Head and shoulders image of Dr. George Nelms, animal genetics specialist, Department of Animal Science.

Indoor group photo of the Huskie women's 4x100 metres relay team. L to R: Jan Nicolson, Jeanne Aseltine, Joanne McTaggart, and Cindy Koroluk.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Howard R. Nixon, professor and dean, College 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.

Group photo of the first graduating class from the School of Physical Education; Dr. Bill Orban, director, School of Physical Education, at front row centre.

Bio/Historical Note: Initially two directors conducted an athletic and physical education program for female and male students and staff. Classes were designed to prepare some students as physical education instructors for elementary and secondary schools. As early as 1940 all freshmen students were required to enroll in a one-year physical activities class. The Physical Education Building was constructed from 1948-1949 as part of the $2.5 million Varsity Expansion Program. Built at a cost of $235,000, the centre was designed by F. J. Martin and built by Shannon Brothers Construction. The frame of the building was constructed from a double RCAF hangar erected at Dafoe, probably in 1940, and subsequently moved to Saskatoon in 1948. In 1950 a Department of Physical Education was established to carry on a service program for all students and to provide for physical education classes as electives in the Colleges of Arts and Science and Education.The Physical Education Building was officially opened on 10 February 1950 for the annual basketball game against the University of Alberta, which the Huskies lost 27-36. The completion of the building meant that the University of Saskatchewan finally possessed a real physical education and athletics centre after decades of makeshift facilities. The Main Gym floor consisted of three basketball courts and six badminton courts. The main basketball floor was the only regulation-size basketball floor in Saskatchewan at the time. The building also contained dressing rooms, lockers, showers, drying rooms, boxing and wrestling rooms, and space for offices. The Department became a School within Arts and Science in 1958, offering a 4-year course leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education. In 1959 a dance studio was added to the building. The graduate program and scientific research expanded in the 1960s. In April of 1960 Black, Larson, McMillan and Associates performed an architectural and structural appraisal of the building in preparation for expansion plans on the building. They advised that with proper maintenance the current building could be structurally sound for another 20 to 40 years. However, they warned that major renovations towards the end of this period would likely be required. Their recommendation at that time was that an entirely new complex be constructed at a cost of $2,180,000. The advantages of such a proposal were said to be obvious, as “the building would be planned from construction in stages, to meet ultimate requirements. Proper segregation and flow would be incorporated into the building. Outside activities could be located conveniently to the building.” In short, the building could be built and designed to accommodate for the changing needs of the department over time. However, these recommendations were ignored in favour of extending the existing building, which was less expensive. A pool addition was built by Shoquist Construction from 1963-1964 for $898,254. The Pool addition was designed by Black, Larson and McMillan. During the 1969-70 academic year major renovations and alterations were made to the building. In 1972 the School achieved College status. In 1998 the College was renamed the College of Kinesiology. An office addition was completed in 1988 by Dunmac General Contractors for $136,952, and was designed by Bergerman Solodre. On 7 December 1997 the University, acting on consulting Engineer's reports, determined that the Physical Education Centre was no longer structurally sound. Offices were moved from the building within hours and relocated to the Williams Building on Cumberland Avenue, and the building was partially demolished in 1998. Completed demolition occurred by 2000. The Physical Activity Complex (PAC) was officially opened on 28 Nov. 2003 for the College of Kinesiology, community activity programs, and Huskie Athletics. Griffiths Stadium (offering playing field with artificial turf, running track and grandstand seating) was upgraded in 2006 for the Huskie football Vanier Cup playoffs. Merlis Belsher Place, a multi-use ice facility, opened in 2018, replacing the nearly 90-year-old Rutherford Rink.

Head and shoulders image of Carol J. Pardoe, Assistant Professor, Home Economics, 1973-1976.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Eldor Paul, assistant professor, Department of Soil Science.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Eldor A. Paul earned his BSc (1954) and MSc (1956) at the University of Alberta. He completed his PhD in Soil Microbiology (1958) at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Paul served as departmental chair and professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Biology at UC Berkeley, and was a faculty member of Soil Science (1970s] at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Paul was professor of Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry and departmental chair in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Michigan State University. Dr. Paul has a lifelong interest in teaching and research in both grassland ecology and agroecosystems, ranging from wheat fields in Canada, through corn-belt rotations in the Great Lakes region of the United States, into the afforested systems in California and Colorado. Dr. Paul is currently a senior research scientist at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, and a professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University, Fort Collins (2022).

Head and shoulders image of J.W. Paul, Associate Professor, Department of Education.

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.

Posed studio image of George Peary, Huskie football player, wearing a Huskie jacket..

Bio/Historical Note: George Peary played Huskies football in 1962.

Head and shoulders image of L.A. Perez, Assistant Professor of Spanish.

Indoor group photo of the faculty of the College of Pharmacy.

View looking east of the Physical Education Building, with greenhouses visible at left. Trees prominent in foreground.

An unidentified man poses with aurora observation equipment in a Physics laboratory.

Bio/Historical Note: The Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies (ISAS) was formed at the University of Saskatchewan in 1956. ISAS studied the aurora (northern lights), the related 'disturbances' in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere, and the effects of solar activity upon climate.

View looking northeast across the Bowl of the Physics Building and addition. Sidewalk and landscaping in foreground.

Members of the Student Council at Summer School stand in front of the College (Administration) Building. Individuals identified are front row (l to r): Tom Currie; Frank M. Quance, Dean of Education; Harvey McNaught; Edith Grace Roycroft; and Marjory Winnifred Cleall. Names written on photograph in back row are: Jack Jones; and G.E. McBrien.