St. Clair College has lost an important piece of its history - founder, Mason MacDonald has died.
MacDonald came to Windsor in 1958 to become a founder of St. Clair’s predecessor, the Western Ontario Institute of Technology (WOIT.)
Once St. Clair College became a reality in 1967, MacDonald became its first Dean of Applied Arts. He also later established St. Clair’s Student Athletic Association and was the board’s first advisor.
He continued his involvement with the St. Clair Athletic Department leading the Saints to many OCAA provincial medals as Coach of the Varsity Curling team.
He alo served many years as a professor at both institutions until his retirement in 1990.
Athletic Coordinator, Ted Beale says MacDonald's legacy is twofold.
"He was a sterling academic, many degrees, creation of programs, not only St Clair College but some of those things that were used a lot across Canada in the college system," says Beale. "Then obviously the other side of that is a person that really held close to his heart, the role of athletics and recreation in terms of the entire life of a college student."
MacDonald was 90-years-old.
— with files from AM800's Gord Bacon.