Honorary degree citation - William T.G. Hackett*
By: Gunther Brink, June 1980
Mr. Chancellor, I have the honour to present to you William Hackett, distinguished banker, peerless teacher and tactful administrator.
William Hackett graduated with Honours in Political Science (Economics Option) from the University of Toronto in 1927. He joined the firm of Mills, Spence & Co., investment dealers in 1928. In 1941, he was appointed Secretary to the Wartime Industries Control Board in Ottawa. William Hackett joined the Bank of Montreal in 1943 where he held the following positions: Economic Advisor, Assistant General Manager, Deputy General Manager - Investments, General Manager - Investments, Vice President - Investments and Vice President - Money Management. In addition, he served as Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Pension Fund.
William Hackett served the banking community extensively. The Canadian Bankers' Association called on him to serve on the following Committees: - Money Market Committee, Main Committee on Preparation for Hearings before the Royal Commission on Banking and Finance, Main Committee on Preparation for Revision of the Bank Act, and the Legislation and Government Committee. He served with great distinction, as Chairman of each of these Committees. In his capacity as a professional banker he gave public evidence before the Senate Committee on Inflation, the Royal Commission on Banking and Finance, and the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Trade and Economic Affairs.
Upon his retirement from the Bank of Montreal in June 1970, he embarked on a teaching career by joining the Department of Finance of the Faculty of Commerce and Administration in Sir George Williams University as a Special Lecturer in Finance. Ten years after retirement he is associated with the bank in an advisory capacity in addition to his teaching duties at the graduate and undergraduate level.
He was the founding Chairman of the Commerce and Administrative Consultative Committee serving until May 1980. The purpose of this committee is the maintenance of a continuing and constructive relationship and dialogue between our Faculty and a broadly representative group of senior business executives. Under his leadership many necessary and useful bridges have been built to the business community.
William Hackett has been a frequent speaker and writer on financial and economic subjects. He has had published "Bretton Woods" by the Canadian Institute of International Affairs and "A Background of Banking Theory" by the Canadian Bankers' Association.
In 1967, the Government of Canada conferred the Centennial Medal on William Hackett "In recognition of valuable service to the nation".
Mr. Chancellor, William Hackett, by his lifelong distinctive contribution to the banking profession, his ten years of outstanding teaching at Concordia and his invaluable contribution as Chairman of the Commerce and Administrative Consultative Committee has set an example of devotion to excellence not only to members of this graduating class but to all students, professors and administrators of our University.
Mr. Chancellor, I am honoured to present to you, on behalf of the Senate, and by authority of the Board of Governors, William T.G. Hackett, that you may confer on him the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
* deceased
