Barry Howson was honoured recently as the first black to play on the National basketball team when he represented Canada at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Coach Howson and his whole family should be and are proud of this accomplishment but the truth of the matter is that his whole family, and hundreds of Olympia alumni can attest that there is much more to the story, and the man, and his journey.

The best part of hearing the news that Barry was  going to be honoured at a FIBA America Qualifying  game was that I had the good fortune to interview him for the chapter on Olympia coaches in A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp. 

I already knew the story, and so much more.

Coach Howson's portion of the chapter deals with the hero having to slay dragons in their quest for their ultimate goal and Barry's life is testament to that. The youngest in a family of nine, Barry lost his dad when he was 15. He excelled in various sports and spurned several NCAA Scholarship offers in order to stay in London with his mom and go to Western. While living in London their family doctor was Hyman Grace, father of Dave Grace.

After graduation, and a trip to Japan in between, Barry moved to Sarnia where he taught for over 30 years at St Pat's High School. He started to go up to Olympia in 1979 and as of this writing there are now three generations of the Howson family who have worked or coached at Olympia. Dave Grace has deep respect for Barry and all he has done for literally hundreds of campers.


Its the Olympia /St Pat's connection that says a lot about Barry Howson and a lot about Olympia Sports Camp. I worked with Barry a few years as I was just starting at Olympia and through our common experience I would take my high school teams to Sarnia, where you knew you were going to get great games and I would get to rekindle the moments on OxBow with one of my mentors. That's one aspect of the Olympia community that makes it so special. Coaches take their teams to tournaments because one of their Olympia family is hosting. You know it will be a great experience for your team. 

That's what Barry Howson brought to the game of basketball. A trailblazer on the court and an inspiring teacher and coach off the court. Congrats Barry.

Barry Howson is an Olympia Alumni.Are you an Olympia Alumni? If you are reading this we'd like you to go to the following link to register for the Olympia Alumni Association (OAA).

.https://forms.gle/woWsggqM7zpUyHge9

We also hope that you share this link with people within your Olympia circle. It will take literally a moment to register. This will help create a database of alumni through which we can share information and create another layer of legacy of the history of the people of the camp. 

We know that the stories captured in The Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp just scratch the surface of the amazing people who have walked the land of Interlaken and we envision the OAA as a way to share many more hero's journeys and for all alumni to have a vehicle to stay in touch.

The journey of this blog and the connection to Olympia Sports Camp alumni continues to evolve. If you have someone who you feel is a hero of their journey and who the Olympia community would like to hear about connect with me at coachdools71@gmail.com.  Within a community of everyday heroes there are many stories that people would love to read about, stories I would love to write about. 

Copies of A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp are available at The Different Drummer Book Store on Locust St in Burlington. Or if you live in the Hamilton/ Halton area etransfer $30 with your address and I'll deliver it to your door.

Online copies are available at aherosjourney.ca

Audiobook version is available at Audible, Amazon, or iTunes 

If you would like us to come to your town for a book event, email me at coachdools71@gmail.com

If you or your favourite camper are looking to get to camp in the summer of 2024 check out the website at 
olympiasportscamp.com. A week when you will meet so many great people. A week when you'll learn a lot about what you are made of.

 

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