Boxing suffered another sad setback as long-time coach Ken McNorgan passed away on Wednesday morning. This is the second passing of a coaching icon for the southwest region in the past week. Frank Rodriguez, also of London, passed away last Thursday. Boxing Ontario extends its condolences to both the McNorgan and Rodriguez families in this time of remembrance.
Ken had partnered with Frank in running the boxing program at the London Memorial Boys and Girls Club back in the 1970’s. He then started and ran the East London Boxing Club from the early 1980’s until he passed the club over to Ring London in 1999.
Ken is very well respected in the boxing community, having trained more than a few very accomplished boxers in his time, including Olympian Casey Paton and brothers, Bob and Jason Gnay who dominated the heavy and super heavyweight division for years.
Ken was 71 years old at the time of his death. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy as one of Canada’s first submariners in the British submarine, HMS Amphian. He retired from Labatt Breweries around the year 2000 after 30 years of service and from more than 25 years as a boxing coach. He reached National Coach status at numerous international events.
Ken was an extremely easy going and generous man who willingly gave thousands of hours of his personal time to the betterment of the youth of the London community; treating every participant with the utmost respect, without ever speaking an angry word. Ken never turned a kid away for lack of resources and genuinely cared about the welfare of his atheltes both in and out of the boxing gym.
Visitors for Ken McNorgan will be received at John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 o’clock. Funeral Mass at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 1 Fallon Lane, London, Saturday morning at 10 o’clock. Cremation with inurnment in St. Peter’s Cemetery at a later date. If you wish to make a donation, please consider the London Regional Cancer Program. View Ad as seen in The London Free Press, Published: Nov 24, 2005.
Special thanks to Heather Fex and Kelly O’Connor for their contributions.
Provincial Programs Now Posted
The Programs for the Provincial Open Championships are now posted. To view them visit the CHAMPION SERIES section of the website, or take the long route and click on “Events” and “Tournaments & Provincials” on the side menu. Once you are in the Champion Series section, simply select the appropriate column to see Programs for the 2006 Junior & Senior Open Provincials.
Keep checking back to this section, and our Latest News section, on the weekend to see all the up-to-date results from this exciting tournament!
Please be advised that Friday’s Program will begin at 6PM, instead of the usual 7pm, as there are 21 bouts on the evening schedule. Saturday (1pm & 7pm) and Sunday (12pm) will commence at the regular tournament times. Here are a few other important notes for the weekend:
– Inclement winter weather (snowfall throughout Southwestern Ontario) is expected for the next few days. Coaches please allow ample time for the drive to Sarnia! Leave earlier and please drive safe!
– Weigh-ins on Friday are from 12pm-2pm. Saturday and Sunday weigh-ins are from 8am-9am. All weigh-ins at the host hotel, the Drawbridge Inn.
– Boxers only have to weigh-in on the day they box. If they box more than once, they must weigh-in each day they box. If a boxer fails to make weight they cannot bump up to the next weight class. Athletes must make the weight they registered for as this is a provincial tournament and qualifying event for the Nationals.
– We do not carry over “credits” for registration. All registration fees ($10 per boxer) are given to the host club immediately following the tournament. Therefore if your boxer does not get a bout because their opponent canceled you must contact Boxing Ontario immediately following the tournament to reclaim your $10. Once the fees are turned over to the host club this is non-refundable. These fees support the host club for executing a tournament that benefits our membership.
– If for some unforeseen emergency a boxer cannot make their bout, please be courteous and contact Boxing Ontario and the opponent club immediately to notify the bout is canceled. All clubs who withdraw their boxers will be charged a $20 penalty per boxer. This fee can be waived if a medical is provided to Head Office.
Drive safe and good luck to all competitors!
