Francis Leddy
Encyclopedia
John Francis Leddy, OC
, Ph.D
(April 16, 1911 – September 17, 1998) was a Canadian
academic and President of the University of Windsor
from 1964 to 1978.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he received a B.A. in honours Latin
and French
from the University of Saskatchewan
in 1930 and an M.A. in Latin from the University of Saskatchewan
in 1931. After attending the University of Chicago
, doing graduate work in Latin and Greek
from 1932 to 1933, he was elected a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University (Exeter College
), where he studied Ancient History
, graduating Bachelor of Letters (B.Litt.) in 1935 and Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.)
in 1938.
From 1936 until 1961, he taught Classics at the University of Saskatchewan
. In 1946 he became Professor of Classics and Head of the Classics Department. From 1949 to 1964, he was also Dean of the College of Arts and Science, and from 1961 to 1964 Vice President (Academic). In 1964, he was appointed President of the University of Windsor
, holding that position until his retirement in 1978. In his honour the University of Windsor central library is named the "Leddy Library". He also received many honorary degrees during his lifetime.
Leddy was also instrumental in establishing Canada's version(s) of the Peace Corps. In June 1961 at a Conference at McGill University Leddy along with Louis Perinbam, Keith Spicer, Guy Arnold established the organization Canadian University Service Overseas
(CUSO) which sent young volunteers overseas to work on community development projects. Due to his work with CUSO, Leddy was chosen by Prime Minister Lester B Pearson in 1965 to establish the Company of Young Canadians
, which was also dubbed as Canada's version of the Peace Corps, even though its volunteers remained at home in Canada to work among disenfranchised communities (urban inner cities, First Nations reserves).
In 1972, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
, the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system
which recognizes a lifetime of achievement and merit of a high degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large.
In 1938, he married Kathleen Beatrice White. They had no children.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(April 16, 1911 – September 17, 1998) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
academic and President of the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
from 1964 to 1978.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he received a B.A. in honours Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in 1930 and an M.A. in Latin from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in 1931. After attending the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, doing graduate work in Latin and Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
from 1932 to 1933, he was elected a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University (Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
), where he studied Ancient History
Ancient history
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC...
, graduating Bachelor of Letters (B.Litt.) in 1935 and Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.)
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1938.
From 1936 until 1961, he taught Classics at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
. In 1946 he became Professor of Classics and Head of the Classics Department. From 1949 to 1964, he was also Dean of the College of Arts and Science, and from 1961 to 1964 Vice President (Academic). In 1964, he was appointed President of the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
, holding that position until his retirement in 1978. In his honour the University of Windsor central library is named the "Leddy Library". He also received many honorary degrees during his lifetime.
Leddy was also instrumental in establishing Canada's version(s) of the Peace Corps. In June 1961 at a Conference at McGill University Leddy along with Louis Perinbam, Keith Spicer, Guy Arnold established the organization Canadian University Service Overseas
CUSO
CUSO was founded June 6, 1961 as Canadian University Service Overseas . It was a Canadian non-profit organization that provided volunteers to aid in the development of Third World countries. In 2008, CUSO merged with VSO Canada to become CUSO-VSO...
(CUSO) which sent young volunteers overseas to work on community development projects. Due to his work with CUSO, Leddy was chosen by Prime Minister Lester B Pearson in 1965 to establish the Company of Young Canadians
Company of Young Canadians
The Company of Young Canadians was a short-lived Canadian youth program sponsored by the Canadian federal government, which existed from 1966 to 1977. It was inspired by the U.S...
, which was also dubbed as Canada's version of the Peace Corps, even though its volunteers remained at home in Canada to work among disenfranchised communities (urban inner cities, First Nations reserves).
In 1972, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
which recognizes a lifetime of achievement and merit of a high degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large.
In 1938, he married Kathleen Beatrice White. They had no children.