A quick look at the life of former Alberta premier Don Getty

EDMONTON – A look at the life and career of former Alberta premier Don Getty, who died Friday at age 82.

Born: Donald Ross Getty in Westmount, Que. on Aug. 30, 1933.

Education: Was student council president at Sir Adam Beck Collegiate Institute in London, Ont. Captain of the school’s basketball and football teams. Received a degree in business administration from University of Western Ontario, where he also played basketball and football and was honoured for being an outstanding athlete.

Family: Married Margaret Mitchell in 1955. They had four sons — Dale, David, Darin and Derek.

Canadian Football League: Played with the Edmonton Eskimos from 1955 to 1965, winning two Grey Cup championships. He was named Outstanding Canadian in the Western Canada Football League in 1959.

Oil business: Worked for several oil companies before forming his own, the Baldonnel Oil and Gas Company, in 1964.

Politics: First elected to the Alberta legislature in 1967 with the Progressive Conservatives. Served as energy minister before leaving politics in 1979 to spend more time with his family. He returned in 1985, becoming the 11th premier of the province. He left office in 1992.

Accomplishments: Defused a land dispute with the Lubicon Cree in 1988. Created the Family Day holiday in 1989. Introduced self-government for Metis in 1990. Held the first senator-in waiting election in Alberta in 1989.

Quote: “There were ups and downs all right. But you wake up or go to bed at night with a tremendous feeling of satisfaction, being content that I had done everything possible to make Alberta a great place in the future.”