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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1972-04-20, Page 2' a ERICH SKKNA :STAR, THURSDAY, &PRRL 2O 1.07 . There goes a man • Few -men spend over 20 years as 'the ,editor 'arid',publ fisher of a community nevlispaper and leave .behind so few people wtio trulyknew him.' George, Lincoln Ellis, whose deathoccurred last Tuesday, at the age of 66, was a man of many parts and 'as such he became many hthgs'to many people. First .and foremost he was , a ,newspaper man and spent close to half a century in the pursuit of this career. He 'was. considered by'°his colleagues to be a news -man of the grand old tradition. He was an editor and publ isher.-He put the community first. He continually strove for the best interests of the community. Accuracy and cohesiveness was a . fetishwith,him, opinions never crept into his news cdlumns. Many a young reporter, such as Phil Calder of the CBC were guided to impressive careers -in journalism 'under' his tutelage. He used Kis editorial columns to give a well deserved prod, 'but always bent over backwards to.be • fair. He never believed in backing a pol.itical party. He recognized the singular v-oice,he had in the community and hesitated to express personal opinions without the f,airness of another, community voice to answer with contra opinions. The greatest 'Possible .good -to the, greatest possible number was a code George E'I I i s,1 ived by as a journal ist. HeAyas proud of his Signal and proud of what it has become under h i s personally chosen successor. He Left a long and lasting imprint for. good on the publ,islier and the institution of the Signal -Star; 'He had a great love of history and this led him into researching and writing the historical aspect of this county. In his retirement years his writing was confined,to that area. One of the reasons so few, knew h=im was his total commitment to his work 'and his aversion to personal publicity, pretense and pomposity. A long time friend and fellow publisher stated, "George was ever a man who Went straight to the point. It was fundamental to his character that he could neither dissemble nor compromise. He invariably said what he thought and much of his thinking revolved about his work as a publ isher and the re'sponsibi l ity for truthfulness which' that position entailed. Some thought him .brusque -=we knew him well enough, as did others ., in this community, ,to -value his human characteristics." There goes a, man, George Lincoln Ellis, who wi 11 be remembered for his forthrightness and his sincere devati-onrto community service. Ladder truck proves worth: Oh there were the skeptics. There were those . -who. downright opposed it and no doubt .there were those who. didn't give a hoot when the Municipality of Goderich purchased a • new ladder truck at considerable expense: - w Considerable opposition and ` u. s , ;-cin-een-tered-a-r-eund vehicle and great' many •oca residents found it hard to justify in thei r own minds the* expenditure of so responsible for saving a I ife.• When a man' was -w a -shed up oR a s ma l I , half flooded island in the middle of the. Maitland River. • .after his boat capsized, the fire department responded with the truck. iP Police officers say that due to the rough condition .of the water no boat ave r. e.a a. a. ll caBl ll . until daylight when the rescue crew .could see. By that time they also note 'man tax dol lars on the apparatus. - the chap in•question would likely have, y pp died from exposure: It's no picnic in This past weekend however should that location, soaking.' wet, after dark erase any doubts regarding . the. with the_temperature dropping. equipment's value. Can it be stacked ' A ful l 60feetfrom the closest shore up againstthe value of just one human ladder reached the ish"and and lfe . .effected a we I corned, and even Itisthe opini,onof the local Ontario 'Provincial _. � .. ...dramatic, rescue,- We'think the truck P"o�ce detachment that the hasroved its .warth. new Ladder truck is indeed p • ..r1,,, • 1• • 0 • +. a :444 - 'oresight -It isn't easy for, a. municipal council to befarsighted. It costs money...an•d spending money on . something as intangible as .future ,development of a recreation area is difficult to explain away to many staid ratepayers Who - don't care about the future, much .les"s recreational .facilities and leisure hours. It takes courage fore council to make such a decision, especially when taxes are already considered too high by most. Goderich Town Counci I displayed courage when they voted to join the Maitland Valley 'Con'servation A thority. With. . one vote, council ' meed to spend an estimated $8;500 - (or more) annually on the belief that ai- l' • s one. date in the years to come, the Town of Goderich Will benefit through having its river flats and harbor.