Eugene "Gene Sandfield" MacDonald

When Col. A.G.F. Macdonald retired from the editor’s desk of The Glengarry News in 1944, he was succeeded by his son Eugene Alexander. Born on March 29, 1911, his mother was the former Eugenie Hubert of Montreal. The Macdonald family members were known as “Sandfield”, the given name to Eugene’s great uncle, John Sandfield Macdonald, Ontario’s first premier. Hence Eugene Alexander became “Gene Sandfield”.

The only change in the News policy by the new editor was the innovation of an editorial page. He also broadened the publishing high standard that was soon to become recognized and duly rewarded in a tangible way by the Ontario and Canadian Weekly Associations.

Among those awards was winning the Ontario Weekly plaque for editorial excellence in 1957, 1960-61-62-65-68 and 1969. The Canadian Weekly Association duplicated this honor in 1959-60 and 61. Several more awards adorn the News office walls. The climax was reached in 1969 with the granting of the distinguished service award by the Canadian Weekly Association for meritorious service in the field of weekly newspaper publishing.

During all those years editor “Gene Sandfield” was a builder of local sport activities personally and via News reports. He became a devoted golf player and was so enthused with the game that he launched the idea of founding a golf course in the Alexandria vicinity.

Speculations of what appeared to be an impossible dream became a reality in 1960-61 with the founding of the Glengarry Golf and Country Club, whose charter directors were inducted in 2011.

After retiring from the editor’s desk in 19__, Gene Sandfield continued __ until his death on ____.