Page 24 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 143

24 Issue #143 December 2024 www.sportsenergynews.com

Continued from page 22 and four granddaughters, Elodie, Deputy Chief, and Fire Chief. him he wanted to work on each
least give it a try. I ended up playing Josiane, Emeline, and Ariane. Their For several years he was a member component of his game, the swing,
two games with Pembroke, it was grandson, Louis, passed away fifty of the union executive, becoming chipping, and putting; everything
minutes afterbirth. from A to Z. “I asked Hank how
a two and a half hour drive back to the Eastern Ontario Vice President
Cornwall after home games. I got Richard’s father, Lloyd, was a of the Ontario Professional Fire long he thought it would take, and
back from the game at 2am and had Sergeant with the Cornwall Police, Fighters Association (OPFFA) for he replied 12 hours. I enquired
about hotels nearby and Hank
to be at work in the morning. I wasn’t and it was Richard’s plan to follow six years. For ten years Richard
said that I could stay at his house.
able to make any of the practices in his dad’s footsteps. “My father was involved in charity work as
I ended up being there for a week.
and was going to be a step behind was a smart man; he called me into Chairman of Sparky’s Toy Drive
We were on the golf course for
with only playing one or two games his office one day and told me I for the Cornwall Professional
fourteen hours each day, from 6:30
each week. Ralph wanted me to stay was not getting on this department Fire Fighters’ Association, raising
in the morning until almost dark.”
on, but with missing practices, the because he worked there, and it just money for new toys to donate, along
I was Hank’s guest and able to
travel involved, and being recently was not going to happen,” Richard with used toys, at Christmas time.
play his course. Richard had many
married, it was just too much.” reminisced. He suggested I apply “The business community and the
follow-up lessons with Hank over
Continuing to play Jr B as a 19 next door with the Fire Department, people were always very generous 35 years. They became friends,
saying he would support me 100%. with their donations. Recalling
and 20-yr-old, Richard was the with Richard saying, “I owe a lot to
top scorer and league MVP. “I got That is what I did, and one year later his thirty-five years with the Hank for improving my all around
married on my 19th birthday on I was hired at the age of twenty.” Cornwall Fire Department, Richard golf game.” Hank Haney went on
Richard spent thirty-five years with said, “It was never a job, it was a
October 7th, 1978, on Thanksgiving to coach Tiger Woods from 2004
weekend, and I’m proud to say that the Cornwall Fire Department, career.” Currently you must have until 2010, with Woods winning
retiring in 2015 as Fire Chief. He an education (firefighter’s college
my high school sweetheart, Colette six majors, ranked #1 in the world.
Moise, and I, are still together became the first Cornwall resident course) to be hired. He also coached two-time Major
forty-six years later.” Richard hired by the Dept. to hold every rank; Staying involved in hockey, winner Mark O’Meara for many
Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain,
and Colette have three daughters, Richard coached his youngest years. Mark was also the #1 ranked
Josee, Lisanne, and Jo-Anie, daughter, Jo-Anie’s, hockey team player in the world in 1998.
for seven years. He was also an
Of his more than thirty
assistant coach with the CharLan
Rebels in the Eastern Ontario Jr B tournament wins, Richard considers
his 2018 victory in the Quebec
Hockey League for two seasons, but
golf was always his main sport. “I Seniors Match Play to be his
played occasionally with my Dad greatest accomplishment. “It was
the tournament that I enjoyed the
and my brothers growing up, and I
became a member at Upper Canada most, I was 58-years-old at the
time, playing with my peers and
in 1979. I became a full member
at the Cornwall Golf and Country there were a few past champions
Club in 1982 and I’ve been there playing as well.” Richard won
his four matches 8&7, 5&4, 2up,
ever since.” His game continued to
improve and in 1982 Richard went and 5&3, to become the winner.
Richard played in the Canadian
to the famous Pinehurst Golf Club
in North Carolina for one week at a Amateur twice, a tournament only
Golf Academy to take lessons from 156 golfers from across the country
qualify for. Richard’s goal now
professional instructors. “I learned a
lot there to improve my game, but is to qualify for the Golf Canada
Senior Championship once again.
I wasn’t satisfied.” Richard stated,
“I wanted private lessons. There He has accomplished this on three
was an instructor there who paid me occasions. Summing up his golf
career Richard said, “I’ve been able
a lot of attention. In 1984, I wrote
a letter to Pinehurst asking about to play on excellent golf courses
and compete in local, provincial,
private lessons with him. His name
was Hank Haney, and he had moved and Golf Canada tournaments, I’ve
Nolan Quinn, MPP to Houston, Texas. tremendously enjoyed playing with
STORMONT-DUNDAS-SOUTH GLENGARRY both local, and outside Cornwall,
120 SECOND STREET W. CORNWALL, ON K6J 1G5 Richard contacted Hank, telling
NOLAN.QUINN@PC.OLA.ORG 613-933-6513 players.”
NOLANQUINNMPP.CA