IN MEMORIUM
LOUIS "SCOOP" LEWRY (1919-1992)
by Jerry Remick

Louis Harrinqtan "Scoop" Lewry, eleven times Mayor of Moose
Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, Member of the Order of Canada, recipient
of the Royal Canadian Mint Award for numismatic education in
1982, and Past President of the Canadian Numismatic Association
(1987-1989) died of a heart attack in a Moose Jaw hospital on
February 24, 1992. He was 72 years of age, and could almost
certainly be called one of Canada's most illustrious, colorful,
and active numismatists.

Known to all his friends as "Scoop", a nickname he got
during his early days gathering news for a local Moose Jaw radio
station, he was also known to the citizens of his beloved Moose
Jaw as "Mr. Moose Jaw".

From 1988 to 1991, he was in ill health and spent much of
this time recoverinq his health in Arizona. Recover his health he
did, and at the time of his death he was planning on re-entering
the political scene in Moose Jaw.

A memorial round wood for "Scoop* is being made by 93 year
old numismatist and friend of Scoop, Walter Louden, 1498 Joy Road,
Mascouche Heights, Quebec, Canada, J7L 2K3. Specimens will bc
available to Canadian residents for a self stamped addressed
envelope, and for those livinq outside Canada for $0.50.

"Scoop" Lewry was born April 16, 1919,
in Moose Jaw, the fourth son in a family of
four boys and a girl. "My mother, Louise,
wanted a girl and I turned out wrong, but
she named me Louis anyway", "Scoop" once
informed me.

Lewry's first employment was at
Radio Staiion CHAB in Moose Jaw where he
started the first local radio news gathering 
service in Saskatchewan in 1938. He
also worked with the Moose Jaw Times Herald 
and Regina Leader Post, daily newspapers, 
and at one time operated his own
weekly newspaper "Western Spotlight".
"I lost my shirt", was "Scoop's" only
comment on this short-lived venture. He
acquired his nickname "Scoop" for his
years of association with the news media.

Re was elected an Alderman of the
City of Moose Jaw for 1948 and 1949, and served as the first native
born and youngest Mayor in the City's history, as well as the longest
term. His first term as Mayor started in 1950 at the age of
31, "Scoop" was 11 times Mayor of Moose Jaw, retiring at 60 in
1988. To "Scoop" one of his greatest accomplishments and an early
one was open city council meetings. "Scoop" loved people and aided
many in solving personal problems. "When you go down the street
and little kids and old ladies call you "Scoop" that means something"
Lewry once remarked.

"Scoop" served as Member of Canadian Parliament for Moose Jaw
Lake Center (for the CCF Party) from 1957-1958 and lost the election 
when Diefenbaker and his Tories came to power in 1958.

Lewsy was married to his first wife Jean for 45 years until
her death in 1986. That marriage produced five children. In 1988,
he married the former Edie Hill.

Scoop was a member of Moose Jaw Public Board of Education
from 1966-1971, serving as Chairman 1969-1971. He also served as
President of Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association in 1956
during his first term as Mayor, and as Vice-President in 1966-1970
during his second term.

"Scoop" Lewry was made a member of the Order of Canada in June
1980, and was honored by his native city in November 1980, when
City Council presented him with their "Medal of Merit", which had
been awarded to only four citizens previously. He was also named
honorary president, Saskatchewan Command, Army, Navy and Airforce
Veterans in Canada.

He was 1980 Chairman of The Celebrate Saskatchewan Committee
for Moose Jaw, and was President of the Moose Jaw Wild Animal Park
Society for 25 years.

In 1981, he was Chairman of the Moose Jaw Committee of the
International Year of Disabled Persons.

He served 17 years as member of the Saskatchewan Local Government 
Board. This board is considered quasi-judicial in that it
regulates the debt of municipalities, school boards, hospitals, and
other local governing authorities in Saskatchewan.

In 1982 he was named Chairman of the Committee to mark the
100th Anniversary of the founding of Moose Jaw. The City was
founded when the CP Rail reached there in 1882.

