George Renner is seen in this 1989 file photo. The former six-term alderman with the City of Medicine Hat died on Thursday at the age of 88.--News File Photo
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
George Renner, the downtown business leader who was elected to three straight city council terms in the 1960s, then again to another three terms in the 1990s, died on Thursday.
The longtime owner of Rosery Florists, and father to former city MLA Rob Renner, was 88. A funeral service is planned for Tuesday.
He was remembered on Friday by former council colleagues as a man who served and promoted the city that he dearly loved.
“It was a step further than being proud of a community,” said Coun. Julie Friesen, who served on council with Renner from 1991 to 2001. “There was a passion to serve the community and give back.”
Friesen said that spirit and boosterism for Medicine Hat and the city centre in particular was embodied in the whole family.
Renner’s wife, Thelma, passed away in 2014.
The couple had three children and together opened the Rosery Florist in 1951 when George was just 20.
Within five years they expanded, and then operated the enterprise for more than 40 years, with son Rob eventually joining in the management.
In public service, George Renner was a “strong leader” who was concerned with the opinions of others in his decision making, said Friesen.
“He was a very strong leader,” said Friesen. “Very strong business people and staunch advocate of the importance and strength of downtown core and a strong advocate of the City of Medicine Hat, and the opportunities we had in a beautiful city. And he never failed to remind people of that.”
Renner was elected to council at age 35 in 1966, topping the polls as a first-time candidate. At the time, elections were held annually to fill half the aldermanic with staggered two-year terms.
He won three elections before declining to run again in 1971.
Outside politics he served as president of the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede and the junior Chamber of Commerce, as well as floral industry associations.
He returned to politics as a candidate for mayor in 1989 on a platform of returning surpluses in the city’s gas department to citizens through rate reductions.
He returned as an alderman in 1992 and remained on council until a “second retirement” prior to the 2001 election.
“You want to win more than you lose,” he joked in the News at the time regarding his decision not to run.
