Researching Donald Mcpherson

Donald McPherson started to skate with the age of 4. He represented the Stratford Figure Skating Club in Ontario, and was coached by Dennis Silverthorne. He won the 1963 World Figure Skating Championships at the age of 18, becoming the youngest men's World Champion. McPherson won his World title skating on an unusual pair of skates with small serrations in the blades.

Following that win, he turned professional, starring in Dick Button's Ice-Travanganza at the 1964 New York World's Fair. He also toured for 11 years for Holiday on Ice, and won the 1965 World Professional Figure Skating Championships.

He was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1963 and the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1996.

Donald McPherson was inducted into the Stratford Sports Hall of Fame in the Athlete's Section on Saturday April 16, 2011 along with Howie Morenz, Larry Landreth and Jodeyne Higgins' Also inducted were the 1977 JS News Peewees Baseball team and the 1952 Stratford Indians Senior Men's Hockey team in the Team Category. Denis 'Dinny' Flanagan was inducted in the builder's category.

Later in life, he moved to Munich, Germany. He died of complications arising from diabetes in Munich on November 24, 2001.

McPherson continues contributing to fashion magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, New York Times Magazine, Vogue Nippon and Russian Vogue.

McPherson's clients include Valentino, Lacoste, Barney's, Max Mara, Paul Smith, Levi's, Hanes, Estée Lauder, Fila, Canon, Sony, Saks Fifth Avenue, Target, Lux and Badgley Mischka.

McPherson has worked with numerous celebrities, including David Bowie, Beastie Boys, Gwen Stefani, Ashton Kutcher, Matthew Modine, Grace Jones, Duchess of York, Jason Schwartzman, Sophia Bush, Ashley Tisdale, Adrien Brody, Sophie Dahl, Maggie Gyllenhaal, A Tribe Called Quest, Tom Cruise, Carolina Herrera, Fisherspooner, Chingy, Hanson, Keira Knightley, New Order, The Strokes and Stephen Sprouse.

He was born in Regina, Saskatchewan and was educated there, going on to study agriculture at the University of Manitoba. He served with The Fort Garry Horse and the 10th Canadian Armoured Regiment during World War II and received the Croix de Guerre with Étoile de Vermeil (Silver Star).

In 1949, he became a director for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). From 1956 to 1957, McPherson served as the club's president and he continued to serve on the team's management committee until his death. He was also president of the CFL in 1959, president of the Canadian Rugby Union in 1963 and president of the Western Football Conference in 1965. McPherson chaired a committee to reorganize the management of the BC Lions in 1962, receiving a lifetime membership in that football club for his efforts.

McPherson was president of a number of companies, including McPherson and Thom Ltd. of Regina, McPherson and Thom Ltd. of Alberta, Western Welding of Saskatoon and Regina Tire Mart. He also served as a director for several companies, including Carling Breweries, the Bank of Western Canada and Prairie Metal Products Ltd. In 1966, he was named Saskatchewan Salesman of the Year by the Regina Sales and Marketing Club.

A farm owner, McPherson raised purebred Aberdeen Angus cattle.

From 1953 to 1958, he was a member of Regina city council. McPherson was a member of the board of governors for the Regina General Hospital. He helped establish the United Way in Regina and served as president of the city's United Appeal in 1961.

McPherson served as Opposition whip in the Saskatchewan assembly. He died in office at the age of 54.

McPherson was named to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a builder in 1983 and to the Saskatchewan Roughriders Plaza of Honor in 1988.