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GEORGE WILLARD BAYNTON

George followed the footsteps of his grandfather J. G. Willard, and his father George Franklin Baynton, who had edited and published The Lloydminster Times for almost half a century. By the age of 11 George was putting in a full work week as a printer's devil at the Times, operating typesetting equipment and running numerous printing presses, large and small. As offset printing had not yet been invented, hot lead was the medium and George didn't escape the numerous burns, fumes, and other deleterious consequences that were the lot of a printer. He often appeared at school bearing printer's ink smears which were almost impossible to remove and looking the worse for wear from working all night without sleep.

Funds earned from the trade put George through university in Saskatoon and he returned to practice law with Ben Gulak and Alex Robertson. George was very active in the community. He was a Rotarian, a director of the Lloydminster Credit Union, City solicitor, and president of the Alberta and Saskatchewan local Bar Associations. His involvement in First Baptist Church included Chairman of the Joint Boards, Treasurer, Camp Chairman and Building Committee Chairman for each of the church and Bible Camp. After the death of his son Larry, he became heavily involved in the Canadian Cancer Society at provincial and national levels. As Chairman of the National Planning Committee he was instrumental in developing and instituting the strategic plan adopted by the Society in its 50th year.

George received many school and university scholarships and was honoured to represent Canada on an Air Cadet exchange visit to the United Kingdom. He was recognized on several occasions for his community service. In 1977 he was appointed a Queen's Counsel for Alberta. In 1990 he was appointed a Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench for Saskatchewan. He found it difficult to leave Lloydminster, his church, friends, clients, and his law partnership which by then had grown to 12 lawyers and a host of support staff.

George will likely be remembered as Lloydminster's first superior court justice.