Harrison McCain Dead At 76

Harrison McCain, co-founder and founding chairman of McCain Foods Ltd., died last Thursday, March 18, in a Boston clinic. He had been in declining health for some time.

He directed the growth of McCain Foods for 45 years as it grrew from a small french fry processsing operation in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Can, to the world's largest producer of french fries and a $6.4 billion-a-year international frozen food firm.

He is survived by a son, Mark, of Toronto; three daughters, Ann Evans, Toronto, Laura McCain Jensen, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., Gilliam McCain, New York; a brother, Wallace McCain, Toronto; a sister, Marie Sutherland, Woodstock, NB, and three grandsons. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marion (McNair), son, Peter, brothers, Robert and Andrew, and a sister, Eleanor Johnson.

A native of Florenceville, NB, Harrison was born Nov. 3, 1927, the son of Andrew D. McCain, a pioneer seed potato exporter, and Laura (Perley) McCain. He graduated from Florenceville High School and attended Acadia University where he obtained a bachelor of arts degree in economics in 1949.

After several years in sales with Irving Oil Ltd, McCain left at the age of 29 to pursue an independent career. On May 24, 1966, the four McCain Brothers--Andrew, Robert, Harrison and Wallace, founded McCain Foods Ltd. Harrison and Wallace assumed active management roles in the new company while older brothers, Andrew and Robert, became directors.

During his 45 years in the food industry, McCain received many honors for his achievements, including an honorary life member of the Potato Association of America.

In 1994 he was recognized with the World Potato Congress award. He was the inaugural recipeint of Quick Frozen Foods International magazine's Golden Ice Crystal Award in 1997 as well as many other awards.