•andt 'waterfront areas developed in the most economical Way and available for use by fun -seekers. f We've talked about the ideals behind' t ulrisr i. We've Spoken about our belief that the next decade of living .11 wi I I change so drastically that few of us will be able to accept the switchover without feeling some resentment. We've voiced our hope that Huron County will figure highly, in Ontario's new ,growth plan simply because of ,this county's lakefront location. We can only say now that we believe Goderich Town Couni I made the right decision by voting for full 'municipal Amembership in the Maitland -Valley Authority. It looks like a sizeable sum of money to spend on an association which has not, in- the past, been of great benefit to Goderich, but we think Counci I for Stan Profit had the proper ;attitude whenhe asked council to look ahead and not backward. We think council has stacked the cards in favor of this municipality. With the proper dealing now—and careful' del iberatidn before each ,play --we re sure this municipality wi II win the prize of increased appeal to tourists --and to families looking for aplace•tdput down roots and grow. OHIO 41, ,! gfjc eobtricf� �.., SIGNAL -STAR The County Town Newspaper of Huron Fouridid NW and published every Thumbs; at p West SE, Goderich, Ontario. Member of the Audit Bur.suof Circulation, the C.WNA andOWNA. Advertising rates on request. Subscriptions payable in Advance, $$.00 in Canada, $9.50 in Al countries other than Canada; sinjle copies 70 cents. Secohd clatimail Registration Number 0716. Advertising is accepted oil the condition that, in the event of typographical error,fhatportionof the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together jr With reatonableallOWancefor signature,wiltnotbe_chairoedfor but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In this event7iV a typographical error advertising goods or Aairy eii at aWrttingprice, goodsor tervices may Atte sold. AdvOrtising is merely an offer to sell, and May **Withdrawn .at any Aim.. Buslnsss' god Editoi ial' dfflee . `T ELEPHONE'524 331 r' , ar,s code 6619 l+riail reOisrati i •;numbae-0716 ' Published -by Sii aI-Star Publishing Ltd. ROBERT G. SHRlgff—president and publisher .SHIRLEY J. ICELLER—editorial staff . W. SHAW-4dit6rial staff EDWARD J. BYHSI I advt~'ritising manager The final - 30. - George attended. Etiis::funeraI muny friends. known citizen of Glerichr• and former publisher of the Goderich;' Signal -Star• died suddenly at his home at 19 Wellington St. South on April 11. 1972: Ile was (6 years of age. Mr. Ellis had, ,distinguished himself. not only in journalism• but in many fields since being • born in Mount Forest • Ontario in December 1905. The son of the _late Thomas -Henry' Ellis- and ° Emma Florence Ryan. he lived in Mount Forest until he entered • Trinity College, the University of Toronto. It was while at Trinity he first became involved in newspaper Work on The Varsity, the. daily newspaper for undergraduates at: the University. He later worked •with'MacLean Publishing Company,' Toronto: The London Advertiser; The Sudbury Daily Star; and The Windsor Daily Star. From June, 1942 until June. 1946 he served in the Public Relations division. of the 'Royal Canadian Army'at London. On September .5. 1942 he married•Gene Auman in' Elmira. Mrs. Elli.ssurvives her husband. In• an article in 1965 when he retired, Mr: Ellis remembered ' coming to Goderich. We vividly recall June, 1946 when we came from four and one- half years' service in Army Public Relations at Military Headquarters at London,'Ontario, to become co -publisher of the Goderich Signal -Star with the late W. H, 'Robertson," he" •aid: "When Mr. Robertson retired in 1951 we became sole. publisher of The Signal -Star'.'. Mr. Ellis was ,editor 'and. - -publisher of The Signal Star from that time until his retirement in October I, "1965 when R. G. " Shrier, who had been with the paper since October 1, 1961, bought ,controlling interest in •• Signal -Star Publishing Limited. During those years• as publisher, Mr. Ellis served terms as president of the Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association, the Midwestern Ontario Weekly Association and theHuron County Weekly Newspaper Association. W. E. Elliott; a ,long-time acquaintance of Mr. Ellis" and journalist for ,60 years, paid tribute toMr. Ellis on hearing of his death. "Whw, Mr. Ellis i^Otrired in 1965," 8Mr. Elliott said, ""his message forecast many newspaper world they re always .. taking p � place_ Those rsons who. have occasion to examine the files PHOTO BY 1 GEORGE LINCOLN'ELLIS ofthe Signal in the first decades of -7i this century. when it was deeply concerned with partisan politics; canbest appreciate the ,changes for the' better that have come -about in George Ellis' ti.ine. **His editorials were moderate in tone, written with clef ity and 'widely quoted; but 1 always felt that his first concern was the industriousgathering of news and its adequate presentation. "Will Robertson- and George Ellis consecutively were editors of the paper for more than hAfsits long life, and 'one thing •1 will always remember about both was their availability to the public. Mr. Ellis, a senior newspaper man when he came here, might have kept himself"in a remote` office, but on the contrary, was always in plain view through the West Street windows, "Anyone with a news item, a complaint, or just time to kill, could step right in and interrupt what he was doing. No doubt it helped. Ignn 'to° learn ,about his public. He was patient even with me, and we were friends fpr 25 years. • "Mr. Ellis accurately appraised the many factors essential to the continued success of a local newspaper, and he cited some of these at the time. of his retirrement; but no"single factor is more important.than the personality of,' the editor - „publisher. In that capacity, Mr. Ellis _must he counted a great - public servant.” Although journal sm w• as his - business, Mr. Ellis had "many v. _:. _ 'Qttie�r"YTi�ie'StS��i'�`VV�tS`,dtrieltlbel'. of the Maitland Lodge No. 33 A. F. & A.M. and -was ipast president of the Goderich Lions Club. He was ,4► 11 RON SHAW • b .. .of North .Sfree United Church. He was chairman of the first zoning committee in Goderich. At the time of his death, he was working on "The Huron County Project" conducted by the University of Guelph. During his collegiate and university days, he was a track and field stp.r" and• held several' university .