Heart attack claims ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ football great
By Ian Macdonald
Montreal Gazette
(courtesy Canwest News Service)
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MONTREAL - Dr. Willie Lambert, a former football star at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ who also played for the Alouettes before becoming a successful dentist in Montreal, died Saturday of congestive heart failure.
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Born William John Lambert on March 23, 1937, in Wainfleet Township, near Wellandport, Ont., he graduated from ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ with a bachelor of physical education in 1960 and a doctor of dental surgery in 1964. Lambert, who was 72, leaves behind wife Pinky, children Laurie, Timmy, John and Shawna, along with nine grandchildren. A funeral service will be held Friday.
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While earning his degrees at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, Lambert enjoyed an illustrious six-year career with the Redmen. He was a running back, wide receiver and defensive back, and also returned punts and kickoffs. He was a four-time all-star, named to both the offensive and defensive teams in 1962 as both a running back and defensive back.
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He was a member of ±«ÓãÖ±²¥'s Churchill Cup national championship team in 1960, when he was awarded the Lois Obeck Trophy as the team's most improved player, and was with the Redmen when they won the Yates Cup as Eastern champions in 1962 and '63. In the 1962 Yates Cup, Lambert caught the game-winning touchdown pass with 59 seconds remaining in a 15-13 come-from-behind victory over Queen's.
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A co-captain in 1963-64, Lambert led the conference in scoring with 60 points (seven touchdowns, four field goals, four converts and two singles), won the Omega Trophy as league MVP and the Forbes Trophy as ±«ÓãÖ±²¥'s male athlete of the year.
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When Lambert was inducted into the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, it was noted that he played a huge part in the football program's survival long after his playing days ended. The university had discussed dropping the football program in 1971, but Lambert led a group of school graduates who went to the principal's office.
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The group raised enough money to keep the program alive the next year with Lambert serving as a volunteer assistant coach in 1972.
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After his final year of football at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, Lambert was drafted by the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He attended training camp, but returned to ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ to complete his dentistry degree. In 1964, he played 10 games with the Alouettes before he broke his hand and decided to focus on his dentistry career.
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imacdonald [at] thegazette.canwest.com
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© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
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