Down Memory Lane - Bert Naylor
Down Memory Lane Articles - by Stan Shillington
Bert Naylor, like so many others in the game, was an outstanding player who went on to an even greater career as a Builder of lacrosse.
A native of Brampton, Bert worked his way through the Ontario community's minor lacrosse system from 1947 to 1954. He then became an integral part of the Brampton Excelsior Junior "A" Team that captured three Minto Cups between 1955 and 1959.
Bert then put in six seasons with the Brampton senior club and another with the 1968 Toronto entry in the Pro National Lacrosse Association, garnering over 200 points, but his interest in the game was moving to officiating and coaching.
Beginning with the Brampton house league games, he refereed his way up to the junior and senior level until 1973. In addition, he was Referee-In-Chief of the Ontario Minor Lacrosse Association and supervisor of referees with the OLA from 1974 to 1976. During this period, he also spent countless hours coaching youngsters, including the Brampton minor all-stars in 1959-61.
But there was more! Bert also found time to assist in the implementation of the lacrosse clinic program in Ontario and conducted all phases of the program throughout the province. In 1970-71, he served as president of the OMLA and was a member of the OLA Board of Governors in 1974-75.
A graduate of the University of Toronto in 1960, Bert later became an administrator with the Metro Board of Education in Toronto.
The sport he loved and served honoured him in 1980 when Bert Naylor was inducted as a Builder into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.