1988
John Baxter | William Ewing | William Grant | Dave Lalonde | Gerald McDonald | Jerry Sullivan
Five years later, he decided to compete in the Regional Games for the Physically Disabled in Cornwall, competing in the shotput, discus and javelin events.
Though he enjoyed competing in track and field events, he developed a keen interest in powerlifting. In 1984, he competed in blind sports in the powerlifting category. For the next few years until the present time, John became a dominant figure as a powerlifter in the Ontario Blind Sports Association. Despite his handicap, he is recognized as one of the top blind athletes in the world. As a blind athlete, John is the defending world heavy weight champion in powerlifting and is the fourtime Canadian champion. He is also the five-time United States national champion. John’s involvement in the Ontario Blind Sports Association has gone beyond the field of competition. After serving as a director on the association’s board in 1982-83, he has been the president since 1984. He has won provincial intermediate championships, the Canadian Master’s title (40 years and over) and has won three open championships in able-body events. John’s proudest moments in powerlifting came recently at the Provincial Championships for the Physically Disabled in Toronto. He attained personal best records in powerlifting at the championships with a combined lift of 1,476 pounds. The individual marks were 606 pounds in the squat, 298 in the benchpress and 584 in the deadlift. With the combined total, he qualified as a Class II lifted for the Canadian Master’s Championships in 1989. John trained out of Pattyn’s Gym in Alexandria and he credited much of his success to Ron Pattyn, the former owner of the gym who encouraged him to compete as a powerlifter in blind sports and abled body events. |
In 1935 Bill Ewing was selected as a member of the Canadian team competing in the Lord Dewar International match, small bore. Connaught Rangers (Ottawa) against teams from U.S. U.S.A. New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The experience gained in the international class crated his further interest in target shooting both small bore and service rifle thus the stepping stone to joining the Bisley team.
Next year, 1936, at Canadian National matches, Connaught Rangers, Bill won the Grand Aggregate Medal and was selected for the 1937 Canadian Bisley Team service rifle shooting. Although just short of the medal class Bill Ewing was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Sgt. Bill Ewing in 1938 again won the Aggregate medal at Connaught Rangers ensuring a place with the Bisley team and further rank promotion to Lieutenant. Also at Connaught competitions he won the MacDonald Brier and Harold Borden medals, rapid fire, and joined the Canada Match team against Australia. At the 1938 competitions with the Bisley team Lt. Bill Ewing won the Wimbledon Cup, individual honors, Canadian Grand Aggregate representing the Victoria Rifles and was presented with the trophy by the Hon. Vincent Massey, High Commissioner for Canada. Among the several prestigious awards Bill Ewing cherishes the Rajah of Kalapore Imperial Challenge Trophy for team competition with India, Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies. The pattern of shooting is shoulder to shoulder and Bill rated among the top scorers. Following the matches Bill Ewing toured the Britsh Isles with his mother the former Isable Forbes who had Dickinson’s Landing roots. This ended the competitive shooting and Lt. Ewing resigned his Commission. Back in Montreal Bill launched a small arms course at McGill. Then in January 1940 he rejoined the Black Watch Regiment as a Lieutenant, Overseas from 1941 to 1943, Bill was returned to Kingston enrolling in the RMC staff college and after completing his course he rejoined his Regiment, August, 1944 in command of the Black Watch Rifle Company with the rank of Major. Major Wm. Ewing returned home just before the end of World War Two on compassionate leave due to his father’s death. The Ewing family owned and operated a long-standing business for the wholesale and processing of agriculture seeds. Part of their housing plant in Montreal was expropriated by the City necessitating relocation. Bill Ewing selected Vankleek Hill and a new plant opened in 1954. Thus the continuity of the Ewing Seed Business, a successful private enterprise, founded by Bill’s grandfather in 1896 was assured. Bill moved his family to a McCrimmon area farm home and two of his sons, Roderick and Peter attended GDHS-ESRG. |
To be a star in lacrosse required unlimited stamina, be fleetfooted and rugged to take and gave the rough play that often prevailed. Both Glengarrians were endowed with such physical requirements and some to spare.
