George

During the second World War, George served from 1940-46 in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps ending up as a Regimental Sergeant Major, W.O. 1. When the war was over, he and Captain James L. Cooke went across Canada selling surplus army vehicles. Many a prairie farmer bought a used Jeep or army truck to help on the farm.

From 1946-48, he worked for Barrington Rubber and Plastics, Company in Oakville, but joined James Cooke in 1949 at James L. Cooke Motors, Ltd. in Toronto. When the company bought Toledo Motors in Montreal, George moved in as Manager of Cooke-Toledo Motors and became sole owner in 1960. He sold the business and retired to the farm in the Eastern Townships of Quebec near Brome.

While in Montreal, George sold English cars for Jaguar and Leyland Motors. Jim and Madeline bought a Morris Minor convertible from him and Cooke-Toledo was the source of the red MGA that I drove until my family outgrew it –that is, until there were more than two of us.