor. At that time every student was required to take Physical Education, and if they were non-swimmers were required to take at least one swimming class. Many a rural student had their first aquatic experience in the little pool in Qu’Appelle Hall where Dr. Nixon was determined they would be swimming by the end of the class, and most succeeded. He went on to become director and was instrumental in the formation of the College of Physical Education. He became the college’s first acting dean in 1972 and was dean from 1974-1977. Dr. Nixon also served for one year (1982) as acting dean of the College of Home Economics. He returned to the College of Physical Education and went on to become assistant vice-president of University Student Affairs and Services. Dr. Nixon coached the Huskies wrestling and swimming teams to considerable success. He became involved in the Western Canada University sport fraternity, and in the development of sport and recreation organizations and programs throughout Saskatchewan, where he was often called upon as a speaker or organizer. Dr. Nixon also was an active member of committees for our city's Canada Games hosting, and in particular the Western Canada Summer Games in 1979, which led to the construction of the Field House. He was a member of the group that brought PARTICIPACTION to Saskatoon; he masterminded the Umea/Saskatoon competition. His commitment was recognized by both the Saskatoon (1986) and Saskatchewan (1987) Sports Halls of Fame, and the Sports Wall of Fame at the U of S (1984). He was a Kinsman Sportsman of the Year (1974) as a builder. He completed his own MA and PhD in Physical Education in Bloomington, Indiana. Dr. Nixon then returned to the U of S. After much campaigning the School of Physical Education achieved college status and he was appointed the first dean. In 1965-1966 he was seconded by the provincial government to look at the needs and activities of youth in the province. The report, "Youth in Our Time" led to the establishment of the Provincial Youth Agency, which later became the Department of Culture and Recreation. A request from Ottawa took him on a year's leave from the U of S and one of his most gratifying achievements, the establishment of a national youth program to bring young people together from every part of the country and give them an opportunity to visit and serve in different communities. Dr. Nixon became founding co-chairman of KATIMAVIK, the national youth exchange program, which is still going today. In 2000 he became an Officer of the Order of Canada for this work. From 1982-1985 he served as alderman for the City of Saskatoon. Dr. Nixon retired from the U of S in 1992. In 2000 he was conferred Honourary Alumni Member of the U of S for the many positive contributions he made. Howard Nixon died 6 January 2015 in Saskatoon. Nixon Crescent in the Dundonald neighbourhood of Saskatoon honours him.

Head and shoulders image of Eldon R. Norum, departmental assistant, Department of Agricultural Engineering, specializing in motors, machinery, and rural electrification.

Bio/Historical Note: Eldon Russell Norum was born 1 June 1926 and grew up on a farm near Simpson, Saskatchewan. He received a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan in 1948. Norum taught 41 years in the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the U of S. He especially enjoyed presenting extension courses throughout rural Saskatchewan where he had an opportunity to share advances in farming practices with fellow farmers. He was an honourary life member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, and an honorary life member and past president of the Agricultural Graduates Association. His name appears on the Wall of Honour in the College of Agriculture Building at the U of S. Norum died 27 August 2016 in Saskatoon at age 90.

View of the northeast side of the Observatory and grounds; trees in foreground.

Bio/Historical Note: The Observatory was designed by Gentil J.K. Verbeke and constructed in two phases using local limestone from 1928-1930 for about $23,000. The R. J. Arrand Contracting Co. was contracted to build the Observatory Tower in 1928 for a cost of $6625. The firm completed the tower $353 under budget on 14 April 1929, for $6,272. On 20 June 1929 R. J. Arrand was again awarded a contract by the University, this time to build the small classroom wing of the Observatory for $15,640. Work on the classroom wing was completed on 23 January 1930 for $15,034.50. University funding for the construction of the building was supplemented by private donations. Along with the Field Husbandry Building, the Observatory would be among the last free-standing buildings constructed on campus until after World War II. A plaque with the names of many donors still hangs inside the dome of the observatory. Saskatoon residents will find many of the names highly recognizable even today. A sundial was added to the exterior of the Observatory during the 1940s. It reads:
I am a Shadow
So art thou
The observatory facilities are available for use by both university students and visitors to the campus. The telescopes and other scientific equipment are used by students during the laboratory component of their courses. University personnel regularly offer tours of the observatory to elementary and high school classes, youth groups and other community associations. The Observatory is staffed year-round on Saturday nights so that any visitor may view celestial objects through the telescope.

Head and shoulders image of Robert Paton, Professor of Philosophy, 1945-1961.

Head and shoulders image of Jean Papineau-Couture, honourary Doctor of Laws degree recipient, taken at the time of presentation.

Bio/Historical Note: Jean Papineau-Couture was born in 1916 in Montreal. He was the grandson of conductor and composer Guillaume Couture. He began piano lessons in 1922 with his mother, Marie-Anne Dostaler. Papineau-Couture first studied privately in Montreal with Gabriel Cusson before entering the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf where he received a BA in 1937. He then attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he received a Bachelor of Music in 1941. Papineau-Couture studied with Nadia Boulanger at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Returning to Quebec, Papineau-Couture's teaching career started in 1946 when he joined the faculty of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal where he stayed until 1962. Papineau-Couture also taught in the Faculty of Music at the Université de Montréal. He was named vice-dean in 1967 and dean from 1968-1973. Two of his notable pupils were François Morel and Pierre Rolland. In 1962 Papineau-Couture was awarded the Calixa-Lavallée Award. In 1968 Papineau-Couture was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 1993. In 1989 he was made a Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec. Papineau-Couture received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 1994 for his contribution to classical music. He died in 2000 in Montreal.

Head and shoulders image of L.C. Paul, Associate Professor, Department of Extension.

Bio/historical note: Lorne Caswell Paul was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, on 27 October 1904, and received both his B.Sc. in Biology (1930) and his M.Sc. (1932) from the University of Saskatchewan. He earned a Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 1940. He joined the faculty at the U of S in 1944 as Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor, and was promoted in turn to Associate Professor (1957) and Full Professor (1968). He held positions in various organizations, including that of Saskatchewan Director for the Agriculture Institute of Canada, and Director of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. Dr. Paul retired from the University in 1972. He died in Saskatoon in 2004 at age 100.

Head and shoulders image of Fr. Joseph O'Donnell, C.S.B., Principal, St. Thomas More College, and Professor of English.

Bio/Historical Note: Fr. Joseph O'Donnell was the fifth principal of St. Thomas More College from 1955-1961.

Image of a display at a joint Chemistry-Pharmacy Show. Exhibit signs say "Uses of Dyes" and "Pure Food Dyes". Observers look at labelled bottles on a long counter.