Article

Thomas Gordon Towers

Published Online January 29, 2008

Last Edited March 7, 2014

Thomas Gordon Towers, farmer, politician, lieutenant-governor of Alberta (b at Red Deer, Alta 5 Jul 1919; d at Red Deer Jun 1999). An active member of the Red Deer area farming community, Towers was recruited into the Tory party during the DIEFENBAKER years.

Towers, Thomas Gordon

Thomas Gordon Towers, farmer, politician, lieutenant-governor of Alberta (b at Red Deer, Alta 5 Jul 1919; d at Red Deer Jun 1999). An active member of the Red Deer area farming community, Towers was recruited into the Tory party during the DIEFENBAKER years. He ran unsuccessfully for the Red Deer seat in 1963 and 1965, losing to the federal Social Credit Leader Robert Thompson both times. In 1972 he succeeded Thompson as the Tory candidate and won election to the House of Commons. His affable nature and diligent constituency work enabled him to win re-election in 1974, 1979, 1980 and 1984.

Towers did not seek re-election in 1988 and retired from politics at the age of 69. Well respected for his work ethic and honest dealings with members of all parties, he typified the best in the Alberta farmer and was a hugely popular choice when sworn in as lieutenant-governor of Alberta on 11 March 1991. He served until 1996.