EDMONTON – Edwin (Ed) Zemrau, a former president of Canada’s governing body for university athletics, has passed away at the age of 78.
Zemrau was the president of the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (now Canadian Interuniversity Sport) from 1977 to 1984. He was also the first director of athletics at the University of Alberta, a post he held from 1963 to 1981.
Zemrau was a major player on the national and international amateur sport scene over the past 55 years. Born and raised in Edmonton, Zemrau was a 1957-58 NCAA All-American and captained the University of Denver to its first ever NCAA hockey championship.
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He joined the University of Alberta in 1960 as an assistant to the Dean of Physical Education before being named the inaugural director of athletics in 1963.
Zemrau served as chairman of the Canadian University Centennial Project in 1967, earning the Canadian Centennial Medal of Honour for Service to the Nation for his efforts.
He was the vice-chairman for the 1970 World Amateur Wrestling Championships, which were held in Edmonton, and he also served as the chairman of the Western Intercollegiate Football League, what is now Canada West, for a four-year term between 1968 and 1971.
In 1972 he served as the Chef de Mission for Canada at the World Winter Universiade, held in Lake Placid, N.Y. He was also a member of the bid committee that brought the Commonwealth Games to Edmonton in 1978. Just prior to the start of those Games, Zemrau became president of the CIAU.
Zemrau served as president and CEO of the World University Games (1981-1985) and was a driving force of the 1983 Summer Universiade held in Edmonton.
In 1984 he was awarded the FISU (International Federation of University Sport) Honour Award and named Edmonton Sportsman of the Year.
A service be held Monday at Trinity Baptist Church in Sherwood Park, Alta.
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