Tom completed his education at the University of Saskatchewan just after the Depression and after completing his Articles was invited by the late Walter B. Francis, Q.C. to join with him and the late Mervyn Woods to form the law firm of Francis Woods & Gauley effective October 1, 1945. During his 58 year practice he has worked side by side with some of Saskatoon's most distinguished lawyers and has handled some of the province's more prominent cases.
He has also played a significant role on the national stage from time to time and served as Saskatchewan's representative on the 1978 Committee on the Constitution. One of his most treasured memories was serving as Saskatchewan's representative when the Canadian Bar Association produced its document Towards a New Canada. This report was compiled during the tenure of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and was one of the first attempts by the federal government to repatriate the constitution. Among his associates on the committee was Clyde Wells, later a premier of Newfoundland and presently Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland, Joe Ghiz, a former premier of Prince Edward Island and later a Dean of Dalhousie Law School before being appointed to the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island, Yves Fortier, later a Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, and Gerald LaForest, later a Supreme Court Justice. Tom was recently a recipient of the Order of Canada.
Professional
· Appointed Queen's Counsel, 1956
· Admitted to the Saskatchewan Bar, 1945
Seminars & Presentations
· Lecturer, College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, 1950-1962
Memberships & Associations
· Member, Law Society of Saskatchewan (Bencher 1961-1967, President 1966)
· Member, Canadian Bar Association
· Member, Saskatoon Bar Association (President 1959-1960)
· Member, Board of Governors, University of Saskatchewan, 1964-1970, 1973-1979
· Governor, Canadian Tax Foundation, 1969-1972
Community Involvement
· Director Estey Centre for Law and Economics in International Trade
· Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon
· Past President University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association