Inducted: November 1, 1995
Wilfred Roy graduated in Engineering from the University of Detroit, and his decision to leave a promising career there to return to Kent resulted in incalculable benefits to county farmers and to the Ontario agricultural industry.
One of his most notable accomplishments was as a founding member, in 1966, of the Ontario Crop Insurance Commission, and as its Vice-Chairman. A present Commission official gives Mr. Roy the credit for a "significant contribution" to the sound development of crop insurance in Ontario. His input gave crop insurance "a solid foundation" for future expansion.
Mr. Roy is a native of Dover, the son of the late Eugene King and the former Delphine Caron. He received his elementary education in Pain Court, and his secondary, at the University of Ottawa. He took Pre-engineering at Assumption University, Windsor, and crossed the Detroit River for his Engineering degree.
Mr. Roy began his career working with the Detroit Engineering firms of Ford, Bacon and Davis, and Giffels and Volet, before returning to Dover in 1953 to farm. He started with 150 acres, which eventually expanded to the 500 acres of Belleterre Farms Inc. He married Marcelle Bertrand in Ottawa in 1956 with a Papal blessing.
Mr. Roy's education as an engineer, coupled with his knowledge of agriculture, made his a respected voice at farm meetings from the first. He was, in the words of one friend, "quiet, but forceful, ready to hold on to an idea or principle when he knew he was right." At the same time, "he never spoke at a meeting unless he had something to say."
Mr Roy did not share the political ambitions of his father, but he was always ready to serve his community, and was Chairman of the Dover Township Planning Board, at a crucial period in planning when the decision was made to protect the township's agricultural roots. He was a member of the Dover Committee of Adjustment.
Mr. Roy was Secretary-Treasurer of the Kent Seed Growers' Association, and a Director of the Ontario Seed Corn Growers' Marketing Board from 1970 to 1974. He was Chairman of the Ontario Pedigreed Seed Committee, and was named a Robertson Associate by the Canadian Seed Growers.
In addition to his service on the Ontario Crop Insurance Commission, he was a member of the Ontario Crop Insurance Arbitration Board, a challenging responsibility.
Mr. Roy was a member of the Ontario Drainage Tribunal, where his engineering education was put to good use; and he was a member of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Board.
Mr. Roy was Chairman of the Water Control Board of the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, involved with discussions and decisions on flood control.
He was a member of the Ontario Burley Tobacco Marketing Board.
After he was forced to give up a more active role, he continued as President of Belleterre Farms, in effect, overseeing the entire operation, until it was sold in 1989.
The Roys now live in London. They have three daughters, Lorraine, Claire and Julie, and two grandchildren.
A friend said of him, "He is a very well-read person, on a wide variety of topics, and a good friend, a good neighbour, a good citizen and a good farmer!"