Percy Richard Hilborn
Inducted In
1989
Percy R. Hilborn was born in Berlin and graduated from McGill University in mining and metallurgy. He became a prominent industrialist in Waterloo County.
After working at Clare Brothers Engineering, Preston for ten years, he bought the Preston Furniture Company in 1919. Later he added the Canadian Office and School Furniture Co. Ltd. and the Schmidt Furniture Co. to his holdings.
In 1931 he organized Canada Sand Papers Ltd. of Plattsville.
The Grand River Conservation Authority named him to its honour roll and he donated 120 acres for a park on Highway 24. He received the Silver Acorn, one of Scouting’s highest awards.
Hilborn was charter president of the Rotary Club of Preston-Hespeler, president of the Preston Planning Board and associated with the Freeport Hospital, the Victorian Order of Nurses, Preston, the Stratford Shakespearian Festival, Waterloo Trust (Canada Trust) and Equitable Life, Waterloo.
He was a charter member of the associated faculties of Waterloo College and a charter governor of the University of Waterloo.