BX August 30, 1966
Five-Term Mayor, Ross Beckett Dies
Ross Lloyd Beckett, who served fiver terms as mayor of Brantford and was a leader in community series here for many years, died on Monday in the Brantford General Hospital.
Mr. Beckett, the father of Brantford’s present mayor, Dick Beckett, was born on July 22, 1892, in Welland, a son of the late H.B. Beckett and Alice L. Beckett, both of United Empire Loyalist stock.
After attending public school in Welland he came to Brantford with his family at the turn of the century, and attended the Brantford Collegiate Institute and late the University of Toronto.
He became active in YMCA work early in life and served the association with distinction here, in Toronto and overseas during the First World War. He had a keen interest in sports and was well known as a player, umpire and director, particularly in hockey and baseball. He was a member, before the First World war, of a senior Ontario championship baseball team from Toronto. He was an ardent fisherman.
Was Legion President
After his return from overseas he entered the funeral director business with his father and immediately took a keen interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the community. He was particularly interested in, and popular with war veterans. For six years he was president of the Brantford Branch of the Canadian Legion.
Ross Beckett entered public life when he was elected as an alderman for Ward Five in 1924. He served in that capacity four years and then became mayor in 1928. He had the distinction of twice being returned as alderman by acclamation and held the honor of also heading the city polls twice in the aldermanic vote.
Community League
During his fourth year as mayor, with a depression on, Mr. Beckett conceived the idea of the Brantford Community League, which during the first two years, succeeded in raising though public subscription more than $100,000 for needy families.
He was a member on the Brantford Hydro Commission after leaving the mayor’s post, and then served on the Public Utilities Commission when it was formed. He was vice-chairman in 1935 and 1937, chairman in 1938, and a member from 1940 to 1944, serving again as chairman in 1941.
His service during the Second World War was given to heading Victory Loan and Red Cross campaigns and he gave unsparingly of his time and talents. In 1945 he was appointed general chairman of the Brant County War Finance Committee and in 1948 was made chairman of the Community Chest division of the Council of Social Agencies. He was also chairman, at one time, of the water and the police Commissions.
Many Organizations
Many other organizations also benefited from his ability and services. Among these were the Brantford Kiwanis Club, which he served as president; Zion United Church, where he was an elder and former chairman of the board of management, and the Ontario Board of Examiners under the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Act to which he was named in 1947. In 1949 he was made chairman of that board and later an honorary chairman. In 1955 he was appointed by the Ontario Government as a trustee to the Brant Sanatorium Board.
He was a member of the Brantford Gold and Country Club, the Rotary Club of Brantford, the IOOF, the Masonic Order, the Brantford Shriners Club, Mocha Temple, London, and the Sons of England Society.
Mr. Beckett was also a member, at one time or another, of the Parks, Library, Street Railway, Hospital, Social Service and Children’s Aid Society boards.
His wife, the former Anne A. Robinson, predeceased him in July of last year. He was also predeceased by one brother, Clarence E. Beckett, of Brantford.
Surviving are one son, R.B. (Dick) Beckett, of Brantford, one sister, Mrs. Charles (Pearl) Leeming, of Scarsday, N.Y., and two brothers, Dr. Morley Beckett, of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Percy L. Beckett, of Toronto.
Mr. Beckett is resting at the Beckett Funeral Home. Service will be conducted in Zion United Church at 2 p.m. Thursday, with Rev. Dr. Victor Levan officiating. Interment will be in Farringdon Burial Ground.
Council Pays Tribute.
Brantford City Council Monday night expressed sympathy to Mr. Beckett’s family, and stood for a moment in silent tribute.
The council’s resolution of sympathy said:
“Ross Beckett was a familiar figure at the city hall for many years. He served this community with distinction and devotion as an alderman for four years, and as mayor for five consecutive years. In addition, he served as a member and chairman of the Brantford Hydro-Electric Commission for two years, and a member of the Public Utilities Commission for eight years.
“Brantford is a better, greater and finer city because of the work and service of Ross Beckett.”
