2021-12-01

Gary Linthorne’s legacy in spotlight with Football Canada honour

The legacy of Gary Linthorne's dedication and commitment to amateur football scored another touchdown.

In recent weeks, Football Canada announced the late West LaHave resident was the inaugural recipient of the the national organization's diamond award, an honour bestowing an individual with at least six decades of participation in football who has demonstrated a significant contribution to the development of the amateur game at any level.

The provincial football organization presented the award to Linthorne's widow, Lynne Ware, who spoke to LighthouseNOW a few weeks prior to the ceremony about her thoughts leading up to the event.

"I'm sure it will be very emotional, happy emotions; pride more than anything. He would have loved it. He would have been embarrassed," she noted, with a laugh, "but he would have loved it."

"He poured is heart and soul into football all those years."

Locals knew Linthorne as a founding father of the South Shore Seahawks football program. Through his efforts, the Seahawks program established its inaugural season in Bridgewater in 2012. The first season began with a team of nine- and 10-year-olds and another of 11- and 12-year-olds. In subsequent years, the program expanded to include high school age players.

Ontario-born Linthorne spent a lifetime in football, including many years as a coach, official and administrator. He played for Acadia University in Wolfville and his career as a guard for the Axemen led him to be drafted by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

"Though he declined the pro opportunity to pursue graduate studies in geology," reads an online biography posted on Football Canada's web site, "his love of the game kept him involved in football in numerous leadership roles."

Linthorne is credited for starting associations in the Tri County area, as well as in various Ontario locales.

Sport Nova Scotia bestowed Linthorne with Football Nova Scotia Volunteer of the Year honours in 2013. The same year, local football was showcased on a national stage in 2013 when the Seahawks submitted a successful nomination to The Sports Network's Kraft-sponsored community celebration tour.

In 2016, Linthorne became president of Football Nova Scotia and served in the role until the time of his death. A pioneer of the grid iron on the South Shore, Linthorne died May 15 following a brief illness. He was 74.

"When I informed Gary this spring that he was receiving the award, he was utterly deferential to those who surrounded him in the football community, but he didn't need to be," Football Canada president Jim Mullin said in an emailed statement to LighthouseNOW.

Ware said her husband of 37 years was deeply affected by the news.

"Gary was extremely touched, almost to tears," Ware said. "I think it was beyond what he ever expected. He never looked for recognition. He was really moved by it. I was so glad they were able to tell him about it."

Mullin said Linthorne left an everlasting positive mark on the sport.

"Within our group he was a passionate defender of the position of Atlantic football in the national discussion," he said. "His lifetime of dedication to others through football in his community is his legacy."