Inducted: November 28, 1990
Hugh Glasgow has made a significant contribution to agriculture in the county and province as a farmer, a municipal and farm leader and as a sound advisor to the vegetable processing industry.
Mr. Glasgow began farming on the home farm, Concession 1, Chatham Gore after receiving his early education at Tupperville Public School and the Canada Business College in Chatham. His practical farming experience whetted his interest in farm organizations, one of them the Soil and Crop Improvement Association which he headed at the county level before becoming President of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association in 1962.
Mr. Glasgow served in all elective jobs on Chatham Township Council; as Reeve, Deputy Reeve and a Councillor. His particular interest through this municipal service was in farm drainage, a key to agricultural productivity. In spite of his involvement in many activities, he found time, as Reeve, to serve as a volunteer with Chatham Goodfellows to make sure that less fortunate township residents received Christmas gifts and food.
With Frank Parry and others, Mr. Glasgow canvassed tomato and vegetable growers in Dover and Chatham townships, to establish a Tomato Marketing Board in 1941, and the Ontario Vegetable Growers' Marketing Board a few years later.
But his contributions to vegetable production did not end there. Mr. Glasgow helped Canadian Canners, now Nabisco Brands Canada Ltd., through its first major expansion in Dresden. His talents as a conciliator, and his advocacy of a patient approach to problems, helped growers and company weather early difficulties.
Mr. Glasgow was responsible, too, for locating the 465 acres of fairly uniform farmland needed when Canadian Canners established a large asparagus operation in 1960. By the time the land was optioned on February 1, 196l, Mr. Glasgow had devoted almost a year to the project. The same dedication has been evident in similar projects since.
Mr. Glasgow also served as a coordinator when the company built its first work camp to accommodate off-shore labour imported to alleviate the serious seasonal labour shortage. The first camp, built in 1966 to house 50 men was eventually expanded to accommodate 300.
Mac Paget, of Nabisco Brands (Canadian Canners), said there are still workers who remember the harmonious relationships developed by Mr. Glasgow, and perpetuated through yearly visits to the camp to revive old friendships. The company reaped "incalculable" benefits from its long association with Mr. Glasgow.