Tom Joseph Dunphy

DUNPHY, THOMAS JOSEPH, teacher, manager of agricultural exhibition, addictions counsellor, agricultural extension officer, and realtor; b. 12 December 1937 in Peakes Station, son of Thomas E. Dunphy of Peakes and Margaret Curran of St. Teresa's; m. first Rita Kenny; m. secondly 19 May 1978 Marion MacRae-Gillis, and they had four children, Peter, Margaret, Kim Gillis, and Tracey Gillis; Roman Catholic. Dunphy, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1986 for 3,;l Queens. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1989 and 1993. From November 1991 to 15 April 1993, he held the position of Minister of Transportation and Public Works. Dunphy chaired the Transportation and Public Works Committee, and was a member of the Committee on Education, Community Affairs and Justice, Energy and Forestry, Agriculture, Policy Board, and the Rural Development Board. Upon announcing that he would not be a candidate in the 1996 election, Dunphy reflected that the improvements in the provincial road system while he was Minister w'ere a source of pride. In 1983 he was a candidate for the presidency of the provincial Liberal party eventually won by A. E. "Bud" Ings*. Dunphy received his early education at the Peakes and St. Teresa's schools, and graduated in 1953. In 1955 he graduated from St. Dunstan's High School. In 1958 Dunphy graduated from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College with a two-year degree in agricultural studies. Two years later he graduated from Macdonald College at McGill with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture. In 1961 Dunphy worked with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and the following year managed that province's Agricultural Exhibition. Dunphy returned to the Island in 1963 and taught at Morell High School. Later Dunphy taught in Quebec, before returning to the Island to teach at Queen Charlotte. He took a two-year leave of absence from his duties at Queen Charlotte to work as an addictions counsellor with the Queens County Addiction Services. In 1982 he returned to Queen Charlotte. Following his political career he became a realtor. Dunphy was a teacher representative to the Home and School Association and a faculty advisor for Queen Charlotte High School Allied Youth. He also served as a director of the York Community Centre. Tom Dunphy and his wie reside in Donaldston. Marion MacRae-Gillis Dunphy is the daughter of Alex MacRae and Francis Cook.