Earl Joseph Devine, who died in Oakville, Ont., Aug 29 after a lengthy illness, worked until a year ago as field superintendent with the Harrison Group. He was 74.
He had been with the Harrison Group for more than 40 years and had a long and eventful mining career. Among his accomplishments was the setting of a Canadian record while sinking a shaft at Elliot Lake, Ont., in 1958 and setting a North American drifting record at Pipe Lake, Ont., in 1961.
From 1957 to 1971, Mr Devine was superintendent at the International Nickel mine in Thompson, Man., where he co-ordinated the efforts of more than 650 employees, sinking 13 shafts and making it the largest mining operation in the world. At that time, he was general superintendent of the largest underground development contract in the history of mining.
He played a significant role at several mines from as far west as the Yukon and as far east as Iles de Madeleine. In his career, Mr Devine had been below the 5,000-ft level underground and had accomplished every phase of mining.
Before entering the mining industry, Mr Devine had fond memories of playing hockey with stars such as Toe Blake, Max Silverman and Frank Bloy while with the Sudbury Junior Wolves and was later scouted by the Montreal Maroons.
He is survived by his wife and four daughters.
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