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Hall of Famers

Hall of Famer

WILLIAM CECIL CHRISTMAS

Inducted in 2015

Member Details

Date of Birth: 1879
Date of Passing: 1941
Sport: Multisport
Member Category: Athlete

Career Highlights

1897

Intermediate Provincial Champions with the Britannia Football Club, Fullback

1898

Intermediate Provincial and Interprovincial Champions with the Britannia Football Club, Halfback

Interprovincial Champions with the Montreal Lacrosse Club (M.A.A.A.), Multi-position 

1899

Intermediate Champions with the Montreal Hockey Club (M.A.A.A.), Forward

Interprovincial Champions with the Montreal Lacrosse Club (M.A.A.A.), Centre

Won the lightweight title at an M.A.A.A. boxing competition.

1900

Intermediate Champions with the Montreal Hockey Club (M.A.A.A.), Forward

Hall of Famer WILLIAM CECIL CHRISTMAS
Sport

Story

Very few athletes ever achieve elite levels in four different sports.  William Cecil “Billy” Christmas was one of the few who did. At the turn of the century, this young teenager, the third of eight boys in his family, demonstrated the telltale signs of incredible athletic talent that included rugby, hockey, lacrosse, and boxing.  

In his teens, Billy joined the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (M.A.A.A.) which supported his efforts. Billy played for the Montreal Hockey Club and the Montreal Lacrosse Club. On the off season, he played for the Britannia (Rugby) Club where he was considered the “the Prince of Halfbacks”.  In 1899 he entered an M.A.A.A. boxing competition, winning the lightweight title.

Billy had to overcome a number of tragedies later in his life including the death of his daughter, financial loss, and the loss of his beloved wife. The project that was closest to Billy’s heart was his belief in accessible healthcare for the poor and he worked diligently to recruit similar thinkers within the health care system and in the general public before his death at age 61.