Inducted October 14, 2000
Jim McNamara had a stellar and illustrious career with St. Bon’s in hockey, soccer, track and field, and basketball. He was perhaps the most versatile of athletes in the Province during his playing days with the Blue and Gold.
He won two Victor Ludorum titles in his intercollegiate days as a student at St. Bon’s College for his track and field performance, but his first provincial competition on Bell Island in 1950 was sensational and memorable when he set Newfoundland records for the one mile run and hop, step and jump.
He played on a dozen powerful Boyle Trophy Hockey Championship Teams with St. Bon’s until the reign was ended by the Bluegolds fierce rivals from St. Pat’s in 1962. He too played on a Herder Memorial Trophy Championship Team with St. Bon’s that defeated Corner Brook on the west coast in 1949.
Whilst he didn’t achieve much team success with St. Bon’s teams during his soccer playing days, he anchored St. Bon’s teams from his centre-half position and was one of the sports premier performers during its successful era at the Ayre Athletic Grounds. He, as well, captained a St. John’s All Star Team to the Newfoundland Senior Soccer Championships in Corner Brook in 1952. His exploits in soccer were duly noted upon induction into the Newfoundland Soccer Hall of Fame in 1998.
As well, Jim was a superb basketball performer noted for his exceptional defensive play, a smooth ball handle and deft outside led St. Bon’s to several city championships which was the hotbed of basketball during his era. His success resulted in his Induction into the St. John’s Basketball Hall of Fame in November, 1984.
Jim McNamara achieved great success as an athlete and his two nominations for St. John’s Athlete of the year in 1952 and 1953 are indicative of an exceptional athlete who had tremendous success from a multi-faceted career that results in his induction into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame.
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