Chancellor Lynton “Red” Wilson has attended more University graduations than most.

As honorary head of the University, Wilson has presided over Convocation ceremonies since 2007 — but next Friday afternoon’s Social Sciences convocation will be his last.

The economics alumnus and longtime friend of the University’s second term as Chancellor will come to an end this year, after six years of conferring degrees and acting as ambassador to students and alumni worldwide.

“I first came to McMaster in 1958, almost 55 years ago now,” said Wilson, during a special address to McMaster’s Board of Governors Thursday. “Serving as McMaster’s Chancellor for the past six years has been a real privilege and a great honour. I particularly enjoyed my associations with Patrick [Deane] and his team and Peter [George] and his team before, and with faculty, staff and students.”

Wilson’s career spans both the public service and the private sector, and includes appointments as Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Tourism and president, CEO and chairman of Redpath Industries and BCE Inc. Wilson has also been a generous supporter of McMaster. In 2004 he donated $1 million to establish the L.R. Wilson Professor in Canadian History in the Faculty of Humanities, and in 2007 donated $10 million in support of the liberal arts.

That gift made L.R. Wilson Hall — the University’s new hub for teaching and learning in the liberal arts, now poised for construction — possible. Wilson was recently honoured with the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award, given in recognition of his loyalty and dedication to the University.

The McMaster community celebrated Wilson’s retirement as Chancellor at an open house hosted by President Patrick Deane on June 5. McMaster graduate and leading businesswoman Suzanne Labarge will succeed Wilson on September 1.