Randolph gave much to his community

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Roy Randolph, an Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA) board member, passed away at 65 years of age on March 7.

As a community-minded individual, Randolph had a lengthy history of involvement with Native organizations and helped better their lives. He joined the AMMSA board in 1984 and became the second president of the Aboriginal Radio and Television Society (ARTS) in October 1985. He was also a member of the Fort Vermilion Bicentennial publicity committee and held the Olympic flame, one of his last formal duties when it traveled through the community in February.

Randolph resided on an acreage on the outskirts of Fort Vermilion. Hi place became something of a stopping point for travelers and visitors because he and his wife, Helen, were known for their abundant hospitality. Guests were always welcomed warmly to their northern home. It was a region of the province he loved dearly and which was a part of him at all times despite his years of residence in Edmonton.

Born Isadore Rudolf LeFleur Oct. 22, 1922, he attended St. Henry's Mission at the Fort, leaving there in 1935 to strike out for Edmonton. At 17, though under age, he joined the war effort in 1940. To get on the roster he had to tell a white lie and it was then that he changed his name to Roy Randolph. He was stationed in continental Europe and saw action shortly after the famous D-day invasion on the shores of France, near Cannes in '44 with the Calgary Highlanders. Other countries in which he served included Holland, Belgium and Germany.

In August of '45 he returned to Canada where, one year later, he met his wife whom he married five months later. Edmonton became their home where he spent 26 years with the city fire department, retiring in 1977 as captain. During those years he'd been a member of their championship provincial shuffleboard team. He was also a board member of the department's credit union and build booths for Edmonton's first burn treatment society telethon.

Before retiring in 1977, he had served on the board of the Canadian Native Friendship Centre. He then returned to Fort Vermilion, to the land of his ancestors, where he lived in an old log house while constructing a large, new frame home for his family. When completed about two years ago, it was the fifth such structure he had built for family members.

Besides his loving wife Helen, Randolph is survived by his mother Alice Menz and his stepfather John Menz, as well as three daughters ? Rose, Ruth and Patricia; two sons ? Allen and Roy; and three foster children ? Linda Piche, Dwayne Desjarlais and Gerald Ward. A fourth foster child was the late Joe Desjarlais.