Don Kindopp believes that Doug Third has been one of Estevan’s fine citizens over the years, and is deserving of all sorts of accolades, even if Doug doesn’t want the spotlight.
A long-time resident of the Estevan area, Doug was saluted to his involvement in many aspects of the community during a ceremony on Tuesday afternoon at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
A large crowd gathered in the hospital’s foyer area for the ceremony, which saw the dedication of the Doug Third Education Centre and the unveilling of a plaque that pays tribute to his service. Appropriately, the ceremony came on Doug’s 91st birthday.
Even though the couple was unable to attend the dedication, the assembled crowd still sang happy birthday to him.
Doug and Alice Third’s son Ian and their daughters Margo Holinaty and Melissa Tholl were in attendance.
Doug came to Estevan in 1949 to be the first principal at Hillside School, a role he would hold until 1980. Then he became an assistant superintendent at the Estevan Rural School Division.
He also became a lay minister who performed more than 1,000 prayer services, graveside services and funeral services, helping out many more people in the community.
“Today we honour a gentleman whose name is a household word in Estevan, a man whose name evokes admiration and indeed reverence and love of him by all who know him,” said Kindopp.
Kindopp praised Doug for demonstrating a caring and compassionate attitude his entire life.
“He cares about who you are and who you will become. He cares whether you as a teacher, a student or a parent are equipped with the skills you will need to succeed in life.”
Kindopp pointed out Doug taught the members of his wife Lynn’s family. All of them went on to university and enjoyed success in their chosen careers.
“For members of one family whose parents weren’t educated beyond the 10th grade, this is marvellous,” said Kindopp, who believes students succeeded because of Doug’s love of learning.
Many of those in attendance were former teachers who taught with Doug or students who benefitted from his teaching.
Other speakers included St. Joseph’s Hospital CEO Greg Hoffort, Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig and Hall Funeral Services owner Dustin Hall. But the biggest tribute came from Doug’s son Ian, who generated lots of laughs and tears as he shared memories about his father.
He told the crowd his parents loved Estevan. They stayed within the 40-kilometre radius of the city. And they were proud of their homes on George Street, Henry Street and Petterson Drive.
Doug remains a humble and honest man who doesn’t want lots said about him, but Ian believes his father is proud that he has left a legacy on the community.
“I think he was born with one thing in mind, and that was the dedication to his fellow man. Some of you are here because of the way he was with you,” said Ian.
People would show up unannounced at the Thirds’ home looking for guidance or counselling, because they knew he was not only compassionate and a great listener, but also someone who would give a direct and honest answer.
Often a new priest assigned to St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church would come to their home.
“Dad would take them … downstairs hour upon hour, day upon day and week upon week until they learned their English as they could, and they were ready to do a proper mass,” said Ian.
When the house sold on Petterson Drive, it was a bittersweet time, because his parents didn’t have to worry about the house any longer, but they also knew they were leaving Estevan.
While Ian was cleaning out the home, he found a plastic bag that contained a speech his father gave at the local Remembrance Day service that reflected his public speaking and writing skills.
“He would capture you with his movement of his eyes, and he would draw you in as he spoke so that you would think he was talking directly and only to you,” said Ian.
And then he found his father’s book on delivering a Christian funeral that is a guide to helping laymen perform services. That book contained what made his father so popular as a lay person.
“Within the covers … throughout the pages stuck in with masking tape is every single name of every single service that he ever did,” Ian said to murmurs from the crowd.
The last entry simply read “1,003,” marking the last of more than 1,000 services.
Doug’s first funeral was in 1990.
In his father’s own handwriting, Ian said that book includes a who’s who of the Estevan area, from the richest to the poorest. And they ranged from a 106-year-old person to a one-day-old baby.
“Who amongst us would have that dedication to his fellow man? Who amongst us would have done 1,003 funerals, let alone made sure they were in this book?”
And each of those 1,003 services was different for each person.
Following the plaque unveiling, Ian third presented the book to Hall so that it can be placed somewhere in Hall Funeral Service.
Hoffort pointed out that it was Guy Chicoine and Hall who came forward with the idea of doing something to recognize Doug, when Chicoine became aware that Doug had conducted his last funeral service. They took up an offering and approached the hospital to see if there was a way to recognize him.
Doug and Alice Third now reside in Regina. Ian Third pointed out his father still keeps tabs on what’s happening in Estevan by reading the Estevan Mercury on a weekly basis.
Doug is a life member of the Rotary Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch, received a Queen Elizabeth Medal, the Canadian Centennial Medal and the Canadian Confederation Medal. His name is attached to the Doug Third Hall in Woodlawn Regional Park; the building used to be the Hillside School gymnasium.
The education centre used to be the hospital’s library, and it will be used for the hospital’s longitudinal integrated clerkship student program.
