Percival Molson
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Percival Molson, MC (August 14, 1880 - July 5, 1917) was a Canadian star athlete and soldier.
An Anglo-Quebecer, Molson was born in the resort community of Cacouna, Québec, on the St. Lawrence River. He was the son of John Thomas Molson (1837–1910) and Jane (Jennie) Baker Butler (1850–1926). A gifted athlete, at the age of sixteen Percival Molson participated in several sports and as an ice hockey player he was a member of the Montreal Victorias that won the 1896 Stanley Cup.
While studying at McGill University, Percival Molson captained the hockey team, starred in track and field competitions, played racquet sports, and made the football team. He was named McGill University's best "all-round athlete" three years in a row, a feat unmatched in the university's history. Throughout competitions in which he participated, he was acclaimed for his sense of fair play and achieved the remarkable distinction of never having been penalized for misconduct in any sport. In track and field he competed in several events including the Long Jump in which he set a world record at the American Athletics Meet in 1900. In 1903, he won the United States Outdoor Track and Field Long Jump championship. After Molson easily beat American Harry Hillman at the 1903 Canadian Championships in the 400 meter race, it was thought he had a chance in that event at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri. However, he finished well back in the field.
After graduation in 1901, Percival Molson was appointed to his University's Board of Governors, the youngest person ever named to that position. While a McGill University Board member he served as the chair of its Finance and Stadium committees. The university authorised construction of a new stadium to be built in Macdonald Park at the corner of University and Pine Avenues. However, with the onset of World War I, matters had to be delayed and Percival Molson enlisted in the Canadian Army and was sent overseas. There, in June of 1916, he was badly wounded in the Battle of Mount Sorrel at Sanctuary Wood near Hoge, West Flanders in Belgium. During horrific encounters with the German Army, where members of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions suffered 8,430 casualties, Percival Molson received the Military Cross for his valour. After recovering from his wounds, he returned to the front lines and on July 5, 1917, while with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the outskirts of Avion, Pas-de-Calais near Vimy Ridge in France, Captain Percival Molson was killed by a direct hit from a German howitzer. Captain Molson is interred in the Villers Station Cemetery in Villers-au-Bois in Pas-de-Calais.
In Percival Molson's will he left $75,000 to McGill University to help pay most of the costs for the construction of the stadium. Although it was officially dedicated as McGill Graduates' Stadium at an intercollegiate track meet on October 22, 1915, the Board of Governors of the university renamed the facility Percival Molson Memorial Stadium on October 25, 1919, in honour of this fallen hero.
In 1996, Captain Percival Molson was an inaugural inductee to the McGill University Sports Hall of Fame.
