JAMES (JIM) RAYMOND PLATT

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JAMES (JIM) RAYMOND PLATT October 1, 1939 - September 6, 2011 On Tuesday, September 6, 2011, Jim passed away suddenly at the Markham, Ontario home he shared with his common-law partner, Patricia Maybury. Left to cherish his memory are his son James (David) Platt and daughter-in- law Julie, grandchildren Amy and David, mother Eleanor Gilmour, brothers Tom and John, as well as many friends. Jim was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in the Beach neighbourhood where he attended Danforth Tech High School. While in high school, Jim discovered he had a talent for long distance running and eventually joined the East York Track Club, specializing in the 10,000m steeplechase event. Along with fellow team mates, Bruce Kidd and Bill Crothers, the East York Track Club was able to secure many of the Canadian records of the day. One day on a training run with a fellow teammate in 1962, Jim was approached by a friend and asked if he would be interested in playing Rugby with the Balmy Beach Club. Jim's talent as a runner proved a tremendous asset in the game of rugby and by 1962 he was asked to play for the Ontario Provincial team. Later that same year, Jim joined the Balmy Beach Rugby Club on a tour of Great Britain. During the tour Jim was asked to play for a local team, but he remained undecided at the time. In 1964, Jim responded to the offer and joined the Harlequin Rugby Club. Jim's overseas rugby career lasted until 1966, when he returned home to Toronto to pursue a career in the Printing industry. In 1967, Jim was transferred to Winnipeg. Jim quickly joined a local rugby team (the Wasps). At the end of the season, Jim thought it might be fun to enter a new team into the league, comprised entirely of Canadian-born players. With the help of a few other fellows, with whom he remained friends until his passing, Jim co-founded the Assassins Rugby Club. By 1971, the Assassins won their first championship. Soon after Jim's career took him to Calgary for a couple of years. After being transferred back to Winnipeg in 1974 Jim turned his attention to coaching minor hockey. Between 1974 and 1991, Jim coached 14 different Fort Richmond Kings and Fort Garry Twins hockey teams. Jim's teams routinely won City Championships, and rarely finishing a season with less than a second place finish. His coaching records earned him Coach of the Year Awards' in 1988 and 1989. In 1992, Jim returned to Toronto and continued his coaching career with the Markham Waxers Junior Hockey Club until 1994. He remained in Markham until his untimely passing. Despite his tremendous success as an amateur hockey coach, Jim remained most proud of his accomplishments on the rugby field. Jim was especially proud of his pending induction into the Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame on the evening of October 15, 2011. A memorial service for Jim will be held on October 15, noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Maple Grove Rugby Park, 90 Frobisher Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba. All welcome to come share stories and memories with friends and family.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 06, 2011