Brigadier General His Honor Alexander Ross C.M.G., D.S.C.

Eminent Chancellor, I present to you one of the most distinguished of the pioneers of this Province. Alexander Ross was born in Scotland, but came with his parents as a lad of 6 to Regina, in what was then the Northwest Territories. He studied law and was admitted to the Bar of the Territories on his 21st birthday in 1901, and very soon attained a leading place in the legal profession. He was agent of the Attorney General for the Judicial District of Regina from 1906 until 1912, and was made a King's Counsel in 1914. On the formation of the 95th Saskatchewan Rifles he was commissioned as a lieutenant, and on the outbreak of war in 1914 he was posted to the 28th Northwest Battalion as a Captain and Company Commander. He served in France from September, 1915, until April 1918, and rose to the rank of Brigadier General commanding the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade. For his war service he was made a companion of the Distinguished Service Order with bar, a companion of the most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St.George, and was 7 times mentioned in dispatches. On demobilization he commanded Military District No.12 until September 1, 1920. In 1921 he was appointed a Judge of the District Court of the Judicial District of Yorkton, a position which he still fills with great distinction.
It was after his appointment to the bench that Judge Ross made his most signal contribution to Canadian public life. In 1925 when Field Marshall the late Earl Haig came to Canada to organize the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League, Judge Ross was one of the first to answer the call of his wartime commander, and he threw himself into the work of the Legion with tremendous energy, industry and zeal. He was president of the Yorkton Branch of the Legion from 1926 to 1930, president of the
Saskatchewan Provincial Copland from 1930 to 1934, and Dominion president from 1934 to 1938.
Under his wise and progressive leadership that great organization of ex-service men and women developed along the moderate lines which have made it today the useful and respected organization that it is. It is not too much to say that no man has contributed as much as General Ross to the development of this great organization. Although he now holds no executive position in it, he still gives constantly of his effort and advice to its work. During the second World War he served first as a chairman and later as president of the Canadian Legion War Service.
While engaged in this activity, he has found time to take a useful part in all community enterprizes, which are open to one holding a judicial position, and among other offices which he presently holds is that of chancellor of the Anglican diocese of Qu'Appelle.
His lifetime of useful and unselfish service in so many varied fields is a shining example to the younger generation of Saskatchewan.
A gallant soldier, an able and learned lawyer, a wise and upright judge, a great leader in a great Canadian organization - it is fitting that. This university should honor him in this Jubilee Year. Eminent Chancellor, on behalf of the senate of the university, I ask you to confer on General His Honor Alex Ross, the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.