Athletic Lives of Distinction - A - L
A - F
Coburn, Tom "Pro"
In 1917, Pro came to Ridley as both groundsman and cricket professional, coaching the sport from 1917-49 and winning 15 Championships along the way. His physical efforts and tireless dedication to his work were critical to the success of hockey at the school during that period. Ridley's boys had such affection for him that they made excuses or looked for work they could do at the rink, just to be around him.
After two years of valiant attempts to make ice in a climate that did not want to cooperate, on December 8, 1950, Pro was chosen to drop the puck on Ridley's brand new artificial ice, a moment which ushered in the modern era of the game at the school. “Pro died in 1968 having influenced more Ridleians than he could have ever imagined," reflected historian Paul Lewis. "His life was very happily 'consumed in service.'"
After two years of valiant attempts to make ice in a climate that did not want to cooperate, on December 8, 1950, Pro was chosen to drop the puck on Ridley's brand new artificial ice, a moment which ushered in the modern era of the game at the school. “Pro died in 1968 having influenced more Ridleians than he could have ever imagined," reflected historian Paul Lewis. "His life was very happily 'consumed in service.'"
P.O. Box 3013, 2 Ridley Road St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 7C3 Canada 905 684 1889
With more than 700 students from 60 countries, the largest boarding programme in Ontario and the third largest in Canada, Ridley College is a truly international, co-educational, day and boarding school of the world that prepares students for the world. It has provided enriching learning and life-shaping experiences focused on the arts, academics, and athletics since 1889. Ridley’s Lower School offers JK-Grade 8, its Upper School consists of Grade 9-PG, and Ridley graduates attend some of the top universities and colleges around the world. Ridley is the only co-ed independent boarding school in Canada and one of only three in North America authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum programme.
