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Kirkpatrick, James Balfour

1909-1998

James Balfour Kirkpatrick (1909-1998), a graduate of Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon, enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan (BA 1929; BEd 1930; MEd 1935) in 1926. Under the tutelage of Joe Griffiths, Kirkpatrick became one of Saskatchewan's premier track & field athletes as a thrower and jumper. He held provincial records in the 1930s in high jump and shot put. In the first ever Canadian championships in 1938 at Griffiths Stadium, Kirkpatrick finished second in high jump and third in three throwing events. Kirkpatrick, who was 6-3, developed his basketball skills in the "ham and egg league" that Griffiths introduced on campus in 1924 for raw recruits, progressed to interfaculty competition and eventually earned a starting position on the Huskies. He played on the Saskatoon Grads, who won the provincial senior men's title in 1939-1940. Kirkpatrick was also a member of the Huskies tennis team in 1934 and in 1937 captured the provincial men's singles title. He went on to serve as director of the Saskatchewan Recreation Movement and laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association. Kirkpatrick was named Saskatoon Kinsmen Sportsman of the Year in 1983 and was inducted as a builder into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 and into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1990.