Page 47 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 92

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #92 September 2020 47

Jim Riddell’s Sports Talk with Area Seniors

Bob Piteau

ob Piteau has been involved in various sports in
Bthe Cornwall area for well over a half century.
Born in Windsor, ON in 1940, Bob and his family
moved to Cornwall in 1952. Bob’s father, who was a
Cornwall native employed by Chrysler in Windsor,
decided to return home, and open his own business.
Bob attended St. Lawrence High School and he
played on the basketball and football teams, as well
as competed in the high jump, broad jump, and pole

vault events at track and field meets.
Following high school, Bob played 2 seasons
for Cornwall Emards, a team that competed in the
Quebec Sr. Football League. During the early 60’s,
Bob and a few friends travelled to Montreal to play
semi-pro lacrosse. “Billy Ingram, Tubby Legault,
the Faubert brothers, and I played down there until
the league folded.”
Basketball was another sport that he continued
with after high school, playing a few years in the city
league, and then coaching a team of 17-20 yr. old
boys from Cornwall’s Classical College. Bob then
took up refereeing basketball at local high schools.
“Moe Racine had been refereeing basketball and I
took over from Moe, doing games at R-O, North
Dundas DSH, and at Seaway DHS in Iroquois. Some
games were played in Morrisburg and space was
tight in the gym. People would be lined up against
the walls and the referee had to be careful to avoid
getting tripped.”
Growing up, Bob played hockey in Cornwall’s
OCOT (Our Citizens of Tomorrow) League, later
playing in the Paper Mill League. He played for many
years with Sunday morning and Friday afternoon
groups, explaining that there were some very good
players in those groups. Around 1975, an old group
of friends got together and formed the Cornwall Photo Submitted
Old-timers, a team that played in tournaments across
Ontario and Quebec, as well as competing once in a Bruce Grant. The proceeds from this tournament went I was on a line with Murray Hall who had played
CARHA World Tournament in Vancouver BC. The to assisting local cancer patients with transportation several seasons in the NHL with Chicago, Detroit,
hockey club was also involved in events that raised costs while getting treatment in Ottawa. and Vancouver. Another teammate, Warren Hines
money for various charities. In 1960, Bob started working for Buntin-Reid had played with the Montreal Jr. Canadiens and
“We started Cornfest - we had dunking tanks, a Wholesale Paper Merchants, a subsidiary of Domtar. then went to the AHL. We had a few others that had

parade, professional magicians, and bands. The Bob worked out of the Ottawa office with a territory played at a high level.”
youngest player on our team, Hank Greggain was in Northern Ontario. “I did a lot of driving in those In 1992 Bob returned to Cornwall when he was
“King Cob” the mascot. Our theme song was the one days; my clients were school boards, colleges and transferred back to the Ottawa office, where he

from The Beverley Hillbillies and I had to contact universities. I went to up north once a month to worked until his retirement in 1998. He re-joined
someone from the show to get the rights to use it Kirkland Lake, Timmins, Kapuskasing, and North the Cornwall Old-timers and continued to play with
at Cornfest. Thanks to Bingley Steel who helped us Bay. I had my hockey equipment in the trunk of my them until having a hip replacement in 2010.
out in many different ways - they even manufactured car and when in North Bay I would skate with the Bob joined the Cornwall Golf and Country Club in
our BBQ’s for us. We sold hundreds of dozens of team at Canadore College.” 1967 and, except for his seven years in Burlington,

corn each year, all purchaced from local growers. In 1985, Bob was transferred to the Hamilton office has been a member ever since.
Roger Leger was the Molson rep and he played on where he looked after school boards in Southern
our team. Roger looked after the kegs and we were Ontario. Bob continued taking his equipment on the In 1962 Bob and Beverley Wilson married.
pumping as much beer at that time as they were at road and when in Guelph he often suited up with the Beverley taught school for thirty-six years and they

the Highland Games. Cornfest eventually got too big Guelph University Griffins. have two sons, Todd and Chad. Bob summed up his
for us to handle and we eventually turned it over to The Piteau family lived in Burlington where Bob long involvement on the local sporting scene saying,
the Downtown Merchants Association to run.” played hockey on two teams. “There were about 500 “I have met and played with many great people over
Bob started an annual golf tournament with help people in the old-timer’s hockey there with several the years. I had the opportunity to coach both of my
from Bill Dickey, Billy Smith (NHL HOF goalie), different divisions. I also played with the Burlington sons in hockey and lacrosse. Everything has been a
Paul Boosamara, Bruce Wickens, Nolan Quinn, and Blades which was a very good tournament team. real pleasure”.