He was named to the Provincial Heritage Committee for 1985,
and in 1985 was Chairman of the Moose Jaw local committee for
Saskatchewan Heritage.

A great honor to "Scoop" was that he was re-elected for his
11th and last term as Mayor of Moose Jaw in October 1985 by acclamation.

During the 1980's "Scoop" served on 35 local community committees.
"Scoop" put Moose Jaw on the map. He was often outspoken and
even at times during his early days as Mayor "hot-headed", but he
got things done for the good of the people of Moose Jaw.

Scoop's hobbies were woodworking and numismatics. He gave very
generously of his time as a guest speaker to numerous Coin Clubs
throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Lewry had held memberships in the following numismatic organizations:
Token and Medal Society, Canadian Paper Money Society,
American Numismatic Association, Association of Personalized Medal
Issuers, and four Wooden Money Collector Associations. Until it was
disbanded in July 1989, he was Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian
Cents Club and Editor of the Journal.

He was President of the Canadian Numismatic Association from
1987-1989.

As well, Lewry was Chairman of Coin Week Canada from 1980-1983,
In 1982, he founded Coin Week North America which later evolved
into World Coin Week. He issued letter paper each year for World
Coins Week and did his best to promote this event in a number of
countries having coin collectors associations.

Lewry's list of numismatic accomplishments is enormous, considering 
he did not start collecting coins and tokens until 1968.
He told me that he did not put them in any order for about 10
years, when finally he purchased albums and two by two's and really
got into the hobby. He collected woods, Canadian Proof Sets, some
U.S.A. and foreign coins, lapel pins, post cards, hats, tokens,
and as he once told me "almost everything".

Since 1978, he has issued over 70 different wooden nickels, a
few of them flats. Typical of "Scoop" was his kind habit of
pressing his current issue of woods into the palm of the hand of
almost anybody he met, collector or non-collector. He always had
woods in his pocket to give out--sometimes several issues.

In 1982, Lewry issued a bronze medal made in Taiwan, the same
size as a large Canadian cent. His portrait is on thc obverse
side. The Canadian Large Cents Club and Coin Week, two institutions 
that were so dear to him, are mentioned on the reverse side.
About 200 specimens were struck.

In the summer of 1985, "Scoop" issued a 38 mm personal medal
with the new logo of the Canadian Cents Club (designed by myself)
on the obverse side. His personal reverse die with his name, 
address and "CO-ORDINATOR WORLD COIN WEEK" are on the reverse side. A
total of 100 specimens of the 38 mm medal (made by Pressed Meta1
Products) were issued on antiqued blanks of copper, gold plated
copper and silver plated copper. About 100 specimens were struck.

In 1988, he issued his last 38 mm personalized medal showing
the C.N.A. Members logo on one side and his name, address, and
"PRESIDENT C.N.A. 1987-1989" on thc reverse side. One hundred
specimens were struck as follows on antiqued blanks: 34 silver
plated copper, 33 gold plated copper, and 33 copper. Pressed Metal
Products of Vancouver, Canada struck the medal.

In 1982, he issued scrip for Moose Jaw's Centennial, and in
1983 another issue of scrip for Coin Week.

"Scoop" also designed three flat wood trade pieces in two die
varieties or denominations 25 cent, 50 cent and $1, for the 1982 Moose
Jaw Centennial. They were valid in Moose Jaw and are on thick wood.

"Scoop" also helped organize Moose Jaw's 1982 Trade Dollar
Program and encouraged the City's Chamber of Commerce for several
years to continue with their issue of Moose Jaw Trade Dollars.

"Scoop" Lewry was a 20th Century Man of the People who was
loved and respected by his fellow men. During his lifetime, "Scoop"
did a great deal to promote and popularize Moose Jaw and the hobby
of coin collecting. Unfortunately, he leaves no single replacement 
behind. We must all carry on his enthusiasm for the hobby and
his promotion of it.

by JEROME H. REMICK
BOX 9183 STE-FOY, P.Q., CANADA, G1V 4B1

Source: http://www.the-ona.ca/ON/V31.13.Full%20Year.1992.pdf

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