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Bob Arn was born in Kinistino, took his
early schooling close by and graduated from Prince Albert
Collegiate. After receiving his doctorate of Education degree from the
University of Washington, he taught in several rural schools before
settling in Saskatoon.
From 1947 to 1953, Doc Arn, as he was known,
led the City Park collegiate football team to four straight provincial
championships and guided the Saskatoon Hilltops to its first Canadian
Junior championship in 1953. He also coached basketball teams to three
Saskatchewan high school championships.
Hilltop players like Ron Atchison, Ray
Syrnyk, Wayne and Paul Anderson and Ron Adam had a taste of Arn’s
coaching and all moved up to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Arn
literally changed the direction of amateur football in Saskatchewan
replacing the slow, steady power game to a fast deceptive running game
mixed with the forward pass. He was a perfectionist. He expected it of
himself and from his players.
The
Saskatchewan Amateur Football Union honoured him in 1977. In 1981, the
Saskatchewan Roughriders honoured him. He is a member of the
Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame inducted 1982. |