Larry Uteck
Encyclopedia
Larry Uteck was a Canadian
professional football athlete, university sports administrator, football coach, and municipal politician.
of Ukrainian descent, Larry Uteck attended Jesuit-run Brebeuf College School
in Toronto where he was a football star and Athlete of the Year. He then went to the University of Colorado
(1970-73) on scholarship, playing with the Colorado Buffaloes
, and then Wilfrid Laurier University
(1973-74). Following university, he played with the Toronto Argonauts
, BC Lions
, Ottawa Rough Riders
, and Montreal Alouettes
in the Canadian Football League and was named Conference All-Star in 1974, 1975, and 1976. He served his fellow players as their League Representative in 1976.
He joined the sports program at Saint Mary's University
in 1982, and became Head Football Coach of the Saint Mary's Huskies
in 1983 and continued through 1997, compiling a winning record. He was named AUAA
Coach of the Year in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1992. He was named CIAU
Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1992. His teams appeared in five Atlantic Bowl
s and three Vanier Cup
s. In 1995, he was named interim Director of Athletics and Recreation and was formally appointed Director in 1997, a position in which he continued until his death.
Uteck also worked for the larger Halifax community, notably as Deputy Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, and was a champion of the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project. His deep love for his community took him into municipal politics and he was elected Alderman for the City of Halifax
, Ward 5. He served two years (1994-95) and was elected to the first Halifax Regional Municipal Council for District 13 (Northwest Arm-South End), where he served from 1995-1999. His quiet, but tenacious and thoughtful leadership saw him elected Deputy Mayor in 1998. He served with distinction on numerous HRM Committees including the Downtown Business Commission, Neptune Theatre
, and the Halifax Port Corporation
. His wife, Sue succeeded him as Councillor for District 13 in 1999.
Uteck married Sue Maloney in 1989, and they had two children, Luke and Cain.
in October 2002. It was one of the few honours he would accept following the diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(ALS aka Lou Gehrig
's disease) in 1997.
The only other honour he would accept was the naming of "Larry Uteck Boulevard" in February 2000.
Following his death, and in consideration of his longtime Canadian football career as a professional athlete in the CFL, and coach at Saint Mary's University and as the university's athletic director, it was decided that the Churchill Bowl would be retired, with the Mitchell Bowl taking the place of the Churchill Bowl, and a new championship be named in Uteck's memory. Thus, the Uteck Bowl
formally replaced the Atlantic Bowl
.
His alma mater, Brebeuf College School, honoured him by renaming its sports field the Larry Uteck Memorial Field in 2004.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional football athlete, university sports administrator, football coach, and municipal politician.
Life
Born in Thornhill, OntarioThornhill, Ontario
Thornhill is a community in the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the northern border of the city of Toronto. Once a municipal village, Thornhill is now a community and postal designation geographically split into two municipalities along Yonge Street, the city of...
of Ukrainian descent, Larry Uteck attended Jesuit-run Brebeuf College School
Brebeuf College School
Brebeuf College School is a Roman Catholic all-boys' high school in Toronto founded by the Jesuits in 1963 and associated with the Presentation Brothers since 1984...
in Toronto where he was a football star and Athlete of the Year. He then went to the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
(1970-73) on scholarship, playing with the Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado Buffaloes
The University of Colorado Boulder sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's team are called the Buffaloes or Golden Buffaloes . "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993...
, and then Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
(1973-74). Following university, he played with the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
, Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
, and Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
in the Canadian Football League and was named Conference All-Star in 1974, 1975, and 1976. He served his fellow players as their League Representative in 1976.
He joined the sports program at Saint Mary's University
Saint Mary's University (Halifax)
Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. The school is best known for having nationally lead programs in Business, Astronomy and International Development Studies as well, one of the best football and Men's hockey programs in Canada .The campus is situated in Halifax's...
in 1982, and became Head Football Coach of the Saint Mary's Huskies
Saint Mary's Huskies
The Saint Mary's Huskies are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their primary home turf is Huskies Stadium located in the centre of the University's campus....
in 1983 and continued through 1997, compiling a winning record. He was named AUAA
Atlantic University Sport
Atlantic University Sport is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public and...
Coach of the Year in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1992. He was named CIAU
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1992. His teams appeared in five Atlantic Bowl
Atlantic Bowl
The Atlantic Bowl was one of the two national semifinal men's football games of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The winner of the Atlantic Bowl would meet the winner of the Churchill Bowl for the Vanier Cup...
s and three Vanier Cup
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
s. In 1995, he was named interim Director of Athletics and Recreation and was formally appointed Director in 1997, a position in which he continued until his death.
Uteck also worked for the larger Halifax community, notably as Deputy Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, and was a champion of the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project. His deep love for his community took him into municipal politics and he was elected Alderman for the City of Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Ward 5. He served two years (1994-95) and was elected to the first Halifax Regional Municipal Council for District 13 (Northwest Arm-South End), where he served from 1995-1999. His quiet, but tenacious and thoughtful leadership saw him elected Deputy Mayor in 1998. He served with distinction on numerous HRM Committees including the Downtown Business Commission, Neptune Theatre
Neptune Theatre (Halifax)
The Neptune Theatre is the largest professional theatre company in Atlantic Canada with a capacity of 497 and is located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It performs a mixture of new and classical plays....
, and the Halifax Port Corporation
Halifax Port Authority
The Halifax Port Authority is a port authority operating as a not-for-profit Crown corporation of the Government of Canada. HPA has responsibility for all federally-owned waterfront properties on Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.The HPA was created on March 1, 1999...
. His wife, Sue succeeded him as Councillor for District 13 in 1999.
Uteck married Sue Maloney in 1989, and they had two children, Luke and Cain.
Honours
Uteck's remarkable leadership and vision were recognized when he was named a Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in October 2002. It was one of the few honours he would accept following the diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
(ALS aka Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
's disease) in 1997.
The only other honour he would accept was the naming of "Larry Uteck Boulevard" in February 2000.
Following his death, and in consideration of his longtime Canadian football career as a professional athlete in the CFL, and coach at Saint Mary's University and as the university's athletic director, it was decided that the Churchill Bowl would be retired, with the Mitchell Bowl taking the place of the Churchill Bowl, and a new championship be named in Uteck's memory. Thus, the Uteck Bowl
Uteck Bowl
The Uteck Bowl is one of the two semifinals in Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's football, held in the easternmost of the two semifinal venues. The Uteck Bowl champion moves on to face the Mitchell Bowl champion for the Vanier Cup...
formally replaced the Atlantic Bowl
Atlantic Bowl
The Atlantic Bowl was one of the two national semifinal men's football games of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The winner of the Atlantic Bowl would meet the winner of the Churchill Bowl for the Vanier Cup...
.
His alma mater, Brebeuf College School, honoured him by renaming its sports field the Larry Uteck Memorial Field in 2004.