WALTER P. THOMPSON was born in southern Ontario in 1889. After studying biology at the universities of Toronto and Harvard, he joined the faculty of The University of Saskatchewan. He was appointed junior dean of arts in 1933, became senior dean of arts in 1939, and in 1949 president of the university, a post which he held until his retirement ten years later. In addition, he has been president of the Royal Society of Canada (1948), a member of the National Research Council and recipient of the Flavelle medal, president of the National Conference of Canadian Universities (1954-5), and Companion of the Order of Canada (1968). He has received honourary degrees from ten universities and was chairman of the Saskatchewan Advisory Planning Commission of Medical Care. He is the author of Graduate Education in the Sciences in Canadian Universities and Medical Care: Programs and Issues.