Good volunteers can be hard to find. Volunteers that dedicate more than 70 years of their lives to a cause are almost non-existent.

Ralph Hindson was one of those volunteers. Serving as president of the class of 1938 until he passed away in June at the age of 96, Hindson worked tirelessly to keep his classmates in touch with each other and the University community where they formed their lasting friendships.

“Classes at that time were quite small, so all the students knew each other,” said Rodney Morrison, director of International Advancement for McMaster. “He felt they owed it to each other to stay in touch and help out in times of need.”

Elected by his classmates, Hindson organized reunions, speakers and other events for members of the class, which include popular Hamilton Spectator culinary writer Norma Bidwell, McMaster Chancellor and politician Lawrence Pennell and actress Amelia Hall. He also planned fundraising and bequeathment campaigns, including organizing the Year '38 Amelia Hall Scholarship fund, to help the class give back financially to the University.

“Nobody loved our year more than he did,” said John Shea, Hindson's friend and classmate. “He worked for weeks and weeks to make sure our reunions were organized. We all stayed together because of him.”

“Before the alumni association took on an expanded role, he did it all,” said Karen McQuigge, director of Alumni Advancement. “It's impossible to find volunteers like Ralph. We're really going to miss him.”

A native of Ottawa, Ont., Hindson studied chemistry and geology at McMaster, eventually working as a metallurgical engineer at Stelco. He also served as a senior policy advisor on resource industries to government as well as CEO of Cansteel and principal advisor to the premier of Nova Scotia. He was honoured by the McMaster Alumni Association, an organization he served as president of from 1948 to 1949, with its Distinguished Service Award for his many contributions to the McMaster community.