Category: Inductees-

Dynasties are hard to come by in sports, especially curling, but for Prince Albert’s Marjorie Olson, that term certainly applies.

Born in Glenalen, Ontario, Olson moved to the Kinistino district at the age of 14 and a decade later she settled in Prince Albert.

Olson began her competitive curling career in the early 1940s and by the end of that decade she was one of the premier skips in the province.

In fact, beginning in 1948, Olson was a member of seven straight northern champion rinks with the last six seeing her throwing skip stones. In 1951 everything came together for Olson as she became the first Prince Albert woman to win the T. Eaton Trophy as provincial women’s curling champion. Joining Olson on the championship team were Peggy McQuarrie at third. Scotty Johnston at second and Florence Jackson at lead.

The same foursome repeated as northern champions in 1952, but lost out in the provincial final. Olson had to alter her team’s composition for each of the next three years, but the results were still the same as she continued her domination in the northern play downs.

Then in 1955, with just Jackson remaining from the championship team of four years earlier, Olson made a return trip to the top of the provincial women’s curling scene. Joining Olson and Jackson were Mary Reid at second and Isabelle Hill at third. The Olson foursome went one level higher this time taking the Western Canadian Championship held in Winnipeg.

Olson continued to curl at a club level for the next nine years, and in 1964 the inaugural Saskatchewan Legion Auxiliary Championship was held in Melfort and once again Olson rose to the top of the provincial field. Joining Olson on this rink were Jackson at third, Audrey Dent at second and Betty Bassett at lead.

Olson curled competitively for the remainder of the decade and into the early 1970’s and during this time she skipped another rink to a northern title despite being 65 years of age. Olson added a couple of more district titles in the senior women’s playdowns early in the 1970s before her career finally slowed down.

A dominant figure in the prize presentations at local bonspiels throughout her career, she was honoured by the Prince Albert Ladies Curling Club with a life membership in 1973.

The legacy of Marj Olson is truly a rich one and the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame is proud to include her on its honour roll in the athlete’s category.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

Defying the odds was a way of life for Tom Settee.

Born in Prince Albert in 1914 Settee grew up with a lung disorder which ultimately required medical attention. At the age of 23, Settee turned to boxing to try to improve his respiratory capabilities.

That proved to be a wise decision as “Little Chief” went on to a very successful boxing career in both the amateur and professional ranks.

Settee began boxing under the tutelage of Tommie Elvery in 1937 and for two years fought a series of bouts working toward a shot at the welterweight (under 147 pounds) championship. When the Second World War broke out, Settee went overseas to serve his country. He did not quit boxing, however, with between 60 and 70 fights during that time, including three consecutive appearances in the Canadian Army championship. Settee reached the final in the welterweight division on each occasion, losing in 1942 and 1943 before claiming the gold medal in 1944. That feat is made more impressive by the fact it took victories in 16 bouts to be declared champion.

Settee was injured later in the war and after his discharge became a professional boxer. Despite having a piece of shrapnel lodged in his hip, Settee went on to win 13 of 15 professional fights.

Fighting under the name of Tommy Deschambeault (his mother’s maiden name), Settee captured the Western Canadian welterweight and middleweight (under 160 pounds) championships before retiring in 1948.

Settee continued his involvement in the sport on his return to Prince Albert, offering his expertise to local boxing enthusiasts.

In 1991, Settee was inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.

Despite approaching middle‑age, Olga Johnston took up archery and for 17 years she was a dominant figure in that sport both at the provincial and national levels.

Johnston joined the Prince Albert Archery Club in 1969 at the tender age of 37. The first three years of competitive archery were a learning process for Johnston as she entered numerous provincial championships, but never made it to the winner’s podium.

In 1973, however, that all changed.

Johnston captured the Wascana Invitational and provincial Felkl and Hunter competitions that year to push her well into the top 10 in provincial women’s rankings. One year later Johnston captured her first provincial title when she topped the list at the Saskatchewan indoor championships held in Prince Albert.

