Hall of Famers: 1999

Berry, Mary E.
CURLER/BUILDER
Inducted 1999

Mary Berry (1881-1967) began curling in 1915 at the Heather Curling Club. Her curling involvement continued for many years. She was an example of a person who was able to combine excellence in the game with organizational ability.

In 1931, Mrs. Berry won the North Star Oil Trophy which at the time was the highest event available to Manitoba Women curlers. In 1935 she finished fourth in the same event. In 1947 she would again be victorious, winning the coveted Lady Eaton Trophy.

Besides exhibiting prowess on the curling ice, Mrs. Berry was a tireless worker for the sport. She served on the Heather Ladies Curling Club executive and was President of that organization in 1919-20. She continued her behind the scenes support working with the MLCA until she became President in 1931-32. She was also the first President of the MLCA Past Presidents’ Association in 1932.

Mrs. Berry was the donor of two trophies – one to the Veteran Ladies Curling Association and a second, the Berry Shield, to the MLCA Past Presidents’ Association.

Mrs. Berry was honoured for her work and support of curling with Honourary Life Memberships in the MLCA, the MLPPA, and the Veteran Ladies Curling Association.

Don Duguid began his curling career at the age of nine at the CPR Curling Club (which became the Victoria Curling Club). Since his early years, Don called the Granite Curling Club home.

Skipping the only Manitoba team to win back-to-back world championships, Don, along with teammates Rob Hunter, Jim Pettapiece and Bryan Wood, won the Air Canada Silver Broom in 1970 and 1971. The team went undefeated in both Silver Broom Championships and lost only three games in the two Briers leading up to those world championships.

Don is a three time Canadian Men’s Champion as well as a four time Manitoba Men’s Champion. Along with the 1970 and 1971 Canadian victories, he also played third for Terry Braunstein’s Canadian Champions in 1965. In 1957, he played second for Howard Wood Jr. when they won the Manitoba Championship.

Success also followed Don to the senior ranks. He won three Manitoba Senior Men’s Championships; in 1992, 1994 and 1995 all as third for Barry Fry.

Don has received many honours over the years. In 1974, with the team, he became a member of the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame. The team was also inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in 1987. He was made a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and of the World Curling Hall of Fame in 2013. In 1993 he became an Honourary Life Member of the MCA.

He became a member of the Order of Manitoba in 2014 and the Order of Canada in 2020.

Known as an exceptional shot-maker, Don passed on his curling knowledge through the teaching of curling and as a television commentator. Beginning in 1972 with CBC’s “Curling Classic,” a popular Saturday afternoon program that ran until 1981, and ending over three decades later, he analysed the play for innumerable major Canadian and international curling championships. His broadcast career included four Olympic Games; the 1992 and 1998 Olympic Games for CBC and the 2002 and 2006 Games for NBC.

Duguid, Don
CURLER
Inducted 1999

McGimpsey, Bob
CURLER-BUILDER
Inducted 1999

Bob McGimpsey (1912-2000) began his curling career in the Dauphin Curling Club in 1935. In the early 1950’s, he became involved with the curling club’s executive. Fourteen years later, he served as President of the Dauphin Curling club for two years (1965 & 1966). Bob enjoyed many years of involvement with curling instruction and junior curling. For 26 years, beginning in 1958, he held junior curling classes as coordinator of the junior curling program in the Dauphin area. In 1974, he worked on the development of a school curling program. This involvement with the MacKenzie Junior High School Curling Program continued for 17 years. Throughout his many years as an instructor of junior classes and adult clinics, Bob also worked on his certification and was a Level II Curl Canada Instructor.

Starting in 1967, Bob served in many areas at the provincial level. He was a Senior Zone Chairman in Zone 6 for 14 years while managing to be a senior rep 4 times (1969, 1970, 1972, and 1980). He was also Chairman for the British Consols in 1966 and 1970 and held an advisory position for the 1984 Labatt Tankard.

