Tony Golab, the "Golden Boy" of Canadian football, began his career in 1938 with the Sarnia Imperials. In 1939, he joined the Ottawa Rough Riders and led them to the Grey Cup finals for three consecutive seasons, claiming the Cup in 1940. Considered to be one of the finest backfielders in the game, Golab received the Jeff Russel Trophy as the Big Four MVP in 1941. He also received the Lionel Conacher trophy as Canada's outstanding male athlete.

Later that year, Golab's brilliant career was interrupted, and nearly terminated, when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a fighter pilot. He suffered severe shrapnel injuries when his plane was shot down in 1944, and he thought that his football days were over. Golab, however, made a miraculous recovery and was back in the game with the Rough Riders by 1945. The "Golden Boy" retired from the field in 1950, but his golden days of football were not over. Golab coached the Hamilton Panthers from 1952-53, and the Royal Military College team from 1954-57, leading them to three successive titles.

He was appointed vice-president of the Atlantic Football Conference in 1959, and served as general manager for the Montreal Alouettes from 1968-69. Golab worked as a consultant to Sport Canada from 1972-84. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1964 and named to the Order of Canada in 1986.