Former UAlberta Dean of Engineering George Govier died Feb. 22, 2016, at the age of 99.
(Edmonton) George Wheeler Govier, who served as Dean of Engineering from 1959 to 1963, died Feb. 22 at the age of 99.
Govier was born in Nanton, Alberta, on June 15, 1917. He grew up in Nanton, Penticton, B.C., and Vancouver, B.C. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of British Columbia in 1939. The following year, he moved to Edmonton to become a lecturer at the University of Alberta. He completed his MSc in physical chemistry at the U of A in 1945, and in 1949 was awarded a PhD from the University of Michigan.
Govier was a passionate academic and was one of the founders of the Department of Petroleum Engineering. He was a leading researcher and academic during a period of great change in Alberta, as natural resource industries emerged and expanded. From 1948 to 1959 he served as department chair and he served as Dean of Engineering from 1959 to 1963.
During this period, he also supervised the Faculty of Engineering's first PhD graduate, Robert Ritter (PhD '63). Ritter made important contributions to the understanding of how oil behaves in pipelines and after graduating also joined the faculty.
He served as chairman of Alberta's Energy Resources Conservation Board for 30 years. He became Chief Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources in 1971 in the Peter Loughheed government of Alberta.
Govier was president of the Association of Professional Engineers of Alberta, and of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He served on the boards of several companies, and for decades served as consultant to corporations and Canadian and foreign governments. He retired in 2006.
A Memorial Service will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W. Calgary, AB) on Monday, March 14, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com .