Work, community important to former clerk

Dec. 24, 2008

When Willis Dickison worked as the town clerk and treasurer for Newcastle, he told people he was going to write a book about his time at town hall.

After Dickison retired in 1990, former mayor John McKay asked him how the book was coming along.

"I think those secrets are gonna stay with me," Dickison told him.

Many of those stories gathered during his 33 years of service will remain untold. Dickison died of a heart attack Dec. 7 at age 78.

Outside of town hall, Dickison was a charter member of the Kinsmen Club, served on the board of directors for the Miramichi Regional Hospital, was a Cub leader and devoted his time to many other community groups.

Dickison's wife Grace said the Kinsmen Club was very important to Willis and she remembered the time three men from Moncton knocked on their door one day early into the couple's marriage.

The Kinsmen didn't have a club in the Miramichi yet and the men wanted Willis to start one, she said.

"He was always there at the beginning."

Grace said her husband also spent a lot of time at town hall because he wanted to feel like he contributed to how the town changed, developed and improved.

"I think he liked to be part of the community."

In 1992, the Rotary Club recognized Willis' work in the community when they awarded him the Paul Harris Award the same night as Frank McKenna.

"It was a hard act to follow," it is said Willis said of McKenna.

Grace said her husband's work with the town kept him busy and the couple had to plan their social life around the budget when it came down in November.

She remembered one Saturday night when former mayor John Creaghan called him because they had settled a union contract and Creaghan wanted to get it signed right away.

Willis didn't mind getting the call.

"He was happy it was over."

Former mayor Peter Murphy said because Willis went through a lot of councils in his time as clerk, he was a great asset to the town and they missed him when he retired.

"It was a big loss for us."

After so many years as clerk and treasurer, Willis knew all the financial ins and outs and gave Murphy advice on ways to improve the town's financial situation.

"Willis was a great support and a great advisor."

Murphy said he met with Willis every day during Murphy's time as a councillor and they developed a much closer relationship when he became mayor.

"He could usually give me the advice I needed."

Current city manager Doug Chase was assistant treasurer when Willis was at town hall and said Willis was a meticulous bookkeeper who made sure everything balanced at the end of the month.

"Willis was a wealth of knowledge."

Chase said Willis had a great sense of humour and any time he made a mistake, Willis would forgive him. He just didn't want him to make the mistake again.

"He was a lot of fun to work with."

Willis never knew it, but one time Chase spent a week looking for a missing nickel in the balance books because he said with Willis, the numbers had to add up.

"It was as simple as that."

Chase said Willis was his first boss when he started working with the town and he couldn't have found a better mentor to work along with and learn the ropes from.

"I looked up to him in a lot of ways in and out of work."

McKay said Willis was a professional man who was loyal to the community, the mayor and council, which lead to a productive partnership between the two men.

"It worked well."

Willis had an easy way about him, but knew when it was time to work and get things done, McKay said.

"I think he had gained respect by doing that."

Grace said her husband stayed out of the rivalry between Newcastle and Chatham during his time with the town. When he retired in 1990, the town of Chatham staff took him out to dinner.

"He had a great rapport with the town of Chatham."

Murphy said Willis saw the benefit of working together with Chatham and advised him not to get involved in the rivalry. "There was no room for that."

Through his years with the town, Willis had the opportunity to meet dignitaries whenever they came to Newcastle, including Lord Beaverbrook, Prime Ministers' Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, Jean Chretien, several governor generals and even the Queen.

Grace said the couple went down to town hall to meet Trudeau during the height of Trudeaumania. She was impressed by him and said when Trudeau talked to her it was like she was the only person in the room.

"He had that charisma with him."

But Willis was quiet about all the people he met and never said much about his encounters with the dignitaries, she said.

"He wasn't as impressed as I was."