John Walter Grant MacEwan is a remarkably vigorous fellow. He was born Aug. 12, 1902, and has enjoyed being a farmer, professor at the University of Saskatchewan, dean of agriculture and home economics at the University of Manitoba, livestock judge, horseman, best-selling author, agriculture editor of The Western Producer, politician, alderman, mayor of Calgary and lieutenant-governor of Alberta.
He doesn’t stand as tall as he used to, but that’s understandable. Any of us who had survived a pair of bone-breaking accidents might be excused for leaning against the wind.
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I saw Grant in mid-August riding proudly in an antique car on Salute to Cowboys’ Day at the Priddis and Millarville Fair, south of Calgary. Several thousand people showed up for the occasion and Grant beamed and waved at the assembly as he was introduced.
After the parade had ended and the crowd had cleared, I chatted with him briefly. I asked him if he was still writing books.
“There’s always another in the oven,” he laughed. “Right now I’m working on one entitled ‘Return of the Buffalo.’ “
Good title. Last time I counted Grant had written and had published close to 50 books. His Fifty Mighty Men had almost as many reprints as the $5 bill.
Grant used to have a speech he gave about aging. He said as he approached 40 he thought this would put him over the hill, but his fourth decade proved most rewarding and interesting.
He found 50 was even better and 60 a breeze. Then he passed 70 and 80 and still was enjoying life. Now he’s three years past 90 and is still striding around booming out greetings.
Life is what you make it and he seems to have found a dandy recipe.
