 Warner in the early 1930s | |
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | End |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1903-03-30)March 30, 1903 Pierre, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | November 18, 1970(1970-11-18) (aged 67) Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 1924–1928 1931–1932 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
executive | |
| 1934–1970 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1965) | |
Clair Joseph Warner (March 30, 1903 – November 18, 1970) was an American-bornCanadian football player and executive. He played seven seasons with theSaskatchewan Roughriders, before starting an executive career that spanned 37 seasons until his death in 1970. He was a 1965 inductee to theCanadian Football Hall of Fame.
Warner was born on March 30, 1903, inPierre, South Dakota.[1] His family moved toCanada in 1917, when Warner was 14. He moved toRegina, Saskatchewan, two years later, and played juvenile football that year.[2]
From 1920 to 1924, Warner played junior football in Regina, before joining theSaskatchewan Roughriders in late 1924.[2][3] He played theend position, and spent 1924 to 1928, then again from 1931 to 1932 with the team, before retiring in 1933. He appeared in fourGrey Cup games with Saskatchewan, but did not win any.
After retiring, Warner accepted a position as aWestern Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU) executive. He re-joined the Roughriders one year later as general manager,[4] while keeping the other position. In 1941, Warner became the president of the Roughrider organization. He gave his general manager position toGreg Grassick, a former teammate of his, in 1950, but regained the role in 1951.[5] From 1961 until his death in 1970, he served on the Roughrider management committee.[6]
Warner also served for five years on the rules committee of theCanadian Rugby Union, and was WIFU president in 1948.[7]
In 1956, he was awarded the Canadian Rugby Union Plaque for his "outstanding contributions to football."[7] In 1965, he was inducted into theCanadian Football Hall of Fame.[8][9] In 1966, Warner was the first recipient of the Regina Sportsman of the Year award.[1]
From 1920 to 1921, Warner worked for the Union Bank, and afterwards was employed at Robert Simpson Western Ltd. In 1926, he joined Northwestern Electric Company, where he was employed until his retirement in 1962.[2]
DuringWorld War II, Warner served in the reserve army with theRegina Rifle Regiment.[2]
Warner was also active in several different organizations, with the Canadian Club, Regina Chamber of Commerce, Electric Service League, and Cathedral Men's Club of Holy Rosary Church. He also spent time with the Wascana Golf and Country Club, Assiniboia Club, the Saskatchewan chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America, the Wascana Winter Club, and was in the Regina United Appeal.[2]
With his wife, Nellie, Warner had one child.[2] He died on November 18, 1970, at the age of 67, in Regina.[2][10]
