Mel Rennie, past Pars chairman has died.
Date: Sunday, 1st Sep 2002DAFC announced with regret that Mel Rennie has passed away.
Statement from DAFC (official press release):
It is with regret that the death has been announced of Director and former Pars Chairman, Mel Rennie.
One minutes silence was held at the start of the game, with total respect paid by both sets of fans.
It is with regret that the death has been announced of Director and former Pars Chairman, Mel Rennie. Mel died in the early hours of Sunday 1st September in the Queen Margaret Hospice, Dunfermline and a one minute silence was observed before the SPL match against Rangers.
Chairman John Yorkston paid tribute to Mel:-
"He was a great guy; a great family man and while there were more than thirty years between us he was a very good friend - a lovely guy. Mel will be a great loss to the Club and the Board."
William Melbourne Rennie, born in 1924 in Arbroath, son of a railway signalman. He left school at 14 and became an apprentice joiner.
An avid supporter of the Pars, and a good friend of chairman Leonard Jack, Mr Rennie joined the Board as a director in 1971.
Mel then became Chairman in 1986, when Jimmy Watters decided to retire early on health grounds. He said at the time of his appointment:
"I take all things seriously. When I'm given a job to do, I do it to the best of my ability. With my fellow directors, I look forward to Dunfermline recapturing the "glory days" and, if possible, going full time."
At the time of his appointment, the Pars, under Jim Leishman, had just won the Second Division championship, and in Mr Rennie's first year as Chairman, the team went on to achieve the unthinkable, winning promotion to the Premier League. After the promotion winning game against Queen of the South, Mr Rennie was presented with the match ball signed by all the players.
Retired as chairman in November 1991, because of business commitments. His successor was Roy Woodrow, who paid tribute at the time by saying:
"Mel Rennie has been a very hard-working Chairman and within the Board we have already indicated our thanks and gratitude to him for his nearly six years in the chair. We've always got on well together and I am absolutely delighted that he has decided to remain on the Board."
Mr Rennie remained on the Board until his death.
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