Hicks, Henry Davies, 1915-1990 : Henry Davies Hicks was born in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia in 1915 to Henry and Annie Hicks. He married his wife, Paulene Agnes, in 1945 with whom he had 2 sons and 2 daughters. Hicks remarried in 1964 after his wife passed away. Hicks began his education at Bridgetown Public School, then attended Mount Allison, Dalhousie University, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar in 1937, St. Anne's College, King's College, University of New Brunswick, Acadia University, and Mount St. Vincent University. Between studies, in 1932, he taught school in Annapolis County. Hicks served overseas with the Royal Canadian Artillery during World War II, seeing service in Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. Called to the bar in 1941, Hicks practised law on discharge from the Army in 1946 at Bridgetown, Nova Scotia.
Hicks first entered politics in 1945, when he was elected to the Nova Scotia legislature by Annapolis County. He would be re-elected several times, in 1949, 1953, and 1954. He was appointed the Minister of Education in September 1949 and then Provincial Secretary, Chairman of the Nova Scotia Power Commission, and Chairman of the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission. Hicks served as Premier of Nova Scotia from 1954 to 1956. He then became the Leader of the Opposition when his government was defeated. He remained Leader of the Oppostition and Leader of the Liberal Party in Nova Scotia until June 1960 when he resigned. He was subsequently appointed Dean of Arts and Science at Dalhousie University. His career in academia would lead to Vice-President from 1961 to 1963, President from 1963 to 1980, and President Emeritus in 1980, all at Dalhousie University. Hicks was called to the Senate of Canada in April 1972 by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Hicks was also active in UNESCO, serving as President from 1963 to 1967, as well as a Canadian delegate to the General Assembly of the United Nations. He was President of the Canadian Bible Society from 1965 to 1968, Member of the Canada Council from 1963 to 1969, and a participant in academic organizations such as the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and the Board of Governors of the University of Guyana from 1970 to 1975.
The Honorable Henry Davies Hicks was invested Companion, The Order of Canada in 1970 for his career in law, provincial politics, and academia. Mr. Hicks and his second wife died in an automobile crash in 1990.
One of Hicks' hobbies was philately. He collected Bermuda stamps and early crown cancellations of the British Empire. He began collecting stamps at the age of 17 and immediately began to specialize in Canadian stamps, however, it was not until World War II that he began to seriously collect the Bermuda stamps. Between collecting and politics, he wrote a forward to The Postal History of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Hicks was a member of British North American Philatelic Society (BNAPS), the Essay Proof Society, the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC), the Canadian Postal Museum Advisory Committee, and the Nova Scotia Stamp Club. He was also elected Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society of London and once served as their Director.
