John Reginald Rhodes

John Reginald Rhodes (September 26, 1929 – September 25, 1978) was a Canadian broadcaster and politician. He served as the 19th mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and as an Ontario cabinet minister. He died in office while on an official visit to the Middle East in 1978.

Background Rhodes was born September 26, 1929, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the son of John Francis Rhodes, a municipal employee. He received his education at Sault Collegiate Institute, but quit in grade 11. After working at the chromium plant at Algoma Steel, he became a municipal police officer, the second youngest at the time, rising to the rank of sergeant.

In 1955, he married Vivian Louise Shook. The couple had three children.

In 1957, Rhodes was hired as an on-air announcer at CJIC radio. He had worked part-time at the station while in high school and once told an interviewer that he was offered the full-time job after stopping by the station just to get out of the cold one morning. He was re-elected in 1975 and 1977. In this role, he opposed a seat belt law and helmets for moped drivers. He allowed the paving of Toronto's Spadina Expressway from Lawrence to Eglinton.

In October 1975 he was shuffled to the Minister of Housing. In January 1978 he was moved to the Minister of Industry and Tourism.

As the principal minsiter responsible for economic development and job creation, Rhodes took a global view and was credited to this pronouncement in response to concerns about job loss to international competition, according to Queen's Park press gallary veteran Eric Dowd:

Death Rhodes died in Tehran, Iran on September 25, 1978, one day short of his 49th birthday.

Speaking to the media that day, a shaken Premier Davis said "Mr. Rhodes was a very dear friend of mine, an able public servant who served his constituency. And for those of us who knew him, he had a great sensitivity along with a sense of humor. He did a great job in three different cabinet posts." New Democrat leader Michael Cassidy said, he was an "engaging fellow who played the political game with an enormous amount of gusto. He enjoyed respect from all sides of the house."

Long-serving council member Tom Angus said "There's no way to sum up what the loss of John Rhodes is going to mean. He did a great deal for the city, as well as the province. He was a great friend."

Sault Ste. Marie's John Rhodes Community Centre is named for him. The John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

In 1979, Algoma University established a scholarship in Rhodes' name "awarded to a high school graduate who embodies the integrity, leadership, and commitment to community service demonstrated by Rhodes throughout his life as a broadcaster, community member, and politician."

From 1981 to 2004, the John R. Rhodes Driver Examination Centre operated in Malton, Ontario.

He was named posthumously to the Sault Ste. Marie Walk of Fame in September 2007.

Electoral record

Cabinet positions