If formality were the order of the day, we might refer to him as Lt. Col. A.E.B. Nickerson.

In reality he is better known to many thousands of Nova Scotians and thousands of other sporting friends abroad as just plain “Nick”!

As a sports journalist, editor, editorial writer, military and general columnist, Alex “Nick” Nickerson has served his communities and his province for more than five decades.

His activities through those years were not strictly confined to the role of the communicator either. Personally active in many sports in his early years, “Nick” always found the time to promote and organize amateur sports; to be an official when the occasion warranted; and to always make available to others the benefit of his experience and background.

That is why the Nova Scotia Sports Heritage Centre’s selection committee unanimously selected A.E.B. “Nick” Nickerson as recipient of its Media Award for long and meritorious service.

Since his early exposure to organized sports at the old Alexandra School in North End Halifax, Alex Nickerson has, so-to-speak, touched all the bases. He played hockey, football and basketball at the Halifax Academy and followed suit, while at Dalhousie, on the varsity football and basketball teams.

It was during those years that sports editor, the late Jimmy Smith of The Herald and The Mail, spotted other qualities in Alex Nickerson when it came to sports. He was soon sports correspondent for Dalhousie. On leaving Dalhousie in 1934, he joined The Herald newspapers full time, and shortly after became sports editor. His first major assignment was to cover the well-known Halifax Wolverines (1934-35) in their quest for the Allan Cup. From then on it was all up, up and away.

Less than a year later he was assigned by his papers to organize the Modified Marathon 10-mile championship and other events such as the Maritime Junior Track and Field Championships and Maritime Amateur Boxing Championships, (the latter both held in the Wanderers Grounds on a regular basis in pre-war years). For more than 30 years he has been a certified judge for both amateur and professional boxing.

In 1941, “Nick” left his post in sports to serve with the Canadian Army overseas, returning in 1945, two of his first major assignments being the Joe Louis-Billy Conn championship fight of 1946 in New York, and the ’46 World Series between Boston and St. Louis.

He has been a member of the World Series Press Corps for over 40 years.

In 1954, The Herald newspapers recognized Alex Nickerson’s scope, naming him editor of The Mail-Star with much of his writing channeled through editorials and feature columns, particularly on the military. He still visits with the Canadian troops in European centres once and sometimes twice a year, and is a regular observer on NATO exercises.

What makes his current award most fitting and appropriate is that Alex “Nick” Nickerson was a founding member of the original Sports Hall of Fame and was its president at the time of the operation being turned over to the Nova Scotia Sport Heritage Centre.

His award on the occasion of the 1983 induction dinner could therefore appropriately be called a “coming home” occasion for a man who has served sport and his profession so well for so many years.

Bio Courtesy of Ron Slade