Karl Kenneth Homuth, MPP

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88678303
• Interesting: politics, business
• Name: Carl K. Homuth
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-352707
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Karl was referred to as Mr. Canada and Mr. Preston. In 1910 he worked for George Pattinson and Co. textile manufacturers. He in 1917 moved to the Otto Homuth Wool Stock Co., established by his father in 1911. In took over in 1928 after the death of his father. At age 22 he was elected to Preston Council. He in 1919 was elected as MPP for Waterloo South and was reelected in 1923,1926, and 1929. He resigned in 1930 to run unsuccessfully for Federal Parliament. He was elected as MP for Waterloo South in 1940, 1945 and 1949 and died in 1951 in office.

Cambridge Mosaic , Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [abbreviated snippet from original text in book]

_______________

COLORFUL M.P. WAS 58
Karl K. Homuth Dies Suddenly in Ottawa

Karl K. Homuth, 58, Progressive Conservative member of Par liament for Waterloo South, died suddenly today in Ottawa.

In indifferent health for two years, the veteran parliamentar ian was stricken in his hotel room and taken to hospital. His assoc iates said he was pronounced dead on being examined there and that death was believed due to attack.

Found Lying on Bed

Reg Werlich of Preston came to Ottawa on the Toronto train this morning for a business appointment with Mr. Homuth. He called Mr. Homuth's room at the Chateau Laurier about 8 a.m. and Mr. Homuth said: "I'm shaving, come on up. When Mr. Werlich got up there, Mr. Hamuth was lying on the bed and saying he had pain across his chest.

However, Mr. Homuth said "It'll pass and we'll have breakfast to gether." But about 9 am, he said "You'd better call a doctor."

The doctor ordered him to hospital. The ambulance left about 9:20 with Mr. Werlich going along When Mr. Homuth was examined at the Civic Hospital, he was dead, Burial will take place in Preston

Unable to Attend

He had been unable to attend Parliament most of this session so far and arrived in the capital only last Thursday. Associates said Mr. Homuth has recently had influenza and they believed he got up out of a sick bed too early because of the press of business connected with his wool-reclaiming plant at Preston, He made a business trip to Ren frew Saturday.

Mr. Homuth, son of one of the pioneer families of Waterloo County, was one of Parliament's most colorful figures almost from the time he was elected in a 1938 by-election.

Battled Liberals

Big, irrepressible and gifted with a rasping voice, he often took on groups of Liberal members in word battles raging as side-issues through House of Commons debates. Then he would head down to Waterloo County on the weekends to look after his business and to teach Sunday school in the Lutheran Church.

However, a throat operation two years ago limited his oratory and his attendance in the Commons.

He had a long career of public service, starting with the Preston Municipal Council in 1917. He moved up to the Ontario Legislature in 1919 and the federal Parliament in 1938.

Born in Preston

Born in Preston where he received his elementary education, he subsequently graduated from Galt Collegiate and Galt Business College. In 1910 he entered the firm of George Pattinson and Co., Preston, manufacturers of wool.

Toward the close of 1917, Mr. Homuth severed his connections with the Pattinson firm to take charge of the Otto Homuth Wool Stock Co., which was established by his father in Preston. Following the death of Mr. Homuth, Sr., in 1928 the business was reorganised and Mr. Homuth was elected president.

First Elected at 21

Active in aftairs of Preston for many years, Mr. Homuth was only 21 when he was elected to the Preston Municipal Council as an alderman, the youngest Preston man ever to hold such a post. He remained in council for three years serving on many committees. Mr. Homuth had been active in many Preston organizations, including the Board of Trade. His work and influence was largely responsible in bringing a number of industries to Preston.

When Mr. Homuth was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1919 as a Labor representative for South Waterloo, he was only 24 years old. He was re-elected on a Conservative ticket in 1923 and subsequently unseated when the election was voided. It was established rural ratepayers in the riding whose names were not on the voters' list had cast ballots in the election. The original vote gave Mr. Homuth a majority of 13 votes and a recount increased this margin to 15. In the by-election called in 1924 he was re-elected by a majority of 2,700.

Defeated by Euler

Mr. Homuth held this seat as a Conservative representative until 1930 when he resigned to contest the North Waterloo seat against Hon. W. D. Euler, now a senator, by whom he was defeated. In the South Waterloo federal election on Nov. 14, 1938, necessitated by the death of Alex M. Edward, Conservative, Mr. Homuth was elected to Parliament by a plurality of 4,162.

In the 1940 federal election, he was again returned to Parliament, defeating P. J. Flynn, Liberal, and Vardon Latsch, C.C.F. Mr. Homuth repeated an election victory over Mr. Flynn in 1945. He was returned to office again on June 27, 1949, in the federal vote. His majority over Mel Moffat, Galt Liberal, was only 344.

Married in 1914

The veteran parliamentarian was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Preston and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, He married Minnie Rahn in Preston on Oct. 21, 1914. Their residence is at 441 Margaret St.

He was also active in organizing various sports organizations an Preston.

Mr. Homuth was the fourth of a family of 11 children. Two brothers died from the effects of service in the First World War. Surviving are his wife; a son. Robert, Preston; two daughters, Mrs. Donald (Margaret) Cockburn, Preston, and Mrs. Andrew (Mildred) LeRoy, Port Credit.

Third House Vacancy

His death creates the third vacancy in the House of Commons. The other two vacancies are Brandon and Queen's P.E.I.

Present standing in the 262-seat House is: Liberals, 185; Progressive Conservatives, 42; C.C.F, 13 Social Credit, 10; Independent, five; Independent Liberal, four; vacant, three.

In tribute to Mr. Homuth, George Drew, Progressive Conservative leader, said his death had come as a great shock.

Gave Great Service

"He gave great and immeasurable service to his own community, his province, and Canada, for the greater part of his life. Few men have ever devoted their time more fully to the service of their own people.

"His loss will be greatly felt in the Commons and across the whole country where his genial disposition had won him a host of friends."

Kitchener-Waterloo Record 19 Mar 1951, Mon Page 1 & 6

Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region:
Homuth was posthumously inducted in the Hall of Fame for his lifelong dedication to politics. In 1917 he was a member of the Preston Town Council. In 1938, he won the Waterloo South riding for the Conservatives and held his seat until he died in office in 1951.

Karl married Minnie Augusta Rahn 21 Oct 1914, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Minnie (daughter of Heinrich "Henry" Rahn and Augusta Tuletski) was born 8 Feb 1895, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 15 Jul 1979, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Margaret — W. Donald Cockburn. [Group Sheet]