OBITUARIES — McClelland helped Placer grow

The last of Placer Development’s early builders, Thomas McClelland, died recently here at his home. He was 84.

McClelland earned a mining engineering degree at Berkeley, Calif., and learned the practical side of mining as a mucker, millman, engineer and superintendent in Oregon, Colorado and Brazil. He joined the Placer organization in 1937.

He became president and chief executive officer of Placer Development, now known as Placer Dome, in 1964. In 1975, he became chairman and retired eight years later.

As president and chairman, McClelland led Placer on to the world stage, guiding the company through a period of dramatic growth. During this period, the company started a momentous shift from base metals mines (Craigmont, Endako and Gibraltar) to precious metals operations (Cortez, Golden Sunlight and Kidston).