Thomas Rupert Hodgson

Born at Winnipeg in October 1910, son of Peter Elder Hodgson (c1873-1964) and Clara Jane Phipps (1881-1935), he attended St. John’s Technical High School and graduated in 1932 with a degree from the University of Manitoba, specializing in agronomy and agricultural economics. From 1933 to 1940 he assisted Frank Leith Skinner in his horticultural work at Dropmore.

During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Air Force, being captured by German forces and spending three months in the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. He served as a vocational training supervisor for returning veterans from 1946 to 1947, Assistant Park Superintendent for the City of Winnipeg from 1947 to 1950, and Parks Board Superintendent from 1950 to his death. In the latter capacity, he was instrumental in setting up Winnipeg’s Rainbow Stage.

On 22 October 1938, he married Kathleen Helen Boulton (1913-1991) at Winnipeg and they had two sons and a daughter. He was a member of the Logan Neighbourhood House Board, Norquay Neighbourhood House Board, Welfare Council of Greater Winnipeg Board, city representative on the Greater Winnipeg Mosquito Abatement Board, Manitoba Greenkeepers Association Board, Winnipeg Summer Theatre Association Board, Canadian Legion, American Institute of Park Executives, American Association of Zoological Parks, Rotary Club, Westminster United Church, and Masons (Northern Light Lodge No. 10).

He died at Winnipeg on 1 February 1962 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery. He is commemorated by the T. R. Hodgson Park in Winnipeg.

Find A Grave record

Thomas became a POW and was sent to the Buckenwald Concentration Camp and then to Stalag Luft III Segan.  He was a crew member of Lancaster LM 427 CF-G.  His home town was Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

To be completed