Mahone Bay Old School_A Life and Times_Bob Sayer

Roger Whynott, Canadian Middleweight Champion
An original program, well framed, can be found on the mantelpiece over the fireplace
at the Mug & Anchor. Present owner, Ronnie Himmelman [himself an Old School
Most Valuable Athlete trophy winner] will be proud to show it.
• Roger was Mahone Bay, born and bred and educated on Main Street and the
Old School. The Whynott family was full of sportsmen. Brother Johnny was ‘Kid
Whynott’ in the boxing match at the 1935 Festival, later CBL coach, long time town
councillor in the 1970s, and builder of the Old School field. Brother Robert was “Mr.
Play-Ball,” coach and organizer, for decades.
• Johnny was in Roger’s corner on the famous February 28th, 1947 night. “The
Doc had had to inject Roger’s hand with pain-killer because of a training accident.”
Johnny regretted his brother’s easy going lifestyle. “He didn’t have the dedication to
keep working at his conditioning.”
• Roger was popular. He was good looking and charismatic. Everybody liked
him. Buzz Hines, presently a local resident, grew up a self-confessed “gym rat” in
Charlottetown. “Roger was a favorite…he would take time to wave and talk…Hi yer,
Red, how you doin?’…”
• At the time of the fight, Roger was Maritime welterweight champion and had been
based for two years in the U.S.A.
• The Halifax Herald wrote that the man who wins the fight, ‘is always assured of plenty
of lucrative purses in the United States…The Windsor Ontario veteran has held the title
since 1938….The South Shore puncher has a large and vociferous following…Whynott is
very popular with Maritime fans…..’
• As predicted, a near record crowd watched Roger’s victory. Below, victory headlines
and, inset, young Roger with elementary grade teacher, Oressa Ernst, on school steps.
Did she sense she had a champion sitting next to her?
Courtesy: Whynott Family and Mug & Anchor Pub
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