The story of Ray Smillie: Olympic boxer

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:

Sault Ste. Marie is well-known as a hockey town.  However, Sault citizens have also achieved notable success in the sport of boxing.  One man by the name of Ray Smillie, an athlete who moved to Sault Ste. Marie later in life, even went as far as the Olympics.

In an interview with the Sault Star in the 1970s, Smillie recounted his Olympic experiences, telling reporter Bill Crawford that he could “remember it like it was yesterday.”

At the age of 23, Smillie, who had grown up in Toronto, was one of eight Canadian boxers that competed in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games.  He fought his way to the semi-finals, where he lost to an Argentinian boxer. He credited the loss to politics and a lack of knowledge on the judges’ part of “the finer arts of boxing.”

By the end of the fight, it seemed obvious that Smillie had won.  His competitor left the ring, assuming defeat, only to be called back and declared the winner.  The fans reacted vocally – according to Smillie, “the place rocked with the disapproval.”

Smillie went on to participate in the bronze medal match.  He won, bringing home the medal – although, disappointingly, not the medal he’d hoped for.

After the Olympics, he returned to Toronto and retired from competitive boxing.  Throughout the 1930s, he used his own past experience to referee boxing matches. He even refereed for Frank Nolan, an acclaimed boxer and coach, and a member of Batchewana First Nation.

During the Second World War he served in the Navy for four years as Lieutenant Commander.  Upon returning to Canada, he returned to a job with Bell Canada, which he held for a total of 46 years.  His time with the company spanned decades of his life, going back to his pre-Olympic days. And it’s also where his Sault Ste. Marie connection comes in: he managed the Bell location here.

While in Sault Ste. Marie, he founded the local Naval Vets group.  He became close friends with another Saultite Olympian, a rower by the name of Paul Walz.

Smillie passed away in 1993 and, in 2004, was inducted into the Sault Ste. Marie Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing his exceptional athletic contributions.  A plaque bearing his name is on display in the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provides SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.

Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here