Stuart Douglas Trueman (1911–1995)

Humorist, journalist, and amateur historian Stuart Douglas Trueman was born in Saint John, N.B. on 6 November 1911. He was the eldest of three sons and four daughters raised by Annie M. (Roden) and John Macmillan Trueman. Educated in local schools, Trueman graduated from Saint John High School in 1928. In 1937 he married Mildred Kate Stiles, daughter of Kate and Riley Stiles of River Glade, N.B. They had two sons, Douglas Hugh M. and Stuart Macmillan (Mac).

At age 17 Trueman began his newspaper career as a cartoonist with The Telegraph-Journal and The Evening Times-Globe. Over the next 43 years, he also worked as a reporter and associate editor. In 1951 he was elevated to editor-in-chief, a position which he held until 1971. Following his retirement, he remained active as contributing editor, writing weekly columns until 1993.

A well-known author, Trueman wrote 12 books and numerous articles. More than 300 of his light pieces were published in Canadian and American magazines including The Saturday Evening Post, Saturday Night, Weekend, and The Atlantic Advocate. His first humorous book, Cousin Elva (1955), was later adapted for television and the stage. In 1969 his third book, You're Only as Old as You Act (1968), won the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour.

In addition to his works of humour, Trueman published several books based on historical themes, including The Ordeal of John Gyles (1966) and An Intimate History of New Brunswick (1970). He also co-authored two cookbooks with his wife, Mildred, and in 1981 collaborated with photographer Bill Brooks to produce a picture book, The Colour of New Brunswick. Several of his books are self-illustrated.