Johnston later finished third at the Canadian outdoor championships, also held in Prince Albert, and from that performance Johnston was included in the Canadian team which competed at the 1974 world championships in Zagreb, Yugoslavia.

Although Johnston finished 1lth at the world championships, it was easily the highlight of her career. In total, Johnston competed at 10 national championships after more than a decade of first or second‑place finishes at the provincial level.

Johnston competed at the Western Canada Summer Games in 1975, 1979 and 1983. In three Saskatchewan Summer Games appearances, Johnston won the gold medal all three times ‑ 1976, 1980 and 1984.

Johnston has also given plenty back to the sport as she has instructed numerous city‑sponsored archery programs as well as lessons with the Prince Albert Archery Club.

Johnston has served on the executive for both the Prince Albert Archery Club and Saskatchewan Archery Association as well as having managed the provincial entry at the 1981 Canada Summer Games in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

After having retired from the sport in 1986, Johnston was presented with a life membership to the Saskatchewan Archery Association in 1990. That same year, Johnston came out of retirement for two events ‑ the Western Canadian Masters and Canadian Masters ‑ and she won gold medals at both events.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

More than 40 years of competitive softball in two countries earned Ollie Fiddler the nickname “The Legend”.

From the time he was eight years old in Prince Albert, Fiddler knew that he wanted to be a softball pitcher and with his remarkable talents he outlasted all his rivals before moving to the United States and doing it all over again.

Fiddler pitched for 21 years in Prince Albert and Saskatoon leading numerous teams to city and provincial championships. From 1955 to 1962 Fiddler racked up an impressive 22‑2 record at The International ‑ a tournament held annually in Minot, N.D. In those seven years, Fiddler guided the Saskatoon Merchants to three International championships.

Fiddler’s performances at The International caught the eye of American manager Ruben Huber and in 1968, at the age of 34, Fiddler moved south of the border. In the next 21 years Fiddler continued to dominate every league in which he pitched.

Fiddler won four state championships while in Minot ‑ 1968, 1969, 1979 and 1984. He also had one appearance in the U.S. national tournament in 1976.

In his career, Fiddler fanned more than 14,000 batters, won more than 1,500 games and had a .285 batting average. Other notable statistics include 42 no‑hitters and 400 one‑hitters.

Fiddler was inducted into the North Dakota Softball Hall of Fame in 1986.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

Gordon Wilson was one of a unique group ‑ a multi‑sport athlete and coach who excelled in hockey, baseball and softball.

Born in 1923, Wilson played hockey in the winter and ball in the summer.

As a hockey player, Wilson started in the Prince Albert Church Hockey League and graduated to the Junior Blackhawks in1940. For three years he tended net for the Blackhawks with a future National Hockey Leaguer, Johnny Bower, as his backup.

Wilson served in the Second World War from 1943 ‑ 46 and when he returned to Prince Albert he played senior hockey and also officiated at Junior Minto games. Wilson gradually withdrew from the sport as a player and went into coaching where he was very successful at the pee wee and bantam levels. One of his highlights as a coach was having his son Rick on his team. Rick Wilson went on to enjoy a successful hockey and coaching career in the National Hockey League.

When it was too warm to be involved in hockey, Wilson could be found at the ball diamonds. He played baseball for the Bohemians and Anavets ‑ for a number of years, but his greatest success came in softball where as a member of the Riverside Royals he helped the team to four Northern championships and provincial titles in 1959 and 1961. Highlights during this time included a league‑leading batting average of .456 in 1956 and a game winning grand‑slam home run against The King (Eddie Feigner) and His Court in a highly publicized exhibition game.

Wilson later turned to coaching women’s softball teams and in 1975 he guided the Browne Motor Dusters to the provincial Senior C championship.

Very active in the Royal Canadian Legion, Wilson received the award of merit for his involvement in community activities.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.