Odds ‘n’ sods: Bill Bouck – legal eagle

William Bouck was a low-key but influential lawyer, who tended to work behind the scenes. I can remember him being in the Elliot Lake and Blind River area of Ontario only once — at the opening ceremonies of the Pronto mine in his capacity as president of Preston East Dome Mines and Pronto Mines.

As mentioned in previous columns, I had the good fortune, in 1954, of being transferred to Toronto by famed prospector Franc Joubin (1911-1997). I mostly worked for Joubin, while, at the same time, reporting to Joseph Hirshhorn (1899-1981) and Bouck. My first office was in the Preston East Dome Mines headquarters, in an old four-storey building on Adelaide Street. I think the building is still standing (or leaning) and may be headed for antiquity.

Bouck’s law firm was one floor above me. To make it more interesting, Arthur Stollery’s (1914-1994) lawyer, Willard Gordon, headed up another law firm on the next floor.

I found Bouck to be pleasant and unpretentious. At our first meeting, he instructed me to let him know immediately of any information from the field. He added: “Break into my office anytime, no matter who is here.” With only one set of stairs to climb, this became a rather convenient arrangement and provided a chance to learn something of the private side of Bouck.

Bouck was not a young man at this stage of life, and neither were his partners or his secretaries. The most striking feature of his office was a huge desk stacked high with files, books and papers, with only enough room for his writing pad and telephone. How could anyone function like this, I wondered. The answer soon presented itself. Whenever Bouck requested a file, his secretary immediately proceeded to the appropriate pile and pulled out Bouck’s request. She knew where everything was. I’m sure it was a long and efficient relationship.

On another occasion, I interrupted Bouck and his secretary while he was dictating an option agreement off the top of his head — without the aid of computers, boiler plates or cross-references. I had heard him described as a brilliant lawyer, and I was beginning to understand it was true.

Bouck had several Asian clients who liked to do business in cash. I am quite sure it was also a matter of trust and goodwill. I was present at one of these meetings. The Asian gentleman, who was rather short, sat across the desk from Bouck, who, incidentally, was also diminutive. It was like watching a tennis match as I stood at the side of the desk observing the two men. Both men were bouncing up and down from their seats in order to see each other over the stacks of files as they discussed business.

Bouck established himself in the industry when a prominent, successful mining engineer named Doug Wright, who passed away in 1949, informed Hirshhorn of a gold property in the porcupine area, north of Timmins. Despite the general skepticism surrounding the property’s potential, Hirshhorn, with the legal help of Bouck, backed Wright for the original drilling. This venture eventually led to the highly successful Preston East Dome Mines gold operations — a major source of capital for the Blind River and Elliot Lake development. As the camp evolved, Bouck became an integral member of the Joubin-Hirshhorn team. Joubin referred to Bouck as having a “brilliantly analytical legal mind” and described him as the group’s “conscience, guide and director.” Henceforth, Bouck was always there, through to the Rio Tinto Zinc takeover in 1955.

Next week: Earl Gillanders.

The author resides in Barrie, Ont.