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Hall of Famers

Hall of Famer

Hugh Stirling

Inducted in 1975

Member Details

Date of Birth: October 23, 1907
Place of Birth: London, Ontario
Date of Passing: May 28, 1994
Sport: Football
Member Category: Athlete

Career Highlights

1928

Dominion Junior Football Championship, St. Thomas Tigers

1929-1937

Sarnia Imperials

1932-1937

ORFU All-Star

1934, 1936

Grey Cup - Sarnia Imperials

1934-1936

Eastern All-Star

1936
ORFU MVP
1938

Lionel Conacher Trophy

Hall of Famer Hugh Stirling
Sport

Story

The greatest punter ever to grace Sarnia's gridiron, Hugh "Bummer" Stirling was a name legendary in southern Ontario throughout the 1930s. Stirling started his football career playing with the Junior St. Thomas Tigers, leading them to the Dominion Junior Football Championships in 1928. He joined the Sarnia Imperials in 1929, an Ontario Rugby Football Union team that was sponsored by Imperial Oil and guaranteed a company job for all players. Stirling starred with the Imperials until 1937, during which time he led them to the provincial championships nearly every year, as well as two Grey Cups in 1934 and 1936. A fierce halfback known for his incredible punting skills, Stirling was famous for kicking the longest punt in Sarnia's football history - 115 yards. This decisive 60-mintue man was an ORFU All-Star every year from 1932 to 1937, an Eastern All-Star from 1934 to 1936, and the league's most valuable player in 1936. In 1938, Stirling was the first football player to receive the Lionel Conacher Trophy as the Canadian Press' top choice for Canada's male athlete of the year. He retired from the field at the onset of the Second World War, served overseas with the Canadian Armed Forces, and then moved to Alberta to continue his work with Imperial Oil. In 1966, he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.