As President of the HLM Dauphin Curling Club in 1983, Bob worked on the history of curling in Dauphin. He worked long hours to help develop a pictorial history of the Past Presidents and Life Members of the Dauphin Curling Club.

Other areas where Bob has played a prominent role include: establishing the Parkland Senior’s Social Club (1980), serving 10 years on the Dauphin Community Curling Committee (President – 1970), chairing the B.P.O. Elks National Curling Committee (1974-1980), and helping develop the provincial Plumbers Bonspiel.

Bob’s tireless work for the sport of curling did not go unnoticed. He received a number of awards, including: Honourary Life Member of the Dauphin Curling Club (1969), Honourary Life Member of the MCA (1977), and the Bill Lumsden Memorial Award (1984).

Dot Rose is a four time Manitoba Ladies Champion – winning the Silver “D” (1967) as lead for Betty Duguid; the Rose Bowl (1969) as lead for Pat Brunsdon; the Manitoba Lassie (1973) as second for Joan Ingram; and the Manitoba Scott Tournament of Hearts (1982) skipping her own team.

She is a one-time Canadian Ladies Champion, winning the Dominion Diamond “D” in 1967 with the Betty Duguid team. In 1992, that team was inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame.

Dot won Manitoba Senior Women’s Championships in 1990, 1992 and 1993; each time playing third for Joan Ingram. In 2000, with Ingram at third, Dot skipped her team to the inaugural Manitoba Diamond Ladies (Masters Women) Championship.

Her curling prowess is accompanied by a great love for the sport. She is a tireless worker and supporter of the curling game.

A well-known softball player, she is also a member of the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame (2007) and in 2008 was honoured by the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame as a multi-sport (curling/softball) athlete.

Rose, Dot
CURLER
Inducted 1999

Simpson, Lillian
BUILDER
Inducted 1999

Lillian (Simmie) Simpson (1887 – 1981) was one of the pioneer curlers in Manitoba. She joined the Strathcona Ladies Curling Club in 1919. She was elected President in 1924 and was later made an Honourary Life Member.

She was one of the founding members of the Manitoba Ladies Curling Association, working in close association with the first President, Mrs. Rowlands. She served on various committees and in various capacities until she was elected as President in 1933. She was later made an Honourary Life Member.

She was chairman at the formation of the Past Presidents Association of curling clubs in Manitoba. She is an Honorary Life Member of this Association. She was also involved in the formation of the Veteran Ladies Curling Association, acting as its first President and is an Honourary Life Member. In 1955 she was instrumental in the formation of the Strathcona Business Girls Curling Club.

Throughout her early career she pressed for the acquisition of a sponsor to enable the development of the Canadian Ladies Championship. In 1952, she was able to obtain Eatons as a sponsor for the Western Canadian Championships. For three years she was the Chairman of this event which later developed into a truly Canadian Championship.

‘Simmie’ curled competitively for many years. Famously, she is acknowledged for introducing long pants in women’s curling, a departure from the expectation that the ladies wore dresses for curling’. She entered over 50 bonspiels, winning numerous cups and prizes. One of these trophies was won at the age of 80! Even after reaching the age of 80, Simmie continued to attend meetings, banquets and competitions.

The 1959 Western Canadian Women’s Champions were skipped by Isabelle Ketchen, and included Doris McFarlane, Isabel Phillips, and Ruth McConnell.

Playing out of Flin Flon, the Isabelle Ketchen ladies team was a two-time Provincial Champion. In 1959, this team won the Western Provincial Playdowns in MInnedosa and captured the Provincial title at the Grain Exchange Curling Club. In 1960, they accomplished the same feats at Souris and Fort Rouge.

Winning back-to-back provincial titles was a noteworthy accomplishment. A greater achievement was added in 1959 year when the team went on to win the Western Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship held in Brandon, Manitoba. That was the highest championship attainable for Canadian women at the time, with curlers competing from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Isabelle Ketchen, a three-time provincial championship winner, was inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in 1991 in recognition of her individual accomplishments.

Ketchen – 1959 TEAM Western Champions
Inducted 1999