From the Archives (1988): First Annual Killam Chamber Hall of Fame Awards Banquet
Originally Published June 7, 1988 – The Killam Chamber of Commerce First Annual Hall of Fame Awards Banquet went off perfectly to a full house at the Legion on Saturday night.
The inductees – Ed Fee, Gordon Fee, Gordon Hilker, Dick Kinzer, and Norb Moser – were each presented with plaques, laminated tickets, and professional colour portraits for the honour.
Chamber President Jack Warner started off the evening with a rundown of Chamber activities, inviting everyone to attend the meetings. He also added that the upcoming Rodeo and Street Fair will this year be honoured with the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Don Mazankowski and MLA Dr. Steve West.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was past Killam resident and former school superintendent Dale Erickson. His familiarity with the gathering and Hall of Famers, mixed with a fine sense of humour, both entertained and kept the banquet rolling at a nice pace. Each Hall of Fame member’s long and impressive credentials were recognized by a speaker. Their excellent talks were a tribute to the validity of the awards and the five selections to the Hall of Fame.
The first speaker was Doug Fee, honouring his father Edward Fee whose contributions to the Killam community have included; secretary of the Arena Board, committee member to build the Medical Centre, manager of the Medical Centre for 30 years, Hospital Board member that saw two hospitals built in town, Provincial Hospital association President and long-time member – and much more.
“But the thing that impressed me the most,” said Doug Fee about his father, “was that he was an announcer at the hockey games for years… which meant I got to go on school nights.”
Reg Fee was the speaker for father Gordon Fee, and gave his Hall of Fame credentials including; U of A graduate, ran the Gable Garage, Canadian Armed Forces during WWII, partner with Albert Edward Fee, Jack Edwards, and Edward Fee in the Fee and Sons business, operated the ambulance and funeral home, fire department member, operation of the cemetery, mayor for six years, president of the Legion and the Curling Club – and more.
Reg Fee also honoured Dick Kinzer. “I have two dads,” said Reg, in giving Dick’s history.
He helped build the arena, managed the arena, worked on the old outdoor stampede, cemetery association, worked in real estate, operated the Fixit Shop in Killam, coached minor hockey, coached minor ball, president and secretary of the Board of Trade, started Welcome to Killam booklets, on Knights of Columbus council – and more.
Jack Hilker spoke of Gordon Hilker’s accomplishments towards the Hall of Fame induction including; vast participation in the sports scene in Killam, baseball, curling, and hockey, coached ladies softball, player and manager of the senior ball team, helped build the arena, umpired for 20 years, Legion member for some 40 years, coordinator of the Centennial Park, on Flagstaff Foundation, on village council, first mayor of the Town of Killam, P.C. constituency president and member, operated barber shop in Killam, Rec Board member, Airport Chairman, Homecoming Committee member – and more.
Jack Moser gave a more brief rundown of father Norb Moser, indicating that he was on the building committee for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and was the first president of both the Agriplex and the Rodeo Association as well as farming in the area for years. “He is a man who succeeds at most everything he does,” said Jack.
The Hall of Fame members thanked the Chamber for having such a function, all agreeing that there are many more both alive and dead that deserve the honour as well. They also suggested that their wives are just as deserving of recognition.
Gordon Hilker added, “There are a lot of people that haven’t been honoured here, and I won’t be totally happy until I see that they are.”
Each Hall of Famer hoped that this event will be carried on annually, and that this year was only the start of inductees.
Edward Fee stated that community service is only the rent we pay for the privilege of living in Killam. “We want to keep our rent paid up.”
The five Hall of Fame members were chosen by the number of nominations that they received as voted on by the Killam Chamber of Commerce members.
Votes were tabulated by the Hall of Fame Committee; Kerry Anderson, Reg Fee, and Mel Thompson.
The object of the awards is to honour long-time contributors to the quality of life in the Killam community.
The Chamber will be considering the purchase of a giant Hall of Fame plaque that would be hung at a central public facility. It would house the names of the inductees to the Killam Hall of Fame and would be added to yearly.
