MELANSON, RICHARD E. (DICK) Richard Edgar (Dick) Melanson, Diploma, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, 1941; BSc. Agricultural Engineering, MacDonald College (McGill Univerisity) 1943 of Moncton, New Brunswick, passed away peacefully after a long illness, on May 31. Born to Walter A.S. Melanson and Leona Gordon Rayworth on April 9, 1923 and raised in Moncton, Dick was widely known throughout the farm machinery and irrigation communities of Canada and the US, but in particular in his native Maritimes. After service in the Canadian Army during the war where he held the rank of Lieutenant, he went to work with Cockshutt Farm Machinery in Truro, Nova Scotia and then in Brantford, Ontario. In 1957, Dick returned to his native Maritimes as the regional representative of Farmers' Supply and Equipment Ltd. In 1963, with the encouragement and support of his wife Jean, he established his own company, Maritime Farm Supply Limited, distributing farm and garden equipment and irrigation systems as well as highly specialized machinery which would assist farmers to become more efficient in planting and harvesting their crops. In later years, his expertise in the design of irrigation systems placed him in a class by himself. While he made numerous contributions to the agricultural industry in Atlantic Canada over the course of his career, one of his best known achievements was the creation of the Atlantic Farm Mechanization Show, the first being held in 1975. 2005 marked the 30th anniversary of this highly successful trade show in which he played a continuing role until his retirement in 1995. Nominated by the Agricultural Producers of New Brunswick, he was inducted into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2005. Dick was a man who lived life large, with great style and humor. There are few farm gates in the Maritimes that he did not enter and where he was not received with affection and respect. He valued honesty and integrity in business above all and expected that all who worked with him do the same. He had a keen interest in fly-fishing which he pursued in many Maritime rivers, but never more happily than with his friends in the Aesculapius Fishing Club in the Miramichi. Predeceased by his wife Jean McOuat Melanson in 1998, Dick is survived by four children; Anne Crocker (Myron Gochnauer), Christie (Dan Goodyear), John and Elizabeth (Paul Rusnock). He also leaves eleven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter and his special friend, Francena Hubbard. He will be greatly missed by the family of whom he was so proud. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 9, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Bernard's Church, 43 Botsford Street, Moncton, NB. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, those who wish make a donation to the Canadian Diabetes Association or to Moncton Head Start (Tel: (506) 858-8252, Fax: (506) 857-3170, E-mail: headstart@nb.aibn.com). Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Fair Haven Funeral Home, 1177 Salisbury Road, Moncton, E1E 3V9, (506) 852-3530