George Bothwell
SASKATCHEWAN LIBRARY TRUSTEES' ASSOCIATION
Honorary Life Membership
In Recognition of
George R. Bothwell
1916 to 1996
For sixty-five years George Bothwell was engaged in public life: in newspaper work, in insurance services, as an advertising agency manager and as a public relations consultant. In addition, during those years, Mr. Bothwell offered generous volunteer service to his community through a number of organizations.
George Bothwell was a member of the Regina Public Library Board for over thirty years; he served from 1962-1970, and from 1973 to his death in 1996. He served as Chair of the Regina Public Library Board from 1987-1991.
Mr. Bothwell was elected to Saskatchewan Library Trustees' Association Executive in 1979. He was Secretary-Treasurer of S.L.T.A. 1982-1991.
He first served on the National Executive of Canadian Library Trustees' Association from 1969-70. In 1969, he was editor for handbook, "Library Trustees", published by the Canadian Library Trustees' Association for national distribution to all Canadian library; he revised the manual in 1978.
Mr. Bothwell was again elected to Canadian Library Trustees' Association Executive in 1983. In 1982, at Saskatoon, he was presented with a Merit Award by Canadian Library Trustees' Association for outstanding service to Canadian Library Trustees' community. In 1984, he was appointed by the Government of Saskatchewan to the Saskatchewan Library Board. In 1986, he was elected Second Vice-President of Canadian Library Trustees' Association. In 1988, at Halifax, he was elected as President of Canadian Library Trustees' Association for 1988-89. He served as past President 1989-90 and 1990-91. A new full-service branch of the Regina Public Library, the George Bothwell Branch, was named in honor of Mr. Bothwell in 1994.
George was active in politics, both provincially as an active supporter of the Cooperative Commonwealth Foundation party (later the New Democratic Party), and municipally, as alderman from 1966-1970. He served as a member of Police Commission, Wascana Centre Authority, General Hospital Board, Exhibition Board, Community Planning Commission, Board of Health, and other civic committees.
George was a staunch supporter of our cultural heritage as shown to citizens through the built environment. He was a member of the Plains Historical Society, 1978-1990; Board member and Public Relations Committee Chairman, 1980-1990. He served on the Regina Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee in 1980 as first Chairman. In 1987 he was elected as first President of Saskatchewan Architectural Heritage Society.
In 1977, George received Queen's 25th Jubilee Medal Award and was presented to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, July, 1978, at Regina 75th Anniversary celebration event, Centre of the Arts. He was presented with the Canadian Public Relations Society National Award for Public Service in 1985.
George Bothwell's lifetime of service included many, many more appointments and roles including those with Knox-Metropolitan United Church, the Regina Men's Canadian Club, Sherwood Co-op, Regina Community Health Clinic and Regina Little Theatre Society. George was proud of nearly 45 years of unbroken attendance as a member of the Wascana Kiwanis. He also supported sports, for over 20 years as a Director of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football club.
Mr. Bothwell was proud of his parents and the contributions they made to their community. His father was Austin McPhail Bothwell, first Rhodes Scholar for Saskatchewan; professor of German at Manitoba College; after the war teacher of English at Central Collegiate, Regina. Editor of teachers Bulletin and President of Authors Association. He died in 1928.
His mother, Jessie Hay Robson, was born in Regina, June 17,1883. Worked in Winnipeg prior to the first war and later after death of husband was Chief Librarian for Government of Saskatchewan. She died in November 1971.
George lived in Regina all his life except for three years during the war. He was married to the former Helen Benson Solmundson who was born and raised in Gimli, Manitoba. They had one son, Brian, who now works outside the province.