Cy Hampson Dr. Cyril (Cy) G. Hampson Born: Lacombe, Alberta, May 1914 Died: Red Deer, Alberta, July 1997 Cy was a teacher during the Great Depression, later teaching at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. An avid wildlife observer, researcher, photographer and writer, Professor Hampson (or "Cy" as he preferred) spent 42 years in the classroom. He wrote his Ph.D. thesis on the northern flying squirrel - (Hampson, C.G. 1966. Locomotion and some associated morphology in the northern flying squirrel. PhD. dissertation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, 229 pp.). An infectiously enthusiastic teacher, many former students have expressed the special part Cy played in their years at school or university. His prolific writing skills produced many fine articles on natural history topics for various magazines and for a weekly column in the local newspaper. Books written by Cy include "Into the Woods Beyond" (1971) - which details his study of various wild animals and is aimed at the younger crowd (although enjoyed by all ages), "With Ptarmigan and Tundra Wolves" (1991), a look at the animals who spend their lives in the arctic, and "All Sorts - All Shorts" (1997), a collection of short stories for adults. During his tenure at the University of Alberta, Cy also wrote and voiced school broadcasts over the radio, later producing school telecasts. In 1973, Cy and his wife Mary formed Cymar Films Ltd. The natural world, and all its inhabitants, was very important to Cy, and it showed in many of his endeavours. Cy and Mary went on many trips and photographed the fauna and flora in different parts of the world. Mary assisted Cy in much of his work, acting as film developer, photographer, cinematographer, editor, squirrel handler and "chief cook and bottle washer". Cy Hampson   Cy and Mary Hampson