NLIS 4
June 17, 2003
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

 

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

Basketball Association inducts four into Hall of Fame

The Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association will induct four new members to its Hall of Fame this weekend at its Annual General Meeting. The ceremony will take place June 21 at the Holiday Inn in St. John's commencing at 12:00 p.m. The four inductees include Ron Tobin (Athlete), Wayne (Peter) Abbott (Official), Jim Feltham (Builder) and Charles Barker (Builder).

Chairperson Joe Lake is quite thrilled with this year�s selections and the work the committee has put into this year�s program. Mr. Lake states, "This year�s group of inductees are what the sport of basketball is all about. These individuals have built the game of basketball in this province over the past 30 to 40 years and their time of recognition has arrived."

Mr. James Feltham

Jim has been involved in basketball for close to 30 years. He is one of the pillars of basketball on the west coast of Newfoundland. From 1972 to 1999, Jim coached the Elwood Lakers of Deer Lake. Under Jim�s leadership the Laker Men have reached the Provincial Championship Tournaments 22 times, 6 times in 3A and 16 times in 4A, winning two gold medals in 3A and 1 silver. With the Laker Women, which he coached for six years, they advanced to the Provincial Championship each year winning two silver medals.

Not shy to enter a tournament, Jim�s teams played 35 to 40 games a year and traveled to all parts of the Island and the mainland for different tournaments.

In 1991 Jim was the head coach for the Newfoundland & Labrador Team to the Boys Eastern Canadian Midget Championships in Saint John, NB, where they captured the bronze medal .

In 1993, he was Assistant Coach at the Girls Eastern Canadian Midget Championships in Charlottetown, PEI, and won the bronze medal.

Jim has been honored with many coaching awards.

The Newfoundland and Labrador High School Athletic Federation

  • 1995 - Certificate of Recognition; dedicated service and contribution to the aims and objectives of the NFLHSAF.
  • 1996 - Honor Award runner up for outstanding service to school athletics
  • 1997 - Coaching Service Award; dedication and example exemplifies the true values of school sport
  • 1998 - Honor Award; Provincial winner

NLBA

  • 1993 Achievement Award; Outstanding contribution to coaching and development of basketball
  • 2002 Achievement Award

Jim is now teaching in Nunavut and his high school in Pond Inlet won the Nunavut Territorial Championships this March

Mr. Charles Barker

Charlie is another icon of basketball on the west coast of the province. He has an impressive 31 years of coaching high school basketball: 20 years at Xavier High School and 11 years at Elwood High School in Deer Lake.

Competing in three to six tournaments a year, along with league and exhibition games, players under Charlie Barker got to play basketball. Charlie took his teams to where he could get good competition, throughout Newfoundland and to the Mainland.

As you can imagine fundraising was very important. Through great community support, teams raised between $5,000 and $12,000 each year, a testament to the confidence by the people of their community in their coaches and players.

Charlie�s record is excellent. He coached both girls and boys teams and was successful with both groups.

  • 1986 - silver medal, Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games
  • 1992 - gold medal, Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games
  • In 3A competition Charlie�s teams have won numerous championships .
  • He has coached on the local, provincial and international levels.
  • Assistant Coach, Boys Eastern Canadian Midget team 1992
  • Assistant Coach, Boys Eastern Canadian Midget team 1993
  • Head Coach, Girls Eastern Canadian Midget team 1994
  • Head Coach of the Western Newfoundland Basketball Team at the International Children�s Games in Hamilton, Ontario 2000.

Mr. Wayne ( Peter ) Abbott

As an Official, Wayne Abbott immediately became known and respected in basketball circles as an honest, fair and dedicated official who had an uncanny "feel" for the game; especially as it applied to the principles of "advantage"/ "disadvantage". There is no doubt he is a player�s official and they know and understand that he has a special instinct for the game that not all players really acquire. Wayne moved along quickly as a floor official and has been active in the provincial association for the past 19 years. During this time, Wayne has refereed at the High School, Provincial, National and AUAA Championship levels. Wayne has also contributed to the growth of basketball by being an executive member of the Referees Association. He has helped teach new referees the finer skills required to be a good official and has assisted coaches explain rules to players so they better understand the game.

Mr. Ronald Tobin

Voted to be the #1 basketball player ever produced in the province Ron Tobin�s list of accomplishments is unsurpassed. A star in Elementary School, High School, University and the Senior League, Ron�s skills, abilities and dedication to the game have always been "away and above" all others .

His accomplishments read:

  • First Newfoundlander to be invited to a National Team tryout with Canada�s Sr. Men�s Team (Winnipeg - 1973 ) in preparation for the Montreal Olympics.
  • First Memorial University basketball player to win the Richard Perry Memorial Award for Athlete of the Year at Memorial University (1973-74)
  • First Newfoundlander to win the M.V.P. award in a National basketball tournament (Victoria, BC. 1973)
  • Athletic Honor Society Award Memorial University (1974)
  • M.V.P. and 1st team all-star at the Eastern Canadian Jr. Men�s basketball championships (St. John�s 1972)
  • Captain of the first Memorial University basketball team to play and win an AUAA basketball game
  • Captain of the first MUN basketball team to participate in the final four AUAA Playoffs (Wolfville, NS. 1974)
  • Outstanding College Athlete of America Award, saluting most distinguished athletes 1972.
  • High School Athlete of the Year Brorther Rice 1968-69
  • M.V.P. Irish Christian Brothers League, St Pat�s (1965)
  • Played 25 successful years at the first division level in the St. John�s Basketball League.

2003 06 17                                   11:45 a.m.


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