H. HARRISON McCAIN

H. HARRISON McCAIN C.C.
H. HARRISON McCAIN C.C. 1927 – 2004 H. Harrison McCain C.C., co-founder and Founding Chairman of McCain Foods Limited, passed away March 18, 2004 at 11:05 p.m. EST at the Lahey Clinic in Boston. Mr. McCain had been in declining health for some time. He was 76 years old.
He directed the growth of McCain Foods for 45 years as it grew from a small French fry processing operation in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada, to the world's largest producer of French fries and a $6.4 billion a year international frozen food firm.
Mr. McCain is survived by a son, Mark McCain, Toronto; three daughters, Ann Evans, Toronto; Laura McCain-Jensen, Niagara-on-the Lake, Ontario; Gillian McCain, New York; a brother, Wallace McCain, Toronto; a sister, Marie Sutherland, Woodstock, N.B., and three grandsons and 1 granddaughter. Predeceased by his wife, Marion (McNair), son, Peter, brothers, Robert and Andrew, and sister, Eleanor Johnson.
A native of Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada, Harrison McCain was born November 3, 1927, the son of Andrew D. McCain, a pioneer seed potato exporter, and Laura (Perley) McCain C.M. He graduated from Florenceville High School and attended Acadia University where he received a bachelor of arts degree in economics in 1949.
After several years in sales with Irving Oil Ltd., Mr. McCain left at the age of 29 to pursue an independent career. On May 24, 1956, the four McCain brothers – Andrew, Robert, Harrison and Wallace, founded McCain Foods Limited. Harrison and Wallace assumed active management roles in the new company while older brothers Andrew and Robert became Directors.
In addition to directorships within the McCain Group and his role as Chairman of McCain Foods Limited, during his career Mr. McCain sat on many boards of directors including the Bank of Nova Scotia, Petro-Canada, the Canada Development Corporation, Council for Canadian Unity, Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, Izaak Walton Killam Children's Hospital, New Brunswick Research and Productivity Council, the New Brunswick Development Corporation, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Junior Achievement of Canada, the Japan Society and the Lahey Clinic Canadian Foundation. He served as a member of the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission, and was a member of the advisory councils of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Executive Service Organization and Canadian Foundation for Aids Research.
In more than 45 years in the food industry, Mr. McCain received many honours for his achievements, for his societal leadership and philanthropic activities. In 1984, he was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1986, he was the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick and named an Honorary Life Member of the Agriculture Institute of Canada.
In 1988, Mr. McCain received the Canadian Business Statesman Award from the Harvard Business School, Toronto, and earned the Knight of the Golden Pencil Award.
Mr. McCain was named the Financial Post Chief Executive Officer of the Year in 1990. In 1991, he received an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law from Acadia University as well as an Honorary Doctor of Law from McGill University.
He was named a Companion of the Order of Canada, an Honorary Life Member of the Potato Association of America, and earned the Gary Wright Humanitarian Award from Friends of We Care Inc. in 1992.
In 1993 he was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. The following year, Mr. McCain was recognized with the Netherlands Annual Agribusiness Award and the World Potato Congress Award. He was the inaugural recipient of Quick Frozen Foods International Magazine's Golden Ice Crystal Award in 1997 and was inducted into the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame the same year.
In 1998 Mr. McCain was inducted into the Sales and Marketing Executives International Academy of Achievement in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also received an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree from l'Université de Moncton. He was named Atlantic Canada's Entrepreneur of the Year and also was the inaugural recipient of Canada's Entrepreneur of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. He was appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada from 1999 to 2002.
In 2001, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University. In October of that same year, Mr. McCain and his brother Wallace were the co- recipients of the Richard Ivey Business Leader Award. He also earned the Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA) Hall of Fame Award.
In 2002, Mr. McCain was honoured with the Order of New Brunswick award in its inaugural year.
Resting at Kilcollins Chapel, Florenceville, NB, visiting on Sunday 7-9 p.m. and Monday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral services to be held on Tuesday at 2 p.m. from Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd, Florenceville (for family and designated people only). Public may attend the funeral at Faith Memorial United Church or the United Baptist Church, both Churches are side by each on the Burnham Road, Florenceville. Please look for traffic attendants. Officiating Clergy will be, The Rev. Chris Hayes, The Rev. Canon John Matheson, The Venerable John Jones, The Rt. Rev. Harold Nutter, Bishop George Lemmon and Bishop Claude Miller. Private family burial will follow in the McCain Family Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the NB Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.ca), www.kilcollins.com or www.mccain.com.