Eugene Hearn

Builder (1994)

Speed Skating

Eugene Hearn was born in Odessa, Saskatchewan, in 1929. He moved to Saskatoon at an early age, played hockey and became involved in speed skating because the rink was virtually across the street.

He was a charter member of the Saskatoon Club in 1942 and among his souvenirs is a first-place certificate for the 440 yards in the Saskatoon speed skating championships of 1944. He was a member of a 1947 Lions Club team that included future Olympians Craig Mackay and Johnny Sands.

He was appointed coach of the Lions Speed Skating Club in 1956 and he was coach of the Saskatchewan team at the first Canada Winter Games held in Quebec City in 1967.

Eugene was secretary-treasurer and president of the Saskatchewan Amateur Speed Skating Association in the 1950s and, later in 1988, returned to the provincial executive as vice-president of officials.

He has officiated at a number of world events, including the Canada Cup in Regina. During the 1980s, he was chief starter at the men's all-round championships in Hammar, Norway, chief starter for the world junior championships in Quebec City in 1986, and chief starter at the women's championships at Milwaukee in 1987. He was also an official at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

Eugene has been honored on many occasions, including the Sask Sport Volunteer Award, Softball's Distinguished Service Award and the Dairy Producers Foundation Volunteer Award and his peers in the Canadian Speed Skating Association presented him with an award of excellence in 1987.