A triumphant trio were inducted into the University of Calgary Athletic Hall of Fame Tue., Mar. 23 in recognition of their achievements and contributions to the school and the sports community as a whole. Deryk Snelling, Norm Minor and Gaylene Barry bring the tally of U of C Hall of Famers to 12.
Snelling obtained his recognition in the builder category. He coached swimming at U of C from 1980-1996, capturing nine national men’s titles and seven Canadian Interuniversity Sport Coach of the Year awards in the process.
Aside from coaching in Calgary, his illustrious career also includes heading up Canadian teams in international competitions such as the Olympics and World Championships. He was also head coach for Great Britain’s national swim team at the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Sydney, Australia.
Snelling is certainly no rookie when it comes to hall of fame ceremonies. He has already been named to the Alberta Sport Hall of Fame, the Canadian Swimming Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He has also been endowed with the prestigious honour of the Order of Canada.I suppose it’s about time the U of C put him on their list.
Minor was acknowledged in the athlete category, having competed as a Dino in both hockey and football from 1967-1970. He not only spent two years as co-captain for each team, but was named U of C’s Male Athlete of the Year in 1970.
Minor graduated in 1971 with a BA and a BEd He later went on to receive an MA and his PhD. He has spread his knowledge and athletic greatness as a teacher and coach in the Rockyview School District for 25 years.
Barry was also inducted as an athlete, playing Dinos volleyball from 1968-1972 and field hockey from 1969-1972. She was captain of the volleyball team in 1968 and 1969 and was named University of Calgary Female Athlete of the Year in both 1970 and 1972.
In the 1969-70 season she helped the Dinos women’s volleyball team capture their first national title and went on to represent Canada at the World University Games in Torino, Italy.
In non-university play, Barry was also a member of the Calgary team that prevailed at the Canadian Junior Volleyball Championships in 1969.
Furthermore, in the 1971-72 season she was named an all-star at the Field Hockey National Championships for her expertise on the Alberta provincial team.
After convocation, Barry competed internationally for the Canadian national women’s field hockey team from 1972–1977.
Barry has been working in the Calgary Board of Education for the past 32 years and received a Master of Education degree from the U of C in 1996.
Congratulations are in order for the three newest U of C Athletic Hall of Famers. May their names live on forever.