Frank McGibbon, The Man for All Seasons
Frank was raised in Cloverville, the son of John and Laura McGibbon. It is there, in the open fields and upon the frozen lakes that he developed a lifelong love of athletics and the great outdoors. As a teenager, Frank quickly mastered any sport he attempted garnering him local fame and recognition as a great natural athlete. Hockey, baseball, English rugby, softball and bowling came as naturally to him as breathing but, his first love and greatest contribution was to track and field.
Frank came back to Antigonish in 1947 to become the town's first ever Recreation Director and set the standard for those who followed. He came to be known as 'Mr Antigonish Sports' for his dedication to the development of our youth, athletics in general and his beloved Columbus Field. Throughout the 1950s through 1978 Frank was a fixture at Columbus Field where he could be found tending to the track, coaching the kids or reading up on the latest techniques for developing athletes. He was the first in the area to study footage of world class athletes and employ this as a coaching tool for his many young proteges. He also developed and implemented year round training for athletes to better prepare them for the world stage. Common practice today but, way ahead of times in his era.
Although Frank never had children of his own, generations of people throughout the county looked up to him as a father figure in their lives. Honest, steadfast and with a strong moral compass, Frank aspired to lead these young minds, molding them into the strong adults and citizens of today. He was known to patrol Main Street after dark to ensure his young athletes were not breaking curfew the night before games and track events. He believed strongly in athletics as a tool to sculpt self discipline and control. He wanted to harness the potential from each and every young person he met. Strong mind, strong will, strong body was his mantra.
The development and maintenance of Columbus Field in the early days was not an easy feat. There were no ride on mowers, John Deere tractors or fleet of service personnel. There was Frank and there were his students! Under his tutelage, these teenagers spent many Saturday mornings raking, digging, scraping and mowing that would come to be known as the best track and field venue and the envy of athletes and coaches alike throughout the Maritimes. He never shared his secret formula for keeping the track in such a state of perfection but, some of his former students might know. What they do know for certain was that Frank was a great man who has had a positive and lasting impact on their lives.
Left: Alex MacAdam Right: Frank McGibbon at Columbus Field
Frank was a humble man who was not in it for the fame or accolades. He was in it for the kids and his love of sports. This of course did not stop the awards from coming as he was inducted into The Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and presented with a special award from the Nova Scotia Track and Field Association for his thirty plus years of contributions.
by Karen Brow
It is most befitting that we should start this series with a man of great foresight and vision. A man who saw the potential in an overgrown hayfield along the banks of the river at the east end of town. Today this area is known as Columbus Field. Complete with tennis courts, ball diamonds, walking trails and home to the annual Antigonish Highland Games. This venue likely would not exist today if not for the contributions of Frank McGibbon. As testament to this, the lane way adjacent to the field has been named in his honour.
Frank came back to Antigonish in 1947 to become the town's first ever Recreation Director and set the standard for those who followed. He came to be known as 'Mr Antigonish Sports' for his dedication to the development of our youth, athletics in general and his beloved Columbus Field. Throughout the 1950s through 1978 Frank was a fixture at Columbus Field where he could be found tending to the track, coaching the kids or reading up on the latest techniques for developing athletes. He was the first in the area to study footage of world class athletes and employ this as a coaching tool for his many young proteges. He also developed and implemented year round training for athletes to better prepare them for the world stage. Common practice today but, way ahead of times in his era.
Although Frank never had children of his own, generations of people throughout the county looked up to him as a father figure in their lives. Honest, steadfast and with a strong moral compass, Frank aspired to lead these young minds, molding them into the strong adults and citizens of today. He was known to patrol Main Street after dark to ensure his young athletes were not breaking curfew the night before games and track events. He believed strongly in athletics as a tool to sculpt self discipline and control. He wanted to harness the potential from each and every young person he met. Strong mind, strong will, strong body was his mantra.
The development and maintenance of Columbus Field in the early days was not an easy feat. There were no ride on mowers, John Deere tractors or fleet of service personnel. There was Frank and there were his students! Under his tutelage, these teenagers spent many Saturday mornings raking, digging, scraping and mowing that would come to be known as the best track and field venue and the envy of athletes and coaches alike throughout the Maritimes. He never shared his secret formula for keeping the track in such a state of perfection but, some of his former students might know. What they do know for certain was that Frank was a great man who has had a positive and lasting impact on their lives.
Left: Alex MacAdam Right: Frank McGibbon at Columbus Field
Frank was a humble man who was not in it for the fame or accolades. He was in it for the kids and his love of sports. This of course did not stop the awards from coming as he was inducted into The Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and presented with a special award from the Nova Scotia Track and Field Association for his thirty plus years of contributions.
by Karen Brow
Is that Dr. Randy Cormier, in the background of the picture of Frank and Alex MacAdam?
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