Norm Perry (Canadian football)

Norman (Norm) Perry (June 1, 1904 in Sarnia, Ontario – November 17, 1957 in Sarnia, Ontario) was a star football player in the Ontario Rugby Football Union for the Sarnia Imperials for eight seasons. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1963 and into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.

Norm Perry
Nickname(s)The Galloping Ghost[1]
Born:(1904-06-01)June 1, 1904
Sarnia, Ontario
Died:November 17, 1957(1957-11-17) (aged 53)
Sarnia, Ontario
Career information
Position(s)Running back
Career history
As player
1928–1935Sarnia Imperials
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1933, 34
Awards1934 - Imperial Oil Trophy
HonoursGrey Cup champion - 1934
Career stats

Early life

Born in 1904, Perry exhibited talent in lacrosse, hockey, baseball, and football. Perry turned down offers to play professional football in the United States, since his Imperial Oil refinery job in Sarnia's Chemical Valley offered better pay.[2]

Career

Sports

Perry played for the Sarnia Imperials for eight years, leading the team to seven Ontario Rugby Football Union titles and one Grey Cup title (1934, 22nd Grey Cup against the Regina Roughriders).[3] Known for his speed, Perry scored 33 touchdowns in eight seasons (six regular games plus playoff games per season), and held a record for the most touchdowns scored in three consecutive years. He was named League Most valuable player in 1934. A leg injury forced his retirement in 1935.[4] Perry served as president of the Ontario Rugby Football Union in 1953, ten years before his induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.[5]

Politics

In 1936, Perry ran for and was elected to an Alderman position on the Sarnia City Council. Three years later, at age 34, Perry was elected 56th Mayor of the city of Sarnia. Perry serviced one term before being defeated in his 1940 attempt at re-election.[6]

Industry

Perry worked at the Imperial Oil refinery in Sarnia's chemical valley, serving as the safety supervisor and as an advisory board member for the Industrial Accident Prevention Association.[6][7]

Honours

The Norm Perry Park (formerly Sarnia Athletic Field, also known as Norm Perry Memorial Park) in Sarnia, Ontario, is named in honour of Norm Perry; the park is home to the Sarnia Imperials football team.[8]

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References
  1. "Norman Perry, inducted in 1963". Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Canadian Football Hall of Fame. 2016. Retrieved 12 Sep 2016.
  2. Bridge, Terry (29 Jan 2016). "Norm Perry's great-grandson carries on the family's sports tradition". Sarnia Observer. Sarnia, Ontario. Retrieved 12 Sep 2016.
  3. "When football fever had Sarnia in its grip". The Sarnia Journal. 9 Jun 2016. Retrieved 12 Sep 2016.
  4. "Norm Perry was a haunting gridiron presence". Sarnia Observer. 27 Dec 2010. Retrieved 12 Sep 2016.
  5. "Honoured Member Norman Perry, Inducted in 1975". Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. 2016. Retrieved 12 Sep 2016.
  6. "Mayor Norm Perry". Sarnia Historical Society. 1 Aug 2015. Retrieved 12 Sep 2016.
  7. Egan, Phil (24 Feb 2019). "Norm Perry died young after succeeding at football and politics". The Sarnia Journal. Retrieved 8 Nov 2019.
  8. "Norm Perry Park". Tourism Sarnia Lambton. Tourism Sarnia Lambton. Retrieved 11 Sep 2016.


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