Page 8 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 86
P. 8
8 Issue #86 January 2020 www.sportsenergynews.com
“People Pulling Together for you”
613.936.0660 • www.minimaxexpress.com
605 Education Rd. Cornwall, ON, K6H 6C7
Jim Riddell’s Sports Talk with Area Senior
Bob Thompson
orn in 1948, Bob grew up 9th best player and the coach complaint, I lost my pass – I’ll
Bin Newington, attending never played me.” While find you when I get out.” Bob
the local public school and in his mid-teens, Bob began mentions that the inmate never
playing softball, a sport that coaching a Newington softball did find him, “But I didn’t
his father, Dutch Thompson team consisting of 17 eight- to file any more complaints!”
had played and coached for eleven-year-old boys. “One Graduating from Queens
many years. When he got to boy would play an entire game University with a Bachelor
high school at R-O in Ingleside and the other sixteen would of Science Honors Degree,
in 1962, Bob tried out for and rotate in and out with everyone Bob then attended McArthur
made the basketball team getting a chance to play. We College to earn his teaching
saying, “I wasn’t a very good didn’t do very well the first credentials.
athlete - there were 9 boys on year, but in our second season In 1970, Bob married Helen
the team and I think I was the we never lost a game.” (Allison) and together they
have 2 daughters, Tara and
Allison. In September 1972,
Bob was back at R-O in
Photo Submitted
Ingleside teaching science and
Graduating from R-O in chemistry. While watching a
1967, Bob was off to study girls’ basketball game one day,
at Queens University, where Bob noticed that only eight of
once again he coached softball. the twelve girls on the team
The games took place in either received playing time. It was
Kingston, Joyceville, or inside because of those four girls
the Kingston Penitentiary. not getting the opportunity to
“The league used inmates as play that Bob volunteered for
umpires. For games outside a vacant coaching position
the jail, the inmates would get the following year, beginning
an escorted pass. They actually his long association with the
did a good job umpiring and sport of basketball. In 1982,
getting out like that would Bob’s teaching position at R-O
help them to integrate back became redundant and the
into society.” Following one Thompson family relocated
of these games, however, Bob to Lefleche, Saskatchewan
filed a complaint against an where Bob taught for the next
umpire who he considered three years. During his time
CORNWALL MOBILE SMALL ENGINE to have made some unfair in Saskatchewan, he played
1112 Marleau Ave., Cornwall, ON calls. The next game that Bob softball and coached baseball
613-361-0017 or 613-935-6229
cornwallmobilesmallengine.com coached at the prison, he was and volleyball.
www.simplicitymfg.com approached by the inmate who
told him, “Because of your Continued on page 10
