Head and shoulders image of Dr. Mel Preston, professor of Physics, 1977-1986.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Melvin Alexander Preston was born in 1928 in Ontario. He was an Officer in the Royal Canadian Artillery during World War II, helping to develop radar control for anti-aircraft. Dr. Preston was professor of Theoretical Physics and dean at McMaster University in Hamilton. In 1977 the University of Saskatchewan appointed him vice-president (acad) and professor of Physics, taking a position that had been created only two and a half years before. Duties included the "development and support of the University's academic program" including the appointment, sabbaticals, grievances and promotion of academic personnel, organizing services pertaining to academic programs such as library and audio-visual equipment and to serve as chair or member of several University committees. Dr. Preston resigned from that position in 1982 and continued to serve as professor of Physics until 1986. Dr. Preston died in 2016 at Westdale, Ontario, at age 95.