QuickSketch of Eugene Whelan

TORONTO – A sketch of former agriculture minister Eugene Whelan, who died Tuesday at the age of 8.

BORN: July 11, 1924, in Amherstburg, Ont.

EDUCATION: High school and vocational-technical school, Windsor, Ont., until age 16.

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CAREER: Tool-and-die maker after high school; returned to family’s original business of farming.

POLITICS: Elected to local school board at 21. Later became reeve and warden. Elected Liberal MP (Essex-Windsor) in 1962. ’63, ’65, ’68, ’72, 74, ’79, ’80. Ran for Liberal leadership, 1984; finished last among seven candidates.

CABINET: Minister of agriculture 1972-79, 1980-84.

INTERNATIONAL WORK: President, World Food Council, 1983-85. Canada’s ambassador to UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, 1984 (appointment rescinded by Conservative government).

TRADEMARK: Green Stetson cowboy hat.