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Livingston, Gerry
1915 - 1988
Gerry was the man who put Tillsonburg on the world stage, not once but twice, for our achievements in the sport of basketball. Born in Smith Falls, Livingston studied at Assumption College in Windsor where as a gifted athlete, he participated in track, football, basketball and baseball. His love of sports would continue on in his business life, when in 1942, he purchased Huntley Box Manufacturing and soon after sponsored the local Intermediate "C" basketball team. At that time, "Livingston Wood Products" was the town's largest industry and Gerry's philosophy that "good athletes made good executives" was his incentive for compiling an Olympic calibre team both in the office and on the court. By 1948, Livingston had decided to go for gold- Olympic Gold. He began building his Class A basketball team, with hopes of making it to Helsinki for the 1952 Olympics, a feat, which he easily accomplished and one he would repeat again in 1960 at the Rome games. The "Livvies" as they became known, comprised the majority of players on both the 1952 and the 1960 Canadian Olympic Basketball team. Many of the players are still part of the community to this day. Gerry Livingston, a past resident of the Town of Tillsonburg had the Livingston Centre after him in honour of his achievents.
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