Obituary of Derril Gordon McLeod

McLeod, Derril Gordon died December 12, 2007 at his home in Regina. He will be greatly missed by his wife of 57 years, Margaret; his son Malcolm and wife Shirley and their daughters Anne and Valerie of Regina, daughter Heather and husband Christopher and their daughter Sophie of Ottawa, and his daughter Betty and husband Alex of Victoria. Derril was born March 3, 1924 at Marcelin, Saskatchewan, the son of Malcolm Roderick McLeod and Betty Amphlett McLeod. He was predeceased by his parents, and by his brothers, Roderick and Ian. He is survived by his sisters Valerie and Doreen and brothers Keith and Gordon. At the age of 17, Derril enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1944 and a Bachelor of Law degree in 1946. In 1947, he was admitted to the Saskatchewan Bar and moved to Regina where he began a distinguished legal career that spanned more than half a century. In 1956 he joined Chris Pedersen and Stan Norman to form the law firm, Pedersen Norman McLeod. He was appointed Queens Counsel in 1962. Derril McLeod was a great supporter of Saskatchewans universities. He served his alma mater as a member of the Board of Governors and was the Vice-Chairman of the Board from 1971 to 1974. He was also a director of SED Systems, the Universitys first high-tech spin-off corporation, from 1973 to 1976. When the University of Regina became an autonomous institution in 1974, Derril became the first Chairman of the Board of Governors. He led the university at a very difficult time as it sought to create it's own identity during a prolonged period of financial strain. His influence was paramount in establishing the foundation of todays U of R. The high regard in which he was held within the university community was indicated by his subsequent election as Chancellor, a position he held from 1983 to 1989. His work on behalf of the U of R was recognized again in 1990, when he was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree. Derril had broad-ranging business interests. He was a founding director of Extendicare Inc. and a member of its board from 1973 to 2006. He was the Chairman of the Board of Ralph McKay Industries of Regina and its subsidiaries, The Empire Plow Co. of Cleveland, Ohio. and Wiese Industries of Perry, Iowa. Derril was also active in the community as a director of the Regina Pioneer Village from 1974 to 1977 and the Wascana Centre Authority from 1975 to 1980. In 1992, he was appointed by the Government of Saskatchewan as the provinces first Freedom of Information and Privacy Commissioner and in 1994 he was appointed by the Saskatchewan Legislature as its first Conflict of Interest Commissioner. He was a patron of the arts and a philanthropist. His support of local and national charities included the recent establishment of the Derril McLeod Family Foundation, which is being administered by the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation. Derril loved the arts, but his family was his greatest joy and golf his greatest pleasure. He was a member of the Wascana Golf and Country Club for more than 40 years. He loved the summers at his cottage on Echo Lake and was a fixture at The Echo Ridge Golf Course in Fort QuAppelle for many years. A Memorial Service will be held at All Saints Anglican Church, 142 Massey Rd., Regina on Monday December 17th at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be held at Riverside Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Doctors Without Borders or The Salvation Army, 2240 " 13th Avenue, Regina S4P 3M7. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com