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I I , City's first ' ?vv-*3 • citizen of year dies at BGH Funeral services were held today for the man who was Belleville's first "Citizen of the Year" in 1963. William Nugent Hurst, 81, died Fri- day at Belleville General Hospital. In 1963 the Belleville Jaycees recognized Mr. Hurst's contributions to the city in various capacities. Mr. Hurst began his career in public life at 17 as president of the Anglican Young Peoples Association. Later he was president of the Kinsmen Club and the Rotary Club. However, it was probably Mr. Hurst's work on the Belleville Board of Park Management for which he is ] best remembered. He joined the I board in 1957 and was chairman the j next year. In the early 1960s the can- teen at Zwicks Island was built under his direction and later he secured funds from Corby Distilleries for the notable rose garden at Corby Park. Born in Belleville in 1908, Mr. Nugent enlisted in the Canadian Arm- ed Forces Reserves in 1939 with the tank division of the Argyll Light In- fantry. In 1941 he became a member of the regular force and served with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment overseas from 1941 to 1943. He was disabled in 1943 and returned to Canada to attend Staff Officers' College in Kingston. In 1945 Mr. Hurst was discharged with the rank of Cap- tain. Following the war Mr. Hurst work- ed in Tweed as an insurance agent and then in 1950 returned to Belleville as Registrar of Deeds and Master of Titles for Hastings County. He served that office until his retirement in 1973 and introduced several innovations to the office, particularly microfilming of legal documents. During a lengthy career of public service Mr. Hurst also dedicated time to the Boy Scouts of Canada and the Belleville Minor Sports Association. He was also a long-time member of the Belleville Club. Following his retirement he moved to Wellington where he remained ac- tive as a canvasser and driver for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and a volunteer driver for the Prince Edward Community Service Organization. Mr. Hurst is survived by daughter Mrs. Ronald (Josephine) Croft of Toronto, and sons Richard Hurst and his wife Judy of Belleville and James Hurst and his wife Joanne of RR 1 Wellington and David Hurst and his wife Ilona of Caledon. Service was at St. Andrews Anglican Church in Wellington with Rev. Bryce Sangster officiating.