Bob Wong didn’t realize some of his friends were working behind his back to get him nominated to the Nova Scotia Sport Heritage Centre Hall of Fame. “I never even thought about it,” says the 69 year old lifetime Pictou resident. “I didn’t know a thing about it. It was one of the biggest and best-kept secrets that there ever was.” But when he learned the effort was successful, that he’ll be inducted, he was thrilled at the honor. “I was dumbfounded, really. I was quite a surprise. But I feel very honored, there’s no question about that. To be a member of such a distinguished association is really something great.” What isn’t a surprise is that he deserves the tribute after working strenuously and selflessly for hockey and golf for more than 40 years. He got into hockey when his five sons started playing. “I remember being down at the old rink with them and it was just chaos. I stood back and looked at that and thought, ‘It’s not right, I’ve got to do something about this.’ The only way you do it is get involved.” So he became a coach and administrator with the minor association for over 10 years. 

He was a pioneer of the Nova Scotia Minor Hockey Council and served as zone chairman and vice-chairman of the body for a decade. Wong was still with the hockey council when he got into golf. “It was 35 years ago that I got involved with the Pictou Club and they nominated me to represent the club on the board of the (Nova Scotia) Golf Association. I went to meetings, at my own expense, and slowly got involved in golf, as well as hockey.” He served as Pictou club president, on the board at Abercrombie club, and then was NSGA President in 1979 and 1980, one of the few people to serve two terms. In 1981, he began a 10-year term as governor of the Royal Canadian Golf Association. He was on the RCGA’s rules Committee and handicap and course rating committee, serving as chairman and vice-chairman.

He worked at several Canadian championships, was head referee for the Canadian Junior Championship, and served on the United States Golf Association’s handicap and course rating system. He was also on the course rating panel for Golf Digest magazine for 10 years. “Things weren’t as well organized as they are today. It became quite a commitment once you got involved. As president, you had to attend every meeting and every tournament in the province. And I can say, in the two years I was president, I never missed a commitment. Golf has been great. I travelled across Canada six times and was at some of the best courses across the United States.” Somehow, Wong also found time to be chairman of the Pictou Recreation Commission and three times was on Nova Scotia’s mission staff for Canada Games.

He worked at G.J. Hamilton’s Biscuit Plant for 20 years, starting as a laborer and working his way up to plant superintendent. When the plant closed in 1969, he joined Canso Chemicals where he was responsible for accounting and personnel, retiring in 1992. Bob and his wife Evelyn will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in March 1999. They have five sons – Wayne, Brian, Darryl, Dana, and Daron; a daughter, Michele; 13 grandchildren; and three great-Grandchildren.

Bio Courtesy of Hugh Townsend