Athol Murray

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Monsignor Athol Murray (January 9, 1892 – December 15, 1975) was a Canadian priest and high school president.

Born in Toronto, Ontario he was educated at Loyola College, St. Michael's College School, St. Hyacinthe College, and Université Laval.

He was ordained in 1918 and was sent to Regina in 1922. He started an athletic club for boys and was appointed St. Augustine's parish in Wilcox, Saskatchewan in 1927.

A salty priest of unshakeable faith, he believed in the development of the individual through rigorous education and sport. He founded Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in 1927, and was the inspirational force behind the famous Notre Dame Hounds hockey team. Known as 'Père' to all, he would never refuse a deserving student an education - even if that meant tuition was paid in potatoes and wheat rather than dollars and cents. Leading the college until his death, he influenced generations of Canadians and the development of Canadian hockey. Said Père Murray, "I love God, Canada and hockey -- not always in that order.

The ice hockey team is known as the Notre Dame Hounds. More than 100 former Hounds have been drafted by National Hockey League including Wendel Clark, Curtis Joseph, Rod Brind'Amour, Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier.

[edit] Honours

In 1968, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contributions as President of the College of Notre Dame of Saskatchewan Inc. from which thousands of Canadian and foreign students from poorer families have graduated". [1]
In 1972, he was inducted as a hockey builder into the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
In 1998, he was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder.