Dr. Peter Fowler, Peter Campbell, Peter Ewing . . .

Astounding and amazing lifetime achievements

Basketball, figure skating, and a swimmer who became a world renown surgeon

Sometimes it's simply astounding to look at a particular person's accomplishments, and not be simply amazed.
At the annual Woodstock Sports wall of Fame ceremony on Oct 28, that would apply to all three honourees in the Lifetime Achievement category, namely Dr Peter Fowler, Peter Campbell and the late Ross Garner.
Here are some details on all three, long with Peter Ewing, who is someone I have greatly admired since high school.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

        Dr Peter Fowler

He was previously recognized in 2002 at the induction ceremony as a ‘male athlete’ as a Pan-Am Games medallist as a swimmer, winning silver in Chicago in 1959 in the 4 x 100 metre medley with Bob Wheaton, Cameron Grout and Steve Rabinovitch. Fowler also competed in the Pan-Am Games in 1955.

At Western University, he won 15 medals in the Ontario-Quebec conference in swimming.

At Woodstock Collegiate Institute, he also played basketball, football and volleyball, before graduating in 1956. 

By the way, his Dad was a pharmacist locally and his store was located at 533 Dundas Street.

Lifetime achievement is the category of induction in 2017 for an extremely impressive resume in medicine, including significant contributions to the sports medical community with Fowler-Kennedy Clinic in London; co-founded in 1974 along with the late Dr. Jack Kennedy. Simply put, Dr. Peter Fowler is a pioneer in orthopedic surgery.

He was a president of the American orthopedic society for sports medicine.

He was a ‘W Club’ hall of fame member at Western University in London.

Fowler has received the Sport Medicine Council of Canada Lifetime Achievement Award, was the first recipient of the Western Alumni Professional Achievement Award, and has served as Chief Medical Officer to Canadian National teams at Commonwealth and Olympic Games, including the 1984 Winter Olympics.

Peter Fowler was chief medical officer in sports injuries for the middle east country of Qatar, beginning in 2007.

He was also among the original inductees in London sports hall of fame in 2002.

Dr Peter Fowler

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

       Peter Campbell

A Woodstock educator who became prominent on the national stage as a basketball coach.

Peter Campbell had an extremely impressive 34 years as an OUA basketball head coach at both Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (16 years; school’s all-time leader for wins) and Sudbury’s Laurentian Voyageurs (2 OUA championships). He retired after the 2016 season as the all-time Laurier leader in wins with over 150, leading the Golden Hawks to the playoffs for 14 straight seasons. He was a conference coach of the year and guided the Hawks to a CIS (U-Sports) national tournament placement as well.

At Laurentian, Campbell’s squad won two OUA Wilson Cup titles – 1998 and 2000. He was OUA East coach of the year 5 times including 1993, 94 and 97. He was CIS coach of the year in 1997. Laurentian won OUA Wilson Cup league championships in 1998 and 2000. Peter Campbell was Inducted in the Laurentian hall of fame in 2010.
Previously, was also head coach of the Fanshawe Falcons women’s team, coached Team Ontario in women’s tournaments, coached at the national level at the Goodwill Games in Australia and other events, including youth U18.

Campbell began his university career with the Western Mustangs in 1982 as an assistant coach.

He began coaching / teaching career in Woodstock at Oliver Stephens public school and at CASS, and coached a youth girls’ team to a provincial championship in both 1974 and 1975.

Peter Campbell

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT       

        Ross Garner

Another pioneer.

In junior pairs figure skating, he was 2nd at the nationals in 1964 with Sharon Davis as partner. Competition was in North Bay. 

The next year in Calgary, they were silver medallists at the Canadian championships again.

Ross Garner had earlier won at the junior level in Western Ontario Sectionals competitions.

He would be named an alternate for Canada’s Winter Olympics team in 1964.

Ross Garner competed in singles and ice dance also, winning medals at Western Ontario sectionals in the early 1960s. At one time, Ross Garner and Sharon Davis were the reigning champions in Western Ontario in all 4 divisions.

Ross Garner climbed the ladder very quickly as he didn’t pass his first figures and dance tests until he was 15, and that was 1957.  In her speech, his sister noted that Ross was extremely successful in figure skating despite having poor eye sight. 

Ross would then coach within the Woodstock Figure Skating Club.

After a competitive figure skating career, he not only became a power skating coach, but was considered a true pioneer in the techniques of power skating and was an instructor throughout North America -- for figure skating but also power skating technique for NHL teams including Boston and Detroit.

Ross Garner passed away in April of 2006.

Ross Garner & Sharon Davis

BUILDER OF SPORT

       Peter Ewing

A long-time Woodstock high school basketball coach, including OFSAA silver in 1975 with a CASS boys’ senior team. Ewing began coaching locally in 1965. Also known for his years coaching and teaching at WCI, beginning in 1982. At WCI he coached John Campbell (Peter's son), who is now coach of the Toronto Varsity Blues.

Peter also played for Woodstock Kings in men’s intermediate basketball. 

From Hamilton originally, Peter Ewing was accomplished at hockey, basketball, golf and baseball, but with 4 years as point guard for the McMaster university team he excelled in basketball as the McMaster captain and MVP in the 1964-65 season.

As a coach, it’s often said that developing student athletes and youth in areas such as teamwork and commitment, is as important as teaching general court skills.

Besides his dedication to high school athletics, Peter also spent 25 years as an instructor at the summer Olympia youth camps.

Peter Ewing also guided many young coaches following in his footsteps.

Along with Peter Oswald – both of the Lions Club of Woodstock – Peter Ewing was co-chair of Terry Fox Run in Woodstock in 2016. 

Peter Ewing

LINKS:
http://www.rogerstv.com/show?lid=12&rid=15&sid=7655&gid=284658
www.cityofwoodstock.ca