BUILDER – FIGURE SKATING – INDUCTED IN 2007
Bob Howard’s passion for figure skating saw him serve at every level of the sport over three decades, from the local club to the sport’s international governing body.
Howard joined the Georgetown Figure Skating Club as a director in 1973 and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually being elected to the sport’s highest position in Canada.
He became the local club’s vice-president and in 1975 and helped bring the Central Ontario Sectional championship to Georgetown for the first time, serving a chairman for the competition. Howard was elected president of the Georgetown Figure Skating Club in 1976 and held the position until 1978.
Upon completing his term, he joined the Central Ontario section as a director and became chairman the following year. During this time, he sat on the board of the Canadian Figure Skating Association (now Skate Canada), becoming its chairman of the sections committee.
He joined the CFSA as a director in 1982 and was later elected the national body’s vice-president. He was named CFSA president in May 1985 and during his time at the helm of the organization was credited with helping raise the sport’s profile by establishing a marketing committee. Canada produced several medalists on the world stage during his time as president.
Following his time as CFSA president, Howard acted as chair of Skate Canada’s Athlete’s Trust Committee and was an appeals commissioner for the International Skating Union where he dealt with issues like judging infractions.
Howard died suddenly in 2001 at the age of 68 while attending the World Figure Skating Championships in Vancouver.