R.W. Begg standing with Dr. Louis B. Jaques, professor of Physiology, Dr. Walter McKenzie, president, University of Alberta; and Dr. Hugh H. Saunderson, president, University of Manitoba, at a reception in his honour after the ceremony. All dressed formally.

Bio/historical note: Robert William Begg, OC (1914-1982) was born in Florenceville, New Brunswick. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of King's College in 1936. He received a Master of Science degree in 1938 and a Doctor of Medicine in 1942 from Dalhousie University. During World War II, he served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps . After the war, he received a Ph.D. from Oxford University. From 1946 to 1950, he taught at Dalhousie University. From 1950 to 1957, he taught at the University of Western Ontario. In 1957, he became head of the Saskatchewan research unit of the National Cancer Institute of Canada, head of the cancer research department at the University of Saskatchewan and taught pathology. In 1962, he became Dean of the College of Medicine and Principal of the Saskatoon campus in 1967. From 1975 to 1980, he was the fifth president of the University of Saskatchewan. In 1976, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his distinguished career in education and for his contributions to cancer research.” Begg died in Saskatoon in 1982 after a lengthy illness.