Melvin M. Hawkrigg

An all-round athlete, business leader and civic booster, Mel Hawkrigg arrived in Hamilton in 1949 to attend McMaster. While earning a history and political economy degree, he excelled in football, basketball, hockey and track. Upon graduation, he played a season with the Tiger-Cats before marrying wife Marilyn and launching a stellar business career including senior leadership roles with Fuller Brush Company, London Life, Trilon Financial and Brascan Limited. He is chair of Orlick Industries and the Hamilton Port Authority, and has been actively involved as a volunteer and youth advocate in many organizations including the YMCA and Junior Achievement. Together with Marilyn, Mel is a fixture cheering on the McMaster Marauders. For nine years he served as McMaster’s Chancellor and is a member of its Business and Sports Hall of Fame.