REGINA – Canadian and world championship curler Sam (Garnet) Richardson has died at the age 82. Curling Canada said on its website that Richardson died Thursday in Regina after a lengthy illness.
Richardson played second on the famous Richardson foursome from Regina that won four national and world championships from 1959 to 1963.
His brother Ernie skipped and cousins Arnold and Wes played third and lead respectively. Wes was replaced by Mel Perry in 1963 because of a back injury.
The Richardsons were inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1968.
Sam Richardson continued to curl after the team disbanded. He skipped teams at the Saskatchewan men’s championship three times and won the 1973 provincial mixed title.
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He was a tireless promoter of the sport and a popular speaker at curling banquets.
“There are many legends in the Saskatchewan curling world, but it will be tough to replace the legend of Sam Richardson,” CurlSask executive director and former Canadian women’s champion Amber Holland said in a statement.
“Through his curling prowess on the ice and his ability to bring curling stories to life in front of a microphone, his impact on promoting this sport is second to none.”
Richardson was the driver for, and an unoffical coach of, the Jack MacDuff team from Newfoundland and Labrador that won the 1976 Brier in Regina and remains the only team from that province to win the Canadian title.
Richardson also served as honorary chairman of the 2006 Tim Hortons Brier in Regina.
“Sam Richardson was a legend of the game, on and off the ice,” Curling Canada’s board of governors chair Hugh Avery said in a release.
“He made everybody who met him happier, and his contributions to our sport over the years won’t soon be forgotten.
“The entire curling community that was touched at one time or another by Sam Richardson.”
He is pre-deceased by his wife Kathleen. Funeral arrangements are pending.
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