HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-02-15, Page 21Times -Advocate, February 15, 1989 Page 21
Guest speaker signs in - Former major league basebalbstar Jay Johnstone was the headline speaker
at last week's Exeter Lions Sports Celebrity dinner. Above, he signs autographs for Kristi Sargeant
and Anita Wein.
Mayor gets Tiger jacket - Exeter mayor Bruce Shaw received a London Tiger baseball jacket at the
February 7 Exeter Lions Sports Celebrity Dinner from Tiger coach Rob Thompson and general manager
Bob Gilson. The Tigers are planning an Exeter night during the 1989 season.
Lions Sports Celebrity Dinner a hit for 16th year in a row
EXETER - For the 16th year in a
row, the Exeter Lions Club Sports
Celebrity dinner was a success.
The annual dinner was held last
Tuesday night at the South Huron
Rec Centre with a number of spe-
cial guests.
Although attendance was down
about 100. from Last year, nearly
350 people still showed up for the
extravaganza.
George Godbolt, of the Lions
Club said the dinner has two main
objectives. The first was to raise
money for handicapped kids at the
Thames Valley Children's Centre
and the second is to put on a good
entertaining evening for the people
of Exeter. He feels both were
achieved in abundance. Godbolt
said the dinner raised slightly less
than the $6,200 that was raised last
year.
"Everybody we had at the dinner
had a great message to tell and were
all great speakers," said Godbolt.
This year's guest list included
Lance Chomyc, placekicker for the
Toronto Argos, Lennox Lewis,
Olympic Heavyweight Boxing gold
medalist, Vicki Keith, who swam
all five Great Lakes last summer,
Michelle Cameron, who won a
gold medal in Olympic synchron-
ized swimming, Chris Daw, wheel-
chair athlete in the Paralympics in
Sign autographs - Above, dinner chairman Clarence McDowell
talks with Timmy Josh Watson while below Olympic Gold Medal
Boxer Lennox Lewis signs autographs.
Korea, Bob Gilson, General Man-
ager of the London Tigers, Rod
Thompson, coach of the London
Tigerst The main speaker was Jay
Johnstone, former major league
ball player and new television
host.
"Vicki Keith told me she goes to
sports dinners about once a week
and she said she had the most fun
in Exeter than at any dinner in a
long time. She enjoyed the kids
and was just in awe of the kids and
how receptive they were," said
Godbolt.
Master of ceremonies was Gary
Allen Price, sportscaster for CFPL
television in London, and he told
many jokes. about the local digni-
taries in the crowd at the dinner and
Godbolt felt he did a good job as
emcee.
The celebrities startcd the day at
the Exeter Public School where
they answered questions from the
students therc and told of their ex-
ploits on how they became famous
and what it was like.
Following that they attended a re-
ception and press conference at the
Riverview Estates Rec Centre.
Cameron, 26, a Calgarian, spoke
first and told the crowd how she
overcame her fear of water to be-
come an accomplished synchron-
ized swimmer. She said her dream
grew over the last 12 years and was
finally realized in Korea and told the
crowd not give upon their dreams.
"Dare to dream and live your
dream and anything that you want
to do can come true," she said.
Thompson, 25, a Sarnia native,
said he was proud to have a club in
London because it was so close to
home and said the London Tigers
should have a great year. He will be
attending the Tigers spring training
in Lakeland Florida next week.
Chomyc spoke next and told the
crowd he was looking forward to
playing in the new Sky Dome that
is being built in Toronto. He said
you must have a positive attitude in
anything you do.
Daw,. 19, gave some advice to
one of the Timmys, Josh Watson,
who will soon be starting a wheel-
chair racing career of his own.
'Lewis told the crowd that he was
looking for a manager before he
turns pro•and he expects to have
one by the summer. He also said he
learned how to box after he came
from England whcn he was 12 years
old and people made fun of his
cockney accent.
Godbolt felt although this year's
dinner didn't have any professional
athletes that people around -here can
identify with they were quite happy
with the way things went with the
people who were there.
"When we started this dinner 16
years ago, athlctcs. weren't making
as much money as they arc today
and they don't have to come to little
dinners like ours," but the guests
we had a gave great messages for
the kids," said Godbolt. He added
that if anybody has any suggestions
for guests for next year's dinner to
let any Lions Club member know
by net September when they start
lininglip;ucsts and they will be
happy to try and get them at next
year's dinner.
Meet in wheel chairs - Timmy Jeff Finkbeiner and Olympic wheel-
chair athlete Chris Daw chat at last week's Sports Celebrity Din-
ner.
Athletes relaxing - Olympic gold medal boxer Lennox Lewis and
Great Lakes swimmer Vicki Keith relax at the Sports Celebrity Din- Get Tiger autographs - London Tigers coach Rob Thompson signs
ner. autographs for Sean Robinson and Matt Anderson.
Two Michelles - Olympic gold
medal synchronized swimmer
Michelle Cameron chats with
Tammy Michelle McNeilly in the
top photo while at the right
Gary Alan Price signs auto-
graphs.
- Photos by
Ross Haugh and
Wayne Proctor
41,4611---41'
A Weir signing - Former Canadian football great Glenn Weir signs
autographs for Darren Kints and Sean McCann.
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