Eternal Be His Memory - Gordon Currie'43

Gordon Gray Currie (May 20, 1923 - February 22, 2017)

He was born in Semans, Saskatchewan, the son of Robert Currie and Mary Anne Pool, and was educated in Saskatchewan,  at Notre Dame Collegiate and in British Columbia at Mount Allison University.

Currie served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, returning to Regina in 1947.

Currie taught school at Balfour Technical School there and coached the football and hockey teams.

In 1953, he married Shirley Corinne Clarke.

From 1965 to 1976, Currie coached the Regina Rams football club. He led the Rams to eight Manitoba-Saskatchewan Junior League championships, seven Western Canada Junior championships and six national junior titles.  In 1975, he was named Canadian Amateur Coach of the Year. He then returned to teaching and later served as a high school principal.

Currie served in the Saskatchewan cabinet as Minister of Advanced Education and Manpower, as Minister of Continuing Education, as Minister of Education, as Minister of Science and Technology and as Minister of Telephones. He was dropped from cabinet in December 1985 and he did not seek reelection in 1986.

He was named to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1978, to the Order of Canada in 1979, and to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

In 1977, he established the Gordon Currie Foundation which awards the Gordon Currie Youth Development Fund.

Message from President Rob Palmarin:
 
As a Regina Ram alumnus, I recall Coach Currie addressing our football team one evening. At the time (early 1980’s) Frank McCrystal was the head coach but he played for Gord and would frequently bring Gord out to meet our team and address the players, coaches and staff.  I distinctly remember Coach Currie talking about the “importance of camaraderie and emphasizing mutual trust, friendship and love for your teammates…this is what made great teams and this is what made for a great athletic experience”.
 
 Gord Currie was an “arts man” of Notre Dame and student of Athol Murray.I also recall Coach Currie making reference to Pere and to his “gang”.  You could tell that Fr. Murray left a great impression on Coach Currie and in turn Coach Currie left a lasting impression on all of the Rams who played for him and even the next generations of Rams, like myself, who were impacted by his legacy. 
 
Gord Currie was a “man of virtue”, a true “sports leader”. Notre Dame is proud to lower our school flag in his honour, he will be missed but his legacy endures.
 
Rob Palmarin
President/Director of Education
Athol Murray College of Notre Dame
Regina Ram (1980-984)


Articles:

Regina Leaderspost - Gordon Currie Namesake of Currie Field Dad at 93 - http://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/gordon-currie-namesake-of-currie-field-dead-at-93

Regina Leaderpost - Personal Reflections on the wonderful Mr. Currie - http://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnists/personal-reflections-on-the-wonderful-mr-currie

980 CJME -Honouring Gord Currie  - http://cjme.com/article/1163370/darrell-davis-honouring-gord-currie

980 CJME - Legendary Regina Coach and Educator Gordon Currie Dead at 93 http://cjme.com/article/1162335/legendary-regina-coach-educator-gordon-currie-dead-93
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