Long-time Tory MLA dies

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He was a nice guy. A great guy. IF you ran into him at a cafe somewhere along the highway, he would take the time to linger and talk.

On Dec. 20, Alberta laid to rest one of its favorite sons. Al "Boomer" Adair, 67, a 22-year Progressive Conservative Member of the Legislative Assembly, died of a heart attack on Dec. 24.

Among the several hundred at his funeral in Peace River were people from all walks of life, right on up to long-time friends Premier Ralph Klein and former-premier Peter Lougheed, who acknowledged him as "a giant of a man; a friend for life."

Current government member Pearl Calahasen praised him as "an individual who cared and (who) was definitely a supporter of Aboriginal issues." She further hailed his involvement in bringing water and sewage to small communities, having northern roads paved and trying to peacefully help resolve the (1987) Lubicon protest.

Mention Adair's name to anyone and they have nothing but good things to say about him. He was called to Calahasen the lovable, unflappable and friendly "original voice of the North." She went on to say that he was her mentor, one who took her under her wing when she was a rookie politician ? just as he'd done with Klein.

"A helluva guy," were the sentiments of long-time friend Herb Belcourt. Adair, he added, told him there always had to be people like (Belcourt) as examples of success to others. He recalled the time Adair had promised him that his government would kick in half the cost of a van for Native seniors from Gunn if Belcourt could raise the other half. And, true to his word, he did.

As long as he wasn't already booked for something else, he'd attend numerous Native functions on request, even sports events in small communities. Sometimes, he and former-premier Don Getty went hunting together.

In1991, Adair had to undergo a quintuple heart bypass operation. He never fully recovered.