Sault College celebrates a Hall of Fame induction

The late Tom White was inducted into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA)Hall of Fame last week at a ceremony in Hamilton for his years of coaching various sports at Sault College.

White was one of 30 members inducted into the Hall of Fame on the evening and now joins former Sault College Cougars curling coach Neil MacEwan, who was inducted in 2003, in the Hall.

"This was a thrilling and emotional moment for our program. I can't imagine what Barb was feeling when she walked across the stage" said Tom Mauro, the Sault College Athletics Assistant.

"Tom meant so much to our program and had such an impact on the hundreds of players he coached over the years."

Pictured is Tom's wife Barb White accepting the induction.

*** TOM WHITE BIOGRAPHY:

When he retired in 1995, Tom had spent 25 years of his life teaching at the Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology in Sault Ste. Marie.

Tom's teaching career began in 1967 when the college was known as the Ontario Vocational Centre.

In 1973, Tom decided to continue his career in the private sector. However, in 1977, he returned to Sault College to teach in the Forestry Technician program.

Over the years, he played a central role in developing the college's woodlot site as an important outdoor lab for Natural Resources programs.

During his years at Sault College, Tom devoted many hours to coaching the men's and women's varsity basketball teams, the Cougars. The Tom White Trophy is presented annually to the men's team's most dedicated player.

In 1991, Tom's peers recognized his significant contributions to college life by selecting him for an Employee Recognition Award.

Tom was also active in sports away from the college and was a long-time official for youth hockey.

A Toronto native, Tom earned a B.Sc. in Forestry at the University of Toronto.

After graduating, he worked for the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests as a timber cruiser, and then as a forester for the Canada Paper Co. in Québec. Later, he worked as a forester and then as a contractor with Roddis Lumber & Veneer of Sault Ste. Marie.

The late Tom White passed away on April 10, 2004, in Sault Ste. Marie. He is survived by his wife Barbara and two sons.