Contributed by Ted Beale of the Athletics Department
St. Clair College has lost an important piece of its history with the passing of Mason MacDonald on January 14 at the age of 90.
Born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, he came to Windsor in 1958 to become a founder of St. Clair’s predecessor, the Western Ontario Institute of Technology (WOIT), and served many years as a professor at both institutions until his retirement in 1990.
Once St. Clair College became a reality in 1967, MacDonald became its first Dean of Applied Arts, where he assembled a talented staff who contributed greatly to scholastic life on the campus. Under his direction, he created and developed academic programs that were imitated across the Canadian college system.
MacDonald was also at the forefront of Athletics and Recreation in the infancy of college sport, holding the post of Athletic Director for WOIT from 1958 to 1966. During that span, he also coached the hockey, basketball and soccer teams. MacDonald 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 until his final season in 1987-88.
In a tribute to his efforts, St. Clair College named its annual Athlete of the Year Award in his honour beginning in 1967. The Mason MacDonald Trophy is awarded annually to a male and/or female intercollegiate student in the graduating year who best combines athletic excellence, scholastic progress and achievement, while consistently demonstrating qualities of leadership, loyalty and dedication to their respective team(s), the Department of Athletics and to St. Clair College. MacDonald created an endowment in his name many years ago so the recipients of St. Clair’s most prestigious Athletic Award would receive financial assistance in perpetuity. Until he was no longer physically able, he attended the Annual Athletic Awards Banquet to present his trophy. To-date, 88 student-athletes have received his award, with many receiving his personal congratulations.
Mason MacDonald will be missed but never forgotten.
