Career information | |
---|---|
Status: | Retired |
CFL status: | Non-import |
Position(s): | RB |
College: | Bishop's |
CFL Draft: | 1972 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 |
Drafted by: | Montreal Alouettes |
Organizations | |
As player: | |
1972–1980 | Montreal Alouettes |
Career highlights and awards | |
Larry W. Smith, CQ (born April 28, 1951) is an athlete, businessperson and member of the Canadian Senate.
Education[]
He graduated from Bishop's University with a degree in economics before going on to be a professional player in the Canadian Football League. Smith earned a Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University in 1976, having undertaken his studies for law while playing pro football.
Football career[]
Smith later became the league's eighth commissioner and oversaw the league's ill-fated attempt to expand to the United States.[1] Smith then oversaw the re-location of the Baltimore Stallions to Montreal, where they became the Montreal Alouettes for the CFL's 1996 season. After resigning as commissioner, Smith served as president of the Alouettes from 1997 to 2001 and has again served in that role since March 2004.
Business career[]
He was president and publisher of the Montreal Gazette newspaper from 2002 to 2004. He has also held positions with Industrial Life Technical Services, John Labatt, Ltd., and Ogilvie Mills, Ltd.
Political career[]
He considered running for leader of the then new Conservative Party of Canada in 2004 and was widely reported by Canadian press at the time to be on the verge of entering the race before finally announcing he would not be a candidate.[2]
On December 18, 2010, he was summoned to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and sat as a Conservative. Following his appointment to the Senate, Smith announced his intention to seek the nomination to run as a Conservative candidate in Lac-Saint-Louis in the next federal election.[3] When asked in a television interview why he accepted the appointment while intending to run for a Commons seat, Smith complained that he was taking a "dramatic, catastrophic" pay cut by serving as a senator,[4] a remark for which Smith has been criticized.[5]
Smith was defeated in his attempt to enter Parliament, placing third behind the incumbent Liberal MP and the NDP candidate, and it was announced on May 18, 2011, he would be re-appointed to the Senate.
Personal life[]
Smith has three children, two sons and a daughter. One of his sons, Bradley, is on the roster for the Edmonton Eskimos, while his daughter, Ashley, is married to Eskimos placekicker and punter Damon Duval.[6]
References[]
- ↑ Berkovich, Karlo (April 3, 1998). "Ex-CFL head has worries for all pro sports". Waterloo Region Record: p. C2.
- ↑ McClintock, Maria (November 17, 2003). "Lord knows, time is not right' N.B. Premier won't run for fed leader". Toronto Sun: p. 21.
- ↑ "Tories hope Smith's star appeal will bring victory in Montreal". Globe and Mail. Canada. December 21, 2010. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/sen-larry-smith-to-seek-tory-nomination-in-montreal-riding/article1846408/. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
- ↑ "'Catastrophic' pay cut to be senator: Smith". CBC News. December 22, 2010. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/12/22/larry-smith-senator.html.
- ↑ "Larry Smith criticized for salary comment". CTV News. December 23, 2010. http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101223/mtl_larry_smith_101223/20101223/?hub=MontrealSports.
- ↑ "Duval and Popp at odds date=November 7, 2007". Montreal Gazette. http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/alouettes/story.html?id=f76baf86-0dcc-4c32-b82b-df18ff95d2d9&k=47813.
External links[]
Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by Phil Kershaw |
Canadian Football League commissioner 1992–1996 |
Succeeded by John Tory |
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