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September 22, 1998
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)


The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

John McGrath, chairman of the Board of Governors, Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame, is today pleased to announce the election of athletes Rose Foley and Bill Martin and in the Builders Category Hank Summers for induction into the province's Sports Hall of Fame following their election on Saturday, September 19.

Rose Foley was born in Fox Harbour and is now a resident of Torbay, Newfoundland. Her career as an athlete has spanned a quarter of a century and included representing this province in 41 Canadian national championships involving the sports of basketball, ball hockey, squash, soccer and golf. She has, during her sparkling career been selected to Canadian national all star teams on five occasions. She represented the province at two Canada Summer Games and was a member of 28 provincial championship teams involving six sports. In 1983, she received Memorial University's highest award bestowed on a varsity athlete. Her quiet demeanor often overshadowed he numerous personal triumphs, however, her record accomplishments and the respect of her fellow athletes merit her selection.

Bill Martin's exploits, particularly in the sports of hockey and baseball while wearing the Fieldians double blue in the mid fifties and sixties were outstanding. He was a three time Fieldian Athlete of the Year at a time when sport in this city captivated and consumed the attention of its citizenry. He was a three time top defenceman in the St. John's Senior Hockey League and on two other occasions won the most gentlemanly and effective player award. In 1960, at age 21, he was named St. John's Athlete of the Year. Martin excelled on the baseball diamond also winning rookie of the year honours, three consecutive batting titles and in 1964 won the MVP award in the St. John's Baseball League. He was also a member of three city baseball championship teams with the Fieldians and a member of provincial baseball championship teams with St. John's Capitals. In 1984, he was inducted into the St. John's Baseball Hall of Fame. Billy Martin was a noted gentleman both on and off the field of play.

Hank Summers was a hockey goaltender and accomplished soccer player of note but his greatest achievement has been to the sport of boxing. It was during the fall of 1974 that Bob Hillier, then the executive director of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador, called a meeting in an attempt to revive amateur boxing in the province. At that time Hank Summers was a volunteer sport instructor with the Air Cadet League and a group of his cadets expressed an interest in a boxing program. He attended the meeting. The rest is history. A committee was formed and an executive installed and Hank Summers was elected secretary treasurer of Boxing Newfoundland and there after became its president where he continued until March of 1992. He was subsequently elected to the executive of the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association and today is its vice-president. During his tenure as president of Boxing Newfoundland, there were numerous obstacles to overcome, however, Hank Summers spent innumberable volunteer hours as a coach, official, administrator and fund raiser to bring the association to the level of achievement and respect it now commands provincially and nationally. He is currently the longest active member on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association. His international responsibilities too on behalf of the national association are testimony to the high esteem in which he is held by boxing officials across Canada.

Contact: Sport Newfoundland and Labrador, (709) 576-4932.

1998 09 22                                                                        4:50 p.m.


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