16 Facts About Terry McCombs

Terry McCombs was born in 1905 and received his early education at Fendalton School.

Terry McCombs was further educated at Christchurch Boys' High School and Waitaki Boys' High School before graduating from Canterbury University College with MSc in chemistry in 1929.

Terry McCombs won two research scholarships in chemistry and was hoping to obtain a post in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research but at the time, due to the Great Depression, the DSIR was not hiring any new staff.

Terry McCombs was elected and represented Lyttelton from the 1935 by-election until he was defeated in the bitter 1951 election.

In 1936, Terry McCombs was appointed to the Canterbury University College Council, and he remained a member until 1947, when he became Minister of Education.

Terry McCombs was Minister of Education and Minister for Science and Industrial Research from 1947 to 1949, near the end of the term of the First Labour Government.

Terry McCombs polled second in the caucus ballot with seven votes, compared to Jerry Skinner with twenty-two and two votes to Fred Hackett.

Terry McCombs was Chancellor of the University of Canterbury from 1968 to 1971.

Terry McCombs was a member of Rotary International and belonged to the Christchurch South club, of which he was the district governor of in 1967.

Terry McCombs was appointed chairman of the council's town-planning committee.

Terry McCombs died on 6 November 1982 in Kawakawa hospital, aged 77, while on a holiday in Northland.

Terry McCombs was survived by his second wife, four sons and a daughter.

Terry McCombs was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to education, in the 1971 Queen's Birthday Honours and a Knight Bachelor in April 1975.

Beryl died in 1952, and as a result Terry McCombs became a solo parent with four school-age children.

Terry McCombs was later remarried to Christina Mary Tulloch in 1955.

Terry McCombs died in Christchurch on 13 August 2016, aged 99 years.