• records in interscholastic meets in running and high, jumping. History was Mr. Ellis' hobby. He was vice-president of the Huron County Hi'storical Society and his byline often appeared in the Western Ontario section of London Free Press. A story on the family background of 'the late Walt Disney in Huron, on which Mr. Ellis did much of the. , research, will soon appear in the Disney World official publication., He also recently completed a• history of the weekly newspapers of Huron County.'His uncovering of little-known but important historical facts has led to erection of commemorative plaques lby..t•he Ontario Government. • •He is.' survived, besides his wife, by one daughter, Mrs. Barry (Barbara) Foster„ of Guelph and two grandchildren,- Stephen and Anne. Also surviving are one sister, Mrs. Bryan (Margaret) White, Loomis, Calif., and one brother, Walter of Ponoka, Alta. The funeral service was held Friday, April 14 at -2.p:tn, from the -Stiles' Funeral -Home, Goderich. Rev. Robert v L. Raymont conducted the service, assisted by Rev. G.G. Russell. Interment was, in Elmira Cemetery. _ Pallbearers, were His Worship, May.or Harry , Worsell, Herb Murphy, Norris Peever, Bob Shrier, Gordon Hall, Burlington and Douglas Gear, Grand Valley. Honourary pallbearer's were Dr. Ray "Hu 'hes, Roy Breckenbridge, Bob Henry, Gordon McManus, George Jenner, Johii Thorpe, Malcolm Mathers, Sam -Anderson, Dr. J. W. `Wallace, Howard Robertson, Harold B°ett°ger, George Buchanan, Ebb Ross, Bill Ross; His Honour, Judge Glenn Hays, Andy-Boutilier, Bruce Symonds, Andy McLean, Don Thompson Herb Turklidim, Barry Wenger) and BiIl Batten. Friends relatives-attended---t-- the funeral froth Lake Worth, Florida, Lt'iidsay, Peterborough, Toronto and Burlington. , 70 YEARS AGO April 20, 1902 GeorgoFo; violinist, andMrs. Lenora Janes Kennedy, soprano, were. to appear in concert at ',Victoria Qpexa Neuse Police Magistrate gave consideration to the age of yo l u ' . ff` Miler 'Minas Jardin a d disch` red hiM of his first ffegce , ter he.p,leaded guilty to -the the or'me tools. • Goderich Town Council granted a Contract to Thomas .inn for; the • proi7isipn Of shade ireesalong•the . st•reets of town at the rate of 91 cents- per tree. "• J. J. Wright was named as the gentleman' who tad leased the Park House for a°number of years from the Town: of Goderich. The annual meeting of the shareholde'rs' of -the °'Gt$derich Curling and, Skating Association was held with the • financial statement showing a total of $199.85 on hand. 'The Board of Trade in Goderich began pressing for. a .change of service in an attempt to Upgrade quality of rail transport to the o town. 25 YEARS AGO April 20, 1947 The 1947 season of navigation on Lake Huron -officially opened as far as Goderich Harbour was concerned when the first boat of the year docked. • It was the • •Imperial• Windsor. The latest development in the community recreation plan is the formation of the. `Goderich Nursery School which opened for registration in the facilities at MacKay Hall. The Goderich Lions Club held thein annual Past Presidents night and heard the experiences of Prisoner of War vividly described by Lieut..J. K: Hunter who was guest speaker'. Norman Miller, secretary of the Goderich Board of Trade, reported that an inquiry had been received from a light textile company looking for a suitable location in Goderich. The victorious Goderich hockey team., the Flyers, received an uproar:ous••welcome when they returned to Goderich after capturing the Junior. O.H.A. _.ccbainpionship in Stratford. FIVE YEARS -AGO - April 20, 1967 - Widespread devastation was caused in the Hensall-Dublin area when a tornado ripped' through that portion of Western Ontario. The Most Rev. Howard H. Gam' . > ARg-lae-a•n • • • 4 • • Church; had a visit to Goderich scheduled for later in the• week. The Goderich Kinsmen Club hosted their annual interclub meeting at the Harhourlite Inn with Bob McKinley MP'• in attendance Huron County Road Superintendents assernbled in the• County Council Chambers of the -Court House in Goderich for a meeting with representatives of the Ontario-- Department —Of -- Highways. offHighways. • At a meeting of the toderich Separate School Board salary increases averaging 25 per cent over theprevious year were given gut. -. The Ontario Government was negotiating the purchase of the Canadian Forces Base at Centralia as a pilot project for regional development - A strike by :workers at the Domtar Chemicals Ltd. 'Sifto Salt Division Mine was • quickly resolved. The strike had been • over pay matters. mock knack, Guess who. Throughout the year, volunteers do a lot you never heat about in the; fight against cancer. They. drive patients to clinics, and sup- ply small comfortssuch as tea and coffee. They visit schools and various groups to show films and talk " about ways to prevent cancer. Some 50,000 of them conduct theannual" campaign for funds that are needed in the fight against cancer.•Give your,share when the time comes, And if you want to serve es a T_volua t eer�i the r =-d u t�•itt g<•Yt hc�ram...-� __,� - paign or through theyear, contact your local cancer unit. incer can be beaten. •M 4 M T.