Page 6 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 108

6 Issue #108 January 2022 www.sportsenergynews.com

Sports
Sports Presents Jim Riddell’s Sports Talk
Sports
Sports
Energy

Energy Newss
Energy N e w s Presents
Energy
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Stories And More About The People In Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry with Area Senior Ron McAllister
Club. “My brother Alex and I spent
many a time playing tennis, but as he
was twelve years older, I was never
able to keep up and that became
By Jim Riddell the challenge. Our father was the
Club president, and our mother ran
on McAllister was born in
the Junior Program, so there was
RCornwall, and he grew up at
lots of opportunity to practice and
# 5 Courtaulds Cottages, one of
learn skills. We started going to the
thirteen houses built by Courtaulds
Canadian Championships at an early
Canada on Highway #2, across from
age, my first at age seven. Alex played
the main plant. Ron’s dad was the
Rod Laver at the age of 16 in the
Electrical Superintendent at the
Canadian Open Jr. Championships -
plant.
both are now 86 years old.”
Courtaulds was a British company The Courtaulds Tennis Club
that believed in providing sports boasted close to 200 members
opportunities for their employees in the late 50s. There were some
and their families. Recalling those outstanding tennis players in
early years, Ron said, “I grew up Cornwall; Bill Fagen, Alex and Dave
on a tennis court. There were four Kalil, Georgette Delacretaz, and of
courts with lights, not twenty yards course Ron’s brother Alex. In the
from our back door. There were early 60s, the Club and its members
softball diamonds, a soccer field, a became less involved, and tennis Photo Submitted
horseshoe pit, and we had a hockey took a downturn. At age 16, Ron the area. He recalled Mr. George Fox were attending Canadian universities
rink in the winter.” Sr. driving a group of boys to play and playing sports. That team had
began playing golf and was soon in Junior Field Days at the Royal an undefeated season in the Quebec
Ron believes that the company able to break 80 and was able to play Montreal, Royal Ottawa, and other Intercollegiate League. On the 50th
contributed to the Cornwall Golf in many junior tournaments around
courses, all for $5 per tournament. anniversary, the team was inducted
Ron recalls George Fox Jr., Bill into the Concordia Sports HOF and
Markle, Dave Snelgrove, and Jim Ron got to join brother Alex who is
MacPhee also participating. also in that Hall of Fame.

At eighteen years of age, Ron was Following Loyola, Ron attended
able to compete in the Cornwall teacher’s college in Ottawa in 1970
Golf and Country Club Field Days, -71. He then accepted a teaching
winning twice. In one of them, the position in Welland, Ontario. For
O’Keefe Tournament, Ron beat the next five years, Ron continued to
brother Alex by a single stroke. Alex further his education, attending Brock
was a seven-time Cornwall Golf and University during the evenings and
Country Club Champion, and Ron summer school, earning a degree in
remembers that tournament as being Physical Education. He then earned
particularly special. a Master’s degree in Education
Attending St. Lawrence High from Niagara University. In 1980,
School, Ron played basketball Ron was named Physical Education
and football, winning consecutive Consultant of the Welland County
EOSSA Championships in 1967-68 School Board, which consisted of
and 1968-69. “I think that we were forty-two schools.
undefeated in football, with Rick During his time in Welland, Ron
Forrester coaching in 1968 and in continued golfing, winning one club
1969. We went to the Golden Ball championship, and finishing 2nd on
in basketball with Paul Lapointe and four other occasions. In 1983, Ron
Paul Charron as our coaches. I was was selected to go to Lahr, Germany
always blessed to have been around as vice principal at Gutenberg Jr.
such leaders.” School, which had 750 students from
CORNWALL MOBILE SMALL ENGINE While attending Loyola University JK to Grade 3. At the time, there
1112 Marleau Ave., Cornwall, ON were four thousand Canadian kids
613-361-0017 or 613-935-6229 (now Concordia) in 1969, Ron was
cornwallmobilesmallengine.com one of only two Canadians on the attending school in Germany at that
time.
www.simplicitymfg.com basketball team. This was during the
Vietnam War and many Americans Continued on page 7