Memorable Manitobans: George Francis Worthy Reynolds (1904-1995)

Engineer, historian.

Born at Medicine Hat, North West Territories (now Alberta) on 28 July 1904, the only child of Thomas Reynolds and Lavinia James, he was educated at Medicine Hat. He later attended the University of Manitoba and Queen’s University (Kingston), graduating in 1931 with a degree in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering. The next year, he took employment at the San Antonio gold mine at Bissett, Manitoba where he stayed for 34 years. Retiring in July 1966, Reynolds worked for the Manitoba Mines Branch to revise the provincial Mines Act. He also served on the Manitoba Environment Council.

On 4 October 1933, he married Jean Gibson (c1904-1978) at Kenora, Ontario. They had a daughter (Wilda Reynolds) and a son (William Reynolds). He was keenly interested in local history and genealogy, serving on the Historic Buildings Advisory Committee and a member of the Manitoba Historical Society’s governing council for five years. He wrote articles on numerous historical subjects, including a history of early radio in Manitoba. (In February 1920, he was licenced as an amateur radio operator.) In 1970, his historical contributions were recognized by a Manitoba Centennial Medal from the Manitoba Historical Society.

He died at Winnipeg on 23 December 1995.

His articles for the Manitoba Historical Society:

The Man Who Created the Corner of Portage and Main
MHS Transactions, Series 3, No. 26, 1970

Early Wireless and Radio in Manitoba 1909-1924
MHS Transactions, Series 3, No. 35, 1979

Sources:

Obituary [Jean Gibson Reynolds], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 October 1978, page 53.

“History hobbyist: Retired mining engineer digs out early Manitoba tales” by Manfred Jager, Winnipeg Free Press, 30 May 1993.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 27 December 1995, page 27.

This profile was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 2 June 2012

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