Hamilton will likely rename main transit terminal after Frank Cooke
Frank Cooke was 'a light rail champion in the 70s — well ahead of his time'
The city is looking at renaming the MacNab Transit Terminal after the former head of HSR.
Staff will report back on renaming the terminal after Frank Arthur Cooke, a one-time HSR general manager and long-time transit advocate.
The idea encountered no opposition from councillors this week. In fact, two of them proposed it. Coun. Sam Merulla floated the idea at a subcommittee meeting on Monday. Then Mayor Fred Eisenberger proposed it at a committee meeting on Wednesday.
"He was a wonderful guy – a great leader in his community to the end of his days," said Eisenberger.
The mayor last saw Cooke, who was 100 years old when he died in June, about a month before his death, he said. Cooke had just taken the bus.
Cooke, who was the grandfather of former Hamilton regional chair Terry Cooke, was also past president of the Canadian Urban Transit Association. He worked at HSR for more than 40 years. Wednesday would have been his 101st birthday.
"Our family is very proud of Great Grampa," Terry Cooke said. "His three great passions were family, the Hamilton Street Railway and the Ticats. He was a light rail champion in the 70s — well ahead of his time."
The city is also looking at establishing a hall of fame for noteworthy Hamiltonians.