Only Canadian Journalist Given the Olympic Order
George Gross, who has been a full-time sports writer in Toronto for 40 years, arrived in Canada, 1950, unable to speak a word of English and with $4.50 in his pocket. Born, 1923, Bratislava, Slovakia, George made a daring escape to Austria across the Danube and, in Canada, worked one year on a farm for $30 a month with room and board. He then worked in the Dispatch Department of Eaton’s before embarking on a freelance career as a sports writer and broadcaster with The Toronto Telegram and CKFH, Toronto, doing three radio shows, one in Slovak, one in Hungarian, and another about sports. After covering the Soccer World Cup in Sweden, 1958, he was hired full time by the Telegram. On its demise, 1971, he joined the Toronto Sun as Sports Editor. Now Corporate Sports Editor, George won a National Newspaper Award, 1974, and the Sun’s Dunlop Award twice, has written three books, Torontolympiad For The Handicapped (1976), Donald Jackson, King of Blades (1977), and Hockey Night in Canada (1982-83). George was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, 1985, and is the only Canadian journalist given the Olympic Order. A member of Variety Village, he Chaired the Conn Smythe Sports Celebrities Dinner for Handicapped Children, for seven years, and has received such honours as the Ontario Achievement Award, 1973; Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship; Gold Medal of the International Ice Hockey Federation, 1980; City of Toronto Medal; and was the first recipient of the Promises of Hope Award, on behalf of the Canadian Save the Children Fund. In 1999, he was named Member, International Olympic Committee’s Press Commission, and is a Director of Toronto’s Olympic Bid for the 2008 Games. He is also President, Sports Media Canada, and Vice-President, Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive. [Photo, courtesy George Gross]