Donald Hugh Mackay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Donald Hugh Mackay was born March 22, 1914 in Lethbridge, Alberta; died 1979.

He spent his youth in Calgary and Drumheller receiving most of his public school education in Drumheller. In the early 1930s, Mr. Mackay settled with his family in Calgary. He was employed first by the Calgary Albertan and later, for the radio station CJCJ. By 1943, at the age of twenty-nine, Mr. Mackay was Manager of Station CJCJ.

In 1945, he ran for City Council and was elected, topping the polls for that year. Three years later, as Alderman, Mackay led the Calgary contingent on its high-spirited and much publicized visit to the Grey Cup in Toronto, an occasion generally credited with starting the tradition of Grey Cup reverie. In 1949, he was elected Mayor, serving in that capacity for ten years, a period in which the City witnessed tremendous growth. A self-proclaimed civic-booster, Mackay travelled widely promoting Calgary.

In 1949 and 1957, he made two unsuccessful bids in Federal politics. In 1962, he joined the Downtown Development Corporation in Phoenix, Arizona and later, worked for the Calgary Convention Centre and the realty firm of Cowley and Keith.

Preceded by James Cameron Watson

Mayor of Calgary 1950-1959

Succeeded by Harry William Hays