Commercial Undergraduate Society
Left to right: Wright; Mallet; Buckland; Gale; Drennan; O’Donnell
The 1938-39 season saw Commerce once again completing a full program of activities wide and varied in extent. The usual Commerce luncheons were held throughout the year, and several prominent business men were present to address us.
An innovation this year for the Society was the sponsoring of a Football Prom after the varsity-McGill game on the 5th of November. This took place at the Mount Royal Hotel and was attended by about one thousand persons. Altogether, as an initial venture, it was an overwhelming success.
As in the past, Commerce teams in the interfaculty and the Interclass sports were well supported. The annual hockey match with Macdonald College was played on the afternoon of the 28th of January at St. Annes. The Interclass Bowling League as usual saw large turnouts and much enthusiasm.
A Debating Union was formed this year and an executive was elected. Although it is in its infancy its success is assured as permanent part of Commerce activities.
It is with regret that we bid good-bye this year to our Honourary President, the Director of the School of Commerce, Professor R. M. Sugars, who is retiring at the end of this session. He has been with the School since its beginning. Our loss will be felt by all in the School.
History of Commerce ‘39
Among the awe-filled newcomers to McGill away back in 1935 were some fifty-two who proudly wrote “Commerce ‘39” after their names. College was a new thrill and graduation a vague ritual in the far distant future.
That future, however, has proved to be not so distant and we pause to review events before stepping forth from the protective wigs of university to try our luck against the world.
Invasion:—Our entrance to college was marked with all the usual difficulties (e.g. the reading lists of English 2), softened somewhat by the pleasures of ‘coo-king the boo-ks’ the distinctive privilege of Commerce students. Our men were prominent in Freshman football. Our girls were also prominent.
Conviction:—Came the second year and the sad realization that many of the class had been found guilty in the finals of the previous May. Most of them were freed after supplementary trials and the remaining vacancies were filled by matriculation entries. Event of the year was the birth of the Commerce Cook Book whose sophomore information was collected by Burbank Ferguson.
Evasion:—“Third year’s a cinch” it was rumoured so we thought it time to enjoy the pause that refreshes, cutting down somewhat on the hours applied to studies. Cutting Commercial Law was quite the favourite pastime. Lemieux upheld the School in a debated with the Engineers, handing them their only defeat of the year. And finally the class of ’39 came through to win the Commerce Bowling title.
Eviction:—“Sorry, gotta start studying next week” was the pet saying of the year; and strange to say “next week” eventually arrived. Favourable results relieved many a furrowed brow and convocation made us a happy lot. (I hope). That the class activates were a varied lot can be seen from the following, a partial list:
Students’ Executive Council: Ian Shaw.
Athletic Council: John Ferguson; Ian Shaw.
Scarlet Key: Charlie Gale; Dunbar Bishop; Doug Fullerton; John Ferguson; Ian Shaw (President ’38.)
Commercial Society: Charlie Gale, President 1938-’39; Len O’Donnell, Athletic Manager 1936-‘38’ Arthur Neale, Treasurer 1935-’36.
Stadium Manager 1938-’39: John Ferguson.
Ticket Manager 1937-’38: Ian Shaw.
McGill Union: Doug Fullerton, Vice-President 1938-’39.
McGill Daily: Ed Lemieux, News editor 1938-’39.
The Revue: Ted McMurrich.
Retirement
R. M. Sugars, M.A., A.I.A, C.P.A., director of the school of commerce and professor of Spanish at McGill University, retired this year after 23 years of service on the college staff.
The retirement of Professor Sugars marks the end of his active work on behalf of the school of commerce, begun 23 years ago when he went to McGill to organize and direct it. The school now has 200 regular degree students and some 350 evening students. In addition to its own work it conducts the examinations for the chartered accountants’ associations of the province.
Professor Sugars is a native of Dungannon, Eire, where he was born in 1874. He holds the degree of Master of Arts from Trinity College, Dublin. An authority on Spanish language and literature, he was made associate professor of Spanish at the university in 1920 and professor of Spanish in 1936. During his student days he spent his vacations in France. He lived in Barcelona, Spain, for six years. He came to Montreal first as a professor at the University of Montreal.
McGill Yearbook: 1939
See original pages: Cover | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
