Lawrence King
- 2018 Sportsperson of the Year -
Lawrence King is the ultimate leader and volunteer, involved in sports for over 50 years. Lawrence began his career with a track Scholarship to Idaho State University where he was a Lettermen for four years in Cross Country and Track & Field. He then began his teaching career in Calgary and served at a number of schools finishing his career at Henry Wise Wood High School.
As an educator he worked his way through his career as an educator, Lawrence was known for his willingness to step up and take on leadership projects. Wherever there was a need he stepped in to fill the gap. One of Lawrence’s primary loves is and was track and field. His work there included school head track coach, club coaching, Alberta provincial teams, and lately work with Seniors as the Meet Director at the Senior Summer Games last year. He has organized meets, officiated, and volunteered at countless track and field events in his 52 years of involvement.
Lawrence has also spent years working with basketball, coaching at many different levels including school, church and community. He started tournaments and helped develop girl’s basketball. In his work with High School Athletics he chaired many tournaments and committees. He even became an official.
As part of the Calgary Senior High Schools Athletics Association’s 100-year celebration Lawrence took 5 years to gather information and wrote a book named “The 100 Year History Of High School Athletics in Calgary.”
In 1987 Lawrence became a Director in the Calgary Booster Club, promoting Amateur Sport in Calgary. He has been a champion for High School Athletics and since 1992 has been the Chairman of High School Awards & Scholarships for the Calgary Booster Club. He has also served as President for the Club.
Lawrence has also volunteered for LPGA and PGA golf events, Feed the Hungry, Special Olympic activities, Rotary Stampede breakfasts, Calgary Food Bank, and many other events. A highlight is the 14 years he organized and ran track meets for the Calgary Special Olympics.
He has received many awards including the Robert Routledge Memorial Award, the highest honour given by the Alberta Schools Athletic Association for Outstanding Service to Provincial High School Athletics in 2013. In 1987 he was Selected by the Calgary Booster Club for an Honoured Athletic Leader Award for 20 years as a coach in High School Athletics. In 2015 he received the Paul Harris Rotary Award for Calgary West Rotary Volunteer of The Year. Lawrence even has a gym named after him at Henry Wise Wood.
The Calgary Booster Club is very proud to recognize Lawrence King as the 2018 Sportsperson of the Year.