Don Getty
A former professional quarterback who pivoted to politics, steering Alberta's economy through a turbulent era of oil bust and fiscal restraint.
1933–2016 (age 83)·Premier of Alberta from 1985 to 1992·Birthday: August 30·The Silent Generation
Biography
Don Getty's life unfolded in three distinct acts, each marked by a fierce competitive drive. First, as a star quarterback for the Edmonton Eskimos, he led the team to a Grey Cup victory in 1955, forging a public persona rooted in grit and leadership. He then translated those skills to the boardroom, building a successful career in the oil and gas industry. His political chapter began in earnest when he entered the Alberta legislature, becoming a trusted lieutenant to Premier Peter Lougheed. Ascending to the premiership in 1985, Getty faced the monumental task of governing during a severe oil price collapse. His tenure was defined by painful budget cuts, attempts to diversify the economy, and a controversial move to guarantee loans for a failing meat-packing plant. Though his policies were often unpopular, he provided steady, pragmatic leadership during a period of profound economic anxiety, leaving a complex legacy of fiscal conservatism amid recession.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Don was born in 1933, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Don Was Born
The biggest hits of 1933
#1 Movie
King Kong
Best Picture
Cavalcade
Don's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1933Born
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1938Started school
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1946Became a teenager
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1949Could drive
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1951Could vote
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1954Turned 21
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1963Turned 30
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 40
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 50
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 60
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 70
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 80
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Died at 83
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
Key Achievements
- Led the Edmonton Eskimos to a Grey Cup championship as their starting quarterback in 1955.
- Served as the 11th Premier of Alberta for seven years, from 1985 to 1992.
- Served as Alberta's Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs under Premier Peter Lougheed.
- Was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1989 for his athletic career.
Did You Know?
He was offered a contract to play professional baseball for the New York Yankees organization but chose football.
Getty's son, Dale, was kidnapped in 1993; he was returned unharmed after a ransom was paid.
He was a trained pilot and often flew himself to political events across Alberta.
“You build a province the same way you build a team: with discipline and a solid game plan.”
