Memorable Manitobans: Donald Beresford “Don” Smith (1924-2001)

Athlete, municipal official.

Born at Vancouver, British Columbia on 16 December 1924, he moved with his family to Winnipeg in 1932, where he attended Earl Grey School, Kelvin High School, and the University of Winnipeg. He was a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1946 to 1949, playing in two Grey Cup games. Active in amateur sport in Winnipeg, he was head coach of the Weston Wildcats Junior Football Team, winning the Western Canadian championship in 1952 and 1953. He served as a member of the Football Official Association, Past President of the Manitoba Amateur Football Association, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers Alumni Association, and a Director on the Winnipeg Blue Bomber Executive for 16 years. In the mid-1970s, he served two terms on the Winnipeg city council, representing the Wildwood and Pembina wards. He died at Winnipeg on 16 November 2001. He is commemorated by Don Smith Park in Winnipeg.

Sources:

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 20 November 2001.

“We will not forget them,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 December 2001, page B3.

We thank Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 9 October 2017

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:

Custom Search

Browse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Browse deaths occurring in:
1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024


Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca

Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements

Help us keep
history alive!