Jimmy Dunn | |
|---|---|
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| Born | James Archibald Dunn March 24, 1898 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | January 7, 1979 (aged 80) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Occupation | Canadian National Railway clerk |
| Known for | |
| Spouse | Mary Dunn |
| Awards | |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Years of service | 1916–1918 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
James Archibald Dunn (March 24, 1898 – January 7, 1979) was a Canadian sports executive involved in ice hockey, baseball, fastpitch softball, athletics, football and curling. He was president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) from 1955 to 1957, after five years as vice-president. He assumed control of the CAHA when it failed to produce a Canada men's national team which would win the Ice Hockey World Championships, and recommended forming a national all-star team based on the nucleus of the reigning Allan Cup champion. Wanting to create goodwill in international hockey, accompanied the Kenora Thistles on an exhibition tour of Japan, then arranged for the Japan men's national team to tour Canada. In junior ice hockey, he was opposed mass transfers of players to the stronger teams sponsored by the National Hockey League, and supported weaker provincial champions to have additional players during the Memorial Cup playoffs. He later represented the CAHA as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee for 15 years.
Dunn began in hockey as secretary of the Winnipeg Junior and Juvenile Hockey League, followed by 17 years as secretary, convenor and timekeeper at the Olympic Rink after joining the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). He sat on the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) executive from 1929 to 1954, and was president from 1945 to 1950. He openly discussed hockey issues with the press, and encouraged rural Manitoba communities to develop hockey programs. His presidency coincided with the MAHA's biggest growth, best financial situation, and grants to develop minor ice hockey. He later served as commissioner of the MJHL from 1964 to 1966, agreed to televise games and sought to increase attendance. He co-founded an annual golf tournament to benefit retired hockey players, which led to the establishment of the Manitoba Hockey Players' Foundation.
After managing a baseball team in the 1930s, Dunn served on the Manitoba Diamond Ball Association executive, and was president of the Greater Winnipeg Senior Baseball League from 1942 to 1946. He helped establish the Western Canada Baseball Association to govern senior and junior baseball, as its first vice-president in 1945. He oversaw girls' fastpitch softball and served as president of the Greater Winnipeg Senior Girls' Softball League from 1941 to 1946. He led efforts to establish a provincial governing body for men's and women's fastpitch softball, then became the founding president of the Manitoba Fastball Association. He was elected the first president the Manitoba Senior Baseball League, and oversaw its reorganization into the Mandak League with expansion into North Dakota in 1950, then served as league president for two seasons.
Dunn was a lieutenant with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I, and a Canadian Army Reserve commanding officer during World War II. He was an executive with the Manitoba branch of the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada, and the original timekeeper of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for 42 years. He was president of the Winnipeg Thistle Curling Club, and served on the Manitoba Curling Association executive. He was married to fellow sports executive Mary Dunn, and was known locally as "Mr. Hockey".[1][2] The Winnipeg Tribune wrote that "no single individual in Manitoba has made a more significant contribution to sport",[3] and that his leadership assured the success of any sport organization.[4] He was a life member of multiple sporting organizations, and was inducted into the builder category of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
- ^ Carter, Moe (May 25, 1974). "CAHA Honours Dunn". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 67.
- ^ "Jimmie Dunn Enters Hall". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. June 12, 1968. p. 62.
- ^ Matheson, Jack (November 10, 1962). "Thistle Curling Club history in the flesh". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 32.
- ^ Leah, Vince (April 22, 1943). "From the Sidelines". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. p. 17.