long-time basketball coach Bud Fraser, a member of the Manitoba
Basketball Hall of Fame. Bud coached the University of Manitoba from
1951-66.
Arthur John 'Bud' Fraser (October 16, 1923-November 16, 2008)
Born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia to father Ingram, mother Emily. Younger brother to sister Alice, older brother to Sandy (Chris) Ingram Jr. (Mrie) and sister Mary Ferguson (Nelson. Predeceased by sister Helen Geldard (red).
Bridgewater High School Graduate: Maritime High School High Jump champion (when the scissor style was the only style) RCAF. WW11 veteran (1942-1946), Burma/India theatre. He flew the B-24-Liberator, the Dakota, the Mosquito and the Beaufighter (not an easy thing to do with his 6’6” frame). RCAF reserve, Winnipeg from 1952-1966. McGill University Grad(Class of 1950—basketball team member 1946-1950; team captain 1949, 1950, conference all star 1949, 1950).
Bud coached the men’s varsity team at the University of Manitoba for 14
years, starting in 1951-52. During that time, he made a significant
contribution to developing basketball at both the U of M and in the
city.
Prior to his arrival, the U of M had withdrawn from the Western Canada
Inter-Universty Athletic Union, consisting of universities from
Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Bud fought for and received
permission from administration to renew the U of M’s membership in the
WCIAU. He also developed a competitive basketball team, winning three
consecutive WCIAU championships in 1955, ’56, and ’57.
Bud also served on the Executive of the senior men’s league for a
number of years. In addition, as commissioner for high school
basketball in Winnipeg, he was instrumental in bringing coaches and
referees together in the pre-season to discuss rule interpretations,
with the aim of developing a consensus on how the rules would be
administered.
He obtained his Masters degree at the University of Minnesota during this spell by taking a one year sabbatical. In 1966 it was off to Ottawa as part of Fitness and Amateur Sports Department.
As a consultant he was responsible for many things; taking pride in being the first to use the fax machine to record results at a sporting event (using the Canada Games as the testing ground). Represented Sports Canada at three Olympics and two Pan American Game; reviewed funding for the various sports bodies (which is where he met his good friend Coach Jack Donahue). In 1976 he was off to the U of T for his last formal administrative duty as the Director of Athletics. His duties included merging the women’s and men’s faculties and overseeing the operation of the new sports complex. In 1982 he retired to Florida where he continued his gift of leadership by working on several committees and of course golfing.
Our thoughts are with the Fraser family.