Some people become legends without knowing it during their lives. Billy the Kid, Jesse James and Wyatt Earp all lived outside the box of mainstream society.
Well, on July 11th, 1928, a local legend came along whose life is full of adventures and daring surprises. Ken Galloway, the mild-mannered druggist from Central Butte, Saskatchewan has a book signing this summer at the Central Butte Seniors Centre on July 11th. The book is about his life and how he too lived his life to the fullest.
“It is not what I did in the pharmacy but my whole life story. Some of the good things and bad things I accomplished,” Ken explained.
Ken officially retired four years ago on his 90th birthday. However, as the President of his company, he is still actively involved in its workings.
His cousin, John Ellis offered to pen Ken’s colourful past for a special surprise on this 90th birthday.
“Well, John Ellis, my cousin, who works for a company called 3 Cedar Enterprises in Toronto, decided to write a book for me as a birthday present for my 90th birthday,” Ken said. “That was 4 years ago and we finally created it.” Ken’s adventures and misadventures range from skiing to piloting his own nine planes and an ultra-light. So many stories and tales to share.
Going back to the beginning, his parents came to Lang, Saskatchewan, and gave birth to Ken on July 11th, 1928. His father was a farmer from Kiev, Russia and his mother was a teacher from the United States. Ken grew up and became a druggist. He settled in Central Butte and opened Galloway’s Pharmacy.
Ken had been married twice and has two sons: Scott Galloway, who became a druggist and took over Galloway’s Pharmacy four years ago and his other son, Keith Galloway from Seattle, Washington, works with ADT.
His biggest success was in skiing. He has won many Saskatchewan championships, and also participated in Canada's first Canadian Winter Games in 1967 in Mount-Sainte-Anne, Quebec.
The places he has visited over the years have included Rome, Vancouver, Las Vegas and Mexico, but none seem to compare to the adventures he had here in Saskatchewan.
“I flew my plane to Vancouver and to Whitefish Montana skiing. And of course, I've been to California a few times and Las Vegas and a short trip to Mexico at one time.”
“When I was in Rockglen, I bought 6 school buses from Moose Jaw and started a school textbook business. I hired 12 people to run the show. I got $35,000 worth of books from the government to sell to schools all over Southern Saskatchewan.”
So from high adventures to some miscalculations, Ken has always smiled and continued to add stories to his life’s adventure story.
He continued, “And then the buses broke down and the employees quit and I lost money. That was the dumbest thing I ever did.”
This year, Ken and his family will rent the Seniors’ Centre at 276 Main Street in Central Butte on July 11th to celebrate his birthday and have his book signing. Everyone is welcome! The books will continue to be available here in Central Butte for $30 and if you call Galloways Pharmacy, you can arrange for signed copies to be shipped directly to you for a small fee.
Happy Jubilee, Ken!
