In his years at Kings College in Halifax, Hugh Townsend was affectionately known as “The Gentle Giant”, a physically towering presence described by the school’s top authority and President Emeritus of Mount Allison University Guy MacLean as deceptive. Dr. MacLean’s assessment of the man, “civil, courteous and considerate, whose generous nature as a reporter, editor and columnist was reflected throughout his journalistic career”, would find total agreement among those who know him and people who read provincial newspapers. But there is much more to the man from New Glasgow, and those of us who have been his friends, colleagues and friendly competitors over many years also recognize Hugh Townsend as a person totally committed to his craft, who is slow to anger but reacts effectively to deceit and injustices with a pen poised to expose the guilty. It’s called personal integrity and Hugh has that commodity in abundance, balancing a natural tendency to be positive and helpful, with a duty to be accurate and responsible for truth. He championed fair coverage, especially in the areas of minor sports and those that don’t always receive the recognition they often deserve, He advocated women’s sports when others in similar situations were less inclined and thus can take great personal satisfaction in the growth patterns that have taken women’s activities into the realm of major attractions.

Brought up in Pictou County, Hugh always knew what he wanted to do with his life while growing into such a big man and from a very tender age he destined himself for journalism, to become a major writer and broadcaster. He prepared himself at every opportunity, becoming involved at high school levels as an athlete/reporter providing results for the New Glasgow Evening News and eventually radio station CKEC where his high school phys-ed teacher and idol John (Brother) MacDonald had become part-time sports director. That involved being statistician for Stellarton Albions H-D League broadcasts aired by his mentor who had played all-star first base for the team earlier.

He also became secretary-statistician for the Pictou County Twilight Softball League, and started his long association with the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, first as area stringer. Electronic aspirations waned in a developing love affair with the print media which became his niche and purpose in a long and distinguished career that eventually led to Sports Editor of the Chronicle-Herald and editorial assignments in general news. It’s a career that continues part-time in retirement, with weekly columns in both the Herald and his first love, the Evening News, still contributing wisdom and fair comment, still contributing generously to the development of people and games in Nova Scotia.

While Hugh has rightly reserved responsibility to editorial freedom of opinion and properly expressed himself in situations that required public debate, he remains an unfailing champion of Nova Scotia athletes and teams at all levels of play. Moreover, his support of worthy causes, personal enthusiasm and professional integrity have been the hallmarks of a very productive journalistic career that does not and should not appear anywhere close to conclusion. Tonight as Hugh Townsend mounts the podium to accept the highest honour his beloved province can confer on a sports figure, a distinction well earned, he happily shares the honour with an adored and adoring family, wife Jane and children Gavin, Charlotte and Graham. Welcome to the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, old friend. Pat Connolly, an honoured inductee to the Hall of Fame as a builder in 2000, is a long time electronic and print journalist.

Bio Courtesy of Pat Connolly