This writer recalls Williamstown’s venerable sportsman, Wellie (Wellinton) Barrett, relating that Jerry Sullivan, in his early 20’s, a tinsmith spending most of the week roofing a new barn then Saturday by horse and buggy to play lacrosse in Cornwall. Truly an example of physical fitness. William Grant, popularly known throughout his life of four score and 10 as “Bill Centennial” was born in South Lancaster in 1856. He died in 1946 and was buried in the MacLennan plot, old cemetery, South Lancaster. From school he was employed at the “Old Tannery,” South Lancaster, operated by “Red” Peter MacDonald, grandfather of A.D.D. “Buster” MacDonald, Cornwall, formerly of South Lancaster. He never married and lost his wight some years before he died.. Working in the tannery, a pioneer Glengarry industry, Bill Grant became a typical physical six-foot athlete tipping the scales about 180. Like his counterpart, Jerry Sullivan, top playing condition was a must with the result he gradually progressed from a Lancaster area journeyman lacrosse player to a leader with the Cornwall World Champions and the ranks of Canada’s all time greats in the late 1800s. |
Having served in summer training with the Militia’s 59th Regiment, Dave Lalonde was among the first to enlist in 1915 with the 59th that became the 154th Battalion under command of Col. A. G. F. Macdonald. In due course Dave Lalonde was promoted through the ranks to Sgt. Major.
Dave Lalonde returned home in 1919 for a few months. In 1920 he was back in Surrey, England, where he married Amelia Elizabeth Hazell. A typical Glengarry reception was accorded Dave and Milly when they arrived in Alexandria. Dave Lalonde’s lacrosse and hockey playing in the 1920’s were his top contributions to Alexandria’s sport history. In that post war era Alexandria, Williamstown, and Lancaster were the senior hockey league in Glengarry. Dave was a rugged winger and with his brothers Eddie, Ovila and ‘Ti-Joe’ formed the nucleus of the Alexandria team. In lacrosse Dave was an outstanding goalie and played a major role the year Alexandria won the LaPlante trophy emblematic of Eastern Ontario Lacrosse championship. Dave’s play was further enhanced in a game that summer at the old fairgrounds when he held the visiting Cambridge University (England) scoreless. A unique lacrosse record. In retirement Dave filled the role of referee at times notably a couple of boxing bouts at the Chisholm Park box lacrosse grounds now Alexandria town office. |
Among the highlights of Gerald’s career was competing with the Stars in the Hawaii Royal Soccer Tournament against teams from Canada, U.S., Australia, Taiwan and China. Heading towards retirement Gerald first filled the role of chief referee and a member of the Glengarry Soccer League board of directors.
During that lengthy period of being occupied in soccer during the summer months Gerald didn’t rest in the off season winter weeks. In 1962 Gerald coached Greenfield’s junior hockey team to the championship of the Glengarry Gardens league. Gerald's health suddenly began to fade in 1983, faced with terminal illness. Gerald McDonald died on January 24th, 1984, at the age of 43. The annual Gerald McDonald Soccer Tournament in Alexandria, for young GSL players from U12 to U19, was named in his honour. |
To be a star in lacrosse required unlimited stamina, be fleetfooted and rugged to take and gave the rough play that often prevailed. Both Glengarrians were endowed with such physical requirements and some to spare.
This writer recalls Williamstown’s venerable sportsman, Wellie (Wellinton) Barrett, relating that Jerry Sullivan, in his early 20’s, a tinsmith spending most of the week roofing a new barn then Saturday by horse and buggy to play lacrosse in Cornwall. Truly an example of physical fitness. Jerry Sullivan married Theresa MacPherson and they were the proud parents of six sons who were all noted hockey (pro and semi-pro) and lacrosse players. Apart from athletic heredity Jerry Sullivan stressed his own exemplary discipline to his sons with the result that except the NHL playing brothers, Ellis, Paddy, Alex, Bill, Bernie, and John rated with the best family of brothers in Canadian hockey history. Paddy and Alex are already enshrined in the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame and on Wednesday, Sept. 7, Char-Lan Recreation Centre, Jerry Sullivan’s niche will be added and in time the rest to follow. William Grant, popularly known throughout his life of four score and 10 as “Bill Centennial” was born in South Lancaster in 1856. He died in 1946 and was buried in the MacLennan plot, old cemetery, South Lancaster. From school he was employed at the “Old Tannery,” South Lancaster, operated by “Red” Peter MacDonald, grandfather of A.D.D. “Buster” MacDonald, Cornwall, formerly of South Lancaster. He never married and lost his wight some years before he died.. Working in the tannery, a pioneer Glengarry industry, Bill Grant became a typical physical six-foot athlete tipping the scales about 180. Like his counterpart, Jerry Sullivan, top playing condition was a must with the result he gradually progressed from a Lancaster area journeyman lacrosse player to a leader with the Cornwall World Champions and the ranks of Canada’s all time greats in the late 1800s. |
