Cliff Hoskins was born in 1906 at Coleman, South Dakota and as a young boy moved
to Canada near Viking in Alberta. In
1936 he worked in the oilfield in Fort McMurray.
Encouraged by his brother-in-law, Charlie Mills, and because of increased
oil exploration in the area, Cliff moved to Lloydminster.
Charlie Mills was also instrumental in bringing Joe Gallagher to Lloydminster.
Joe, who was born and raised in Viking, had grown up there near Cliff.
The two friends formed a partnership and set up a machine shop which was
situated where the Atrium Centre is
today.
The business, called Hoskins and Gallagher, serviced all aspects of the oil
industry as well as any farm requirements and drew customers for miles around
Lloydminster. When a part was not available Cliff and Joe simply assembled one
to replace it. Eventually the business was sold to Slim Thorpe and Dave McAuley
and became known as Universal Industries.
Cliff played ball as a youth and took up golf and curling as he grew older.
He and his wife Marge raised a daughter and a son.
Yvonne lives in New York and Jim in Grtand Prairie.
Cliff has passed away and Marge continues to make her home here in
Lloydminster. She has eight
grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Joe’s sports interests included baseball and hockey in his youth
and golf and. curling in later years. Joe and his wife Mardi have three
children: John at Grand
Prairie, JoAnne in Lloydminster,
and Pat in Calgary. They also have
five grandchildren. Joe is still involved with the oil people here in the city
where he and Mardi continue to make their home.
As
a fitting tribute to their contributions to the oil industry in and around both
men have been named “Oilman of the Year” Cliff Hoskins in 1979 and Joe
Gallagher in 1984.