Athlete, community activist.
Born at Winnipeg on 10 August 1930, son of Hugh Bell “Pop” McWhinney (c1882-1974) and Ruby Myrtle McWhinney (c1901-1970), he played football for the Weston Wildcats (1949-1950) and Edmonton Eskimos (1952-1954), with the latter seeing two Grey Cup appearances and one Championship (1954). In 1955, he joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and was named the Canadian Football League’s Most Valuable Canadian Player in his first season with the team. Following a broken neck during the 1956 season, he continued working for the organization as a team scout, including the team’s 1958 Grey Cup Championship year. He played and coached basketball in the Winnipeg Men’s Junior League (1951) and Senior League (1952-1963), including with the King’s Best (1956 and 1960, Winnipeg Champions) and Labatt’s Blues (1962, Winnipeg Champions). Other athletic endeavours included baseball with the Winnipeg Men’s Junior League (1949-1950) and Senior League (1951). He was also active with the Bronx Park Community Centre. His contributions to Manitoba sport were acknowledged with induction into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (2011). In 1956, he married Lily Hann and had five children. He died at Winnipeg on 14 April 2012. He is commemorated by Glen McWhinney Park.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Roch-Lin Park / Glenn McWhinney Park (401 Linden Avenue, Winnipeg)
Obituary [Ruby Myrtle McWhinney], Winnipeg Free Press, 30 July 1970, page 35.
Obituary [Hugh Bell McWhinney], Winnipeg Free Press, 18 October 1974, page 33.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 21 April 2012.
“Jets need to lock up goalie; Bombers play waiting game,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 April 2012, page C1.
“[April 14, Glenn McWhinney],” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 January 2013, page J4.
Standing Policy Committee on Protection, Community Services and Parks Regular Meeting Minutes, 12 May 2014, City of Winnipeg Clerks Decision Making Information System.
We thank Jeff McWhinney for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 28 April 2019
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