| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1904-06-01)June 1, 1904 Sarnia,Ontario, Canada |
| Died | November 17, 1957(1957-11-17) (aged 53) Sarnia, Ontario, Canada |
| Career history | |
| 1928–1935 | Sarnia Imperials |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1963) | |
Norman (Norm) Perry (June 1, 1904 – November 17, 1957), nicknamed theGalloping Ghost, was a Canadianfootball player in theOntario Rugby Football Union for theSarnia Imperials for eight seasons. He was inducted into theCanadian Football Hall of Fame in 1963 and intoCanada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.
Born in 1904, Perry exhibited talent inlacrosse,hockey,baseball, andfootball. Perry turned down offers to play professional football in the United States, since hisImperial Oil refinery job in Sarnia'sChemical Valley[broken anchor] offered better pay.[1]
Perry played for the Sarnia Imperials for eight years, leading the team to seven Ontario Rugby Football Union titles and one Grey Cup title (1934,22nd Grey Cup against theRegina Roughriders).[2] Known for his speed, Perry scored 33 touchdowns in eight seasons (six regular games plus playoff games per season), and held a record for the most touchdowns scored in three consecutive years. He was named LeagueMost valuable player in 1934. A leg injury forced his retirement in 1935.[3] Perry served as president of the Ontario Rugby Football Union in 1953, ten years before his induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.[4]
In 1936, Perry ran for and was elected to anAlderman position on the SarniaCity Council. Three years later, at age 34, Perry was elected 56thMayor of the city of Sarnia. Perry serviced one term before being defeated in his 1940 attempt at re-election.[5]
Perry worked at theImperial Oil refinery inSarnia's chemical valley, serving as the safety supervisor and as an advisory board member for the Industrial Accident Prevention Association.[5][6]
TheNorm Perry Park (formerly Sarnia Athletic Field, also known asNorm Perry Memorial Park) in Sarnia, Ontario, is named in honour of Norm Perry; the park is home to theSarnia Imperials football team.[7]