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Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News
February 15, 1984

W. Earl Rowe, veteran of federal politics and former lieutenant-governor of Ontario, died yesterday of a heart attack at his farm, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Toronto. He was 89.

A lover of both politics and horses, Mr. Rowe spent 35 years as a Progressive Conservative member at both provincial and federal levels before being named lieutenant-governor in 1963, a post he held for five years.

His only defeat at the polls came in 1937, when he waged an unsuccessful attempt to wrest the Ontario premiership from Liberal Mitchell Hepburn. Shortly afterwards, he returned to federal politics.

Born in Iowa of Ontario parents, Mr. Rowe began his political career in 1919, when he was elected reeve of Gwillimbury Township.

He next won a provincial seat in the riding of South Simcoe in 1923 and two years later won the federal seat of Dufferin-Simcoe. He held the seat for 38 years with the only interruption being his try for the Ontario premiership.

Mr. Rowe was the youngest member in the cabinet of R.B. Bennett, serving briefly in 1935 as a minister without portfolio in the short-lived government. he resigned his federal seat and returned to provincial politics when the government was defeated in November of that year.

He remembered Bennett as "probably the most knowledgeable and least appreciated prime minister because of the very difficult time he went through."

Mr. Rowe was provincial Tory leader from 1936 to 1938, but his failure to win a seat in the 1937 election, and reported dissension in party ranks, sent him back to Ottawa.

He ran federally for Dufferin-Simcoe again in 1940, and was reelected six times before leaving federal politics in 1963 to become lieutenant-governor, a position he held for five years.

Mr. Rowe and his late wife, Teva, raised horses.

An avid harness racer, the Honourable Earl Rowe will be remembered for his racing career as much as for his political one.

"Local Affirmative Vote One of Highest Percentages in Entire Province
The people of Canada have spoken. The Government of Canada is freed from any previous commitments to act in the best interests of Canada. By an overwhelming majority the people of Canada have risen above political party, race, creed, or any other loyalties, to put Canada and the Nation first and give wholehearted support to Canada's Government during this war which is a struggle for our very existence. Over two thirds of the people of Canada voted "Yes." Urban and rural Ontario rolled up a smashing affirmative vote, over 85% of the citizens casting affirmative ballots." ...

Mourners gather at the funeral service held for Mr. Rowe who died last Thursday.

"To the Electors of Dufferin-Simcoe:
As your representative in the House of Commons, I did oppose the principle of a Plebiscite. Howevee, our government has asked for an expression of public opinion and, under our democratic system of government, it is your responsibility and mine to exercise our franchise on this very important question." ...

"On Sunday, July 23rd, 1967, the Auld Kirk in Scotch Settlement will hold a centennial service. This church, for many years has been closed but on that day memories will be revived by the old and the not-so-old as they greet one another and talk about the past and the days when their parents and grandparents lived there. A few words about the Scotch Settlement, its two churches and the people of the community may recall something of the past." ...

"At 2 p.m., on Saturday, October 7, a weekend which will long be remembered, began for the residents of Newton Robinson and the Newton Robinson community, when friends of former years came to celebrate the village's Pioneer Family Days.
The activities for the celebration were introduced with a parade, which assembled a Poole's garage, and was led by two pipers, Paul and Marilyn Moir of Cookstown, up the hill and into Lloyd Coburn's orchard, which was prepared in readiness for celebrating the occasion." ...

Photograph and article accompanying Hon. Rowe's appointment to Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario.

"Immediate credit, to the extent of $100,000 by the Provincial Government, was promised by Premier Leslie Frost within a matter of minutes after his arrival by car to attend a meeting with the Holland Marsh Emergency Relief Committee, held in the Township of West GWillimbury municipal office on Monday. ..."