Memorable Manitobans: Raymond Darwin Chase (1905-1979)

Click to enlarge

Raymond Darwin Chase
Click to enlarge

Co-op administrator, municipal politician.

Born at Dauphin on 17 May 1905, son of Frank Ernest Chase and Maude A. Snelgrove (1870-1964), he grew up there and was active in the Boys’ Parliaments of the early 1920s. In 1935 he won an essay contest on civil administration in the City of Winnipeg. He subsequently worked with the National Grain Company and Manitoba Pool Elevators until 1945, when he became field supervisor for Manitoba Co-operative Wholesale.

In 1949, on the invitation of Premier Campbell, he established a co-operative service branch for the Manitoba government, and headed it for some years. He also helped found a National Association of Administrators of Co-operatives, that worked to limit American influence in the Canadian co-operative movement. He moved to Fort Garry in 1948 and was Mayor of Fort Garry (1955-1959). In retirement he worked for the Canadian International Development Agency in Honduras.

On 31 July 1936, he married Jean Grace Hitchings (1909-1993, daughter of J. R. Hitchings) and they had two daughters. He was President of the Wildewood Club (1951-1953).

He died at Winnipeg on 8 July 1979. There are papers at the Archives of Manitoba.

Sources:

Birth registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Jean Grace Hitchings weds Raymond Darwin Chase in beautiful home ceremony,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 August 1936, page 15.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 10 July 1979, page 30.

Obituary [Jean Grace Chase], Winnipeg Free Press, 26 May 1993, page 47.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 17 February 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:

Custom Search

Browse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Browse deaths occurring in:
1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024


Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca

Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements

Help us keep
history alive!