Donate Today EN | FR
Hall of Famers

Hall of Famer

TONY GOLAB

Inducted in 1975

Member Details

Date of Birth: January 17, 1919
Place of Birth: Windsor, Ontario
Date of Passing: October 16, 2016
Sport: Football
Member Category: Athlete

Career Highlights

1938

Sarnia Imperials - ORFU champions

1939-41

Ottawa Rough Riders

1940

Grey Cup - Ottawa Rough Riders

1941

Jeff Russel Trophy

Lionel Conacher Trophy

CP award as Canada's Outstanding Athlete

1945-50

Ottawa Rough Riders

1964

Inducted into Football Hall of Fame

1986

Named to the Order of Canada

Hall of Famer TONY GOLAB
Sport

Story

Tony Golab, the "Golden Boy" of Canadian football, began his career in 1938 with the Sarnia Imperials. In 1939, he joined the Ottawa Rough Riders and led them to the Grey Cup finals for three consecutive seasons, claiming the Cup in 1940. Considered to be one of the finest backfielders in the game, Golab received the Jeff Russel Trophy as the Big Four MVP in 1941. He also received the Lionel Conacher trophy as Canada's outstanding male athlete. Later that year, Golab's brilliant career was interrupted, and nearly terminated, when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a fighter pilot. He suffered severe shrapnel injuries when his plane was shot down in 1944, and he thought that his football days were over. Golab, however, made a miraculous recovery and was back in the game with the Rough Riders by 1945. The "Golden Boy" retired from the field in 1950, but his golden days of football were not over. Golab coached the Hamilton Panthers from 1952-53, and the Royal Military College team from 1954-57, leading them to three successive titles. He was appointed vice-president of the Atlantic Football Conference in 1959, and served as general manager for the Montreal Alouettes from 1968-69. Golab worked as a consultant to Sport Canada from 1972-84. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1964 and named to the Order of Canada in 1986.