Ivor Wynne ‘40

Born in Wales on November 2, 1918, Wynne immigrated to Canada with his family at the age of six in 1924, relocating to downtown Hamilton in 1928. After graduating in 1940 and spending time in the Canadian military during the Second World War, Ivor Wynne was named McMaster’s Athletic Director in 1948. He is credited with expanding the school’s physical education course and spearheading the creation of an athletic centre at the school.

In 1967, Wynne was named Chairman of the Parks Board. The city sought Wynne’s advice throughout Civic Stadium’s first major renovations in 1970 that would help the iconic building reach modern–day standards. Sadly Wynne would die suddenly that year of a rare blood disease and never see those renovations completed. Shortly after Wynne’s death in November 1970, the city parks board voted to rename the stadium to honour his contributions to McMaster and the community.