Cec Corrigal – Meritorious Service

Cec Corrigal has contributed to sport in Prince Albert and district in almost every way possible – as a participant, an organizer, a sponsor and a motivator.

Born in St. Louis, Corrigal competed athletically with many professional athletes while serving in the military during the Second World War.When he returned home from overseas, Corrigal played softball locally with a number of teams, the highlight coming when he was part of the Prince Albert Lumber Jacks with famed pitcher Ollie Fiddler. That team won the Saskatchewan Senior B championship in 1953.

One of the high points of his playing career came when a local all-star team led by Fiddler defeated the King and His Court featuring the famous Eddie Feigner. Feigner commented that Fiddler was the best orthodox pitcher they had ever played against.

As his business commitments increased, Corrigal stepped back from the playing field in the mid-1950s. In 1967, he was approached by a group of players looking for a sponsor for their team. The Corrigal Seals became one of the best senior men’s softball teams in the Prairie Provinces.

The Seals enjoyed great success, particularly in the Saskatoon Merchants Tournament, an event that regularly attracted many of the best clubs in Western Canada.

Corrigal, a furrier, added to the team’s notoriety by having fur cushions made for all the wives and girl friends of the players to make watching games more comfortable.

As time went on, players on the Seals began to retire from active participation and Corrigal began to participate more in sports through his talents in public speaking and acting as master of ceremonies for countless banquets and presentations. Corrigal was master of ceremonies for the Sportsman’s Celebrity Dinner on many occasions from the mid-1960s to the 1980s. He also could be counted on to serve as master of ceremonies at national events such as the National Firefighters Curling Championship, the Seagram Stone national play downs and the Purolator Cup.

In 1977, Corrigal became sponsor of the annual ladies cash bonspiel, known as the Cec Corrigal Curling Classic. From 1979 and on he sponsored high level women’s competitive rinks.

Corrigal has provided his talents as a speaker and master of ceremonies to numerous fundraising ventures   including those that supported development of the Comuniplex, Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club building and the Kinsmen Arena.

Corrigal’s contributions to the community have been recognized by being named Prince Albert Citizen of the Year.

The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to induct Cec Corrigal in the Meritorious Service category.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.