William Fisher (Bill) LeSourd
September 3, 1917 - January 28, 2010
Bill LeSourd
Rotarian June 3, 1981 - January 28, 2010
Our Dear Friend and Outstanding Rotarian Bill LeSourd passed away peacefully Thursday morning January 28 at the age of 92 years. The Family he cherished more than anything else in the world was with him in his final hours. Bill's health had been failing for the past year or so, but with the devoted, loving care of Betty and some fine health care professionals he was able to enjoy Rotary Fellowship at a few Rotary meetings in the last few months including our Christmas luncheon at the Glencoe Club. Our sincerest condolences go out to Betty, and Robert and Jeanie and their families.
Bill joined Rotary to serve the Community he loved and he took pride in being "our oldest new member." He was passionate about Community Service and insisted that all new members should serve on Community Service Committees which he did for many of his Rotary years. He realized that a sustainable Community Service Program had to be supported by long-term funding so he led by example, serving on the Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation Committee, making substantial personal donations to the Foundation and inspiring many of his friends to follow his lead. The Foundation was never better served! At our November 5, 2009 meeting President Bob presented Bill with a "110% Pin" in recognition of his outstanding service to Rotary.
Bill was born on the campus of Milton Academy at Milton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. Bill’s father Homer LeSourd was head of the Science Department at the Academy, a Graduate School Professor at Harvard, and a renowned teacher of physics. In 1923 the family spent a year in California while Professor LeSourd was on sabbatical. They returned to Boston by crossing Canada from Victoria to Montreal with a stop at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary for the 1924 Calgary Stampede. Their CPR train was greeted at the Robin Hood Mills (3rd – 4th St. SW.) by a high-spirited band of native Canadians who broke a few coach windows and left a lasting impression on six year-old Bill. The LeSourd family spent their summers at the family home on the coast of Maine where Bill would sign on for stints as a crew member on ships plying the northeast seas. In 1935 he parlayed $300 into a summer trip to Norway where he was part of an experienced sailboat crew bringing the thrill of sailing to Scouts from around the world. In 1938 he tried to join the U.S. Navy but wasn’t considered medically fit that day.
Following his graduation from the Milton Academy Bill took merchandising courses through Harvard before embarking on a sales career in Boston. Four years of business in Boston gave him ulcers to the point of sending him packing for a new adventure – ranching in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His ranching career included a visit to the John Ware ranch in Alberta which he considered buying (but never did.) Back in New Mexico Bill met Charlie and Arch Rowan, founders of Rowan Drilling of Odessa, Texas and good spotters of raw talent. They talked Bill into a second career change and he started roughnecking for Rowan in West Texas in 1942. Bill was a fast learner, moving up to driller and toolpusher before leaving Rowan in 1947 to join a major distributor of drilling mud to the oil industry. He was Manager of the Mud Engineering Department when in 1956 he decided to head to Canada and get back into the drilling business. Bill and his partner bought two butane powered rigs working in Saskatchewan and founded Cactus Drilling Corp. Ltd. in early 1957. Cactus grew to 13 drilling rigs. Bill founded Brooks Field Service Ltd. in 1965 to provide service rigs to his customers growing the fleet to 14 service rigs.. Bill LeSourd became a lasting legend in the Canadian Oilpatch. He sold his rigs in 1978 to focus his talents on Choya Petroleums Ltd. (little Cactus), remaining active in the oil and gas exploration and production business until his final days. Bill was also a founding shareholder and director of Prudential Steel Company, Western Rock Bit Co., Tri-Media Studio, Canadian Worldwide Energy Limited and First Western Trust Co.
Golf was one of Bill’s passions, playing at the Calgary Golf and Country Club he must hold some kind of record for his four hole-in-ones, three on the 216 yard hole #8. Another passion was cruises. Bill and Betty enjoyed more than 30 cruises over the years including 7 weeks in the Orient in 1988 where they visited Tiananmen Square in Bejing the day before demonstrations and riots broke out.
Bill led a great life which he enjoyed to the fullest. His character and leadership touched and inspired all who knew him, especially his Fellow Rotarians who could do nothing more fitting than support the Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation in honour of Bill and his love of his community.
Rest in Peace Dear Friend.