Doug Nicholson
Sport: Lacrosse: Year Inducted: 1975
As an outstanding Canadian citizen, a career officer in the Canadian Armed Forces for more than 30 years, rising to the rank of Brigadier General, an exceptionally fine athlete, Cornwall should be proud to have him as a native son. We are most pleased to induct Doug Nicholson into the Hall of Fame in the category of lacrosse.
Although he excelled in many sports, Doug particularly starred in lacrosse as a juvenile, junior, intermediate and senior. In fact, he played all in the same year of 1937.
Coming up through the OCOT program, he was a member of the juvenile teams which went to the Ontario Finals in 1937 and 1938 and in 1937, he played with Cornwall Juniors in the Ontario Finals against a powerhouse St. Catharines team.
As a senior, he played with the Cornwall team that lost a close 2 games to 1 series to Orillia Terriers in the Ontario Finals. Orillia went on to become the Mann Cup Winners. In 1938, 39 and 40, Cornwall Seniors won the Quebec and Eastern Ontario Championships.
In 1940, they played, but lost to the Vancouver Burrards in the Canadian semi-finals; that team easily won the Mann Cup that year. After playing part of the 1941 season, Doug joined the army. His playing days ended in 1950 as playing coach of Alexandria, Eastern Ontario Champs and Ontario Finalists.
In volleyball, Doug was a member of the Canadian Army Overseas Championship team in 1942 and 1943.
He was a star football player with Cornwall Collegiate from 1934 to 1938. CCVS went the entire 1937 season undefeated including a victory over the Montreal City Champions, West Hill High School.
As a hockey player, he played 5 years for CCI, a team that competed in local intermediate and junior leagues in preparation for EOSSA playoffs. In his one year at Queens University, he made the varsity team.
Military service must run in both sides of the family dating back to the American Civil War. Doug started young as Commanding Officer of the Cadet Corps, in the militia with S.D.& G. Highlanders, he was commissioned in 1940. He was assigned to Army Service Corps and served in United-Kingdom, Italy, and Northwest Europe; he was attached to the 5th Canadian Armoured Division. At war’s end, he was a Major in command of an RCASC Company in Holland. Staying in the army, he served in 15 different positions between 1946 and his retirement in 1974. His more notable command assignments were with Army Headquarters, United Nations Emergency Force 1956-57, US. Staff College, NORAD, Deputy Commander #2 Combat Group, National Defence headquarters and Commander of the UN force in the Middle East.
His honours and awards include Member of the British Empire, 1939-45, Italian, France and Germany Stars, Defence Medal, War Medal, Mention in despatches; Canadian Forces and Centennial Medals with Clasps and two UNEF medals.
Doug worked as Executive Director of Finance and Administration for Alberta Public Works in Edmonton.
Doug retired with his wife to Qualicum Beach in British Columbia and died in 1986.
The Nicholson’s son Rick lives in North Vancouver with his family.