Bill Crothers
Encyclopedia
Bill Crothers is a retired Canadian
athlete.
At one point, Crothers held the Canadian record in all distances from 400 metres
to 1500 metres
and was holder of the world 800 metres
indoor record. In 1963, he ran the two fastest 800 metres races of the year. He was named Lou Marsh Trophy
winner as Canada's top athlete of 1963. Crothers competed for Canada in the 1964 Summer Olympics
held in Tokyo
, winning a silver medal
in the 800 metres. He also competed in the 400 metres, but was eliminated in the semi-finals. He received the Lionel Conacher Award
as Canada's top male athlete of 1964. Crothers was ranked by Track & Field News
as the top 800 metres runner
of 1965 and the second best of the decade.
He has been inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (1965), and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
(1971).
Crothers was a pharmacist
in the Markham area for many years, and is a trustee (and past Board Chair) for the York Region District School Board
. Bill Crothers Secondary School
, an athletic-focused secondary school in York Region opened in his honour in August 2008.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
athlete.
At one point, Crothers held the Canadian record in all distances from 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
to 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
and was holder of the world 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
indoor record. In 1963, he ran the two fastest 800 metres races of the year. He was named Lou Marsh Trophy
Lou Marsh Trophy
The Lou Marsh Trophy, also known as the Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy and Lou Marsh Award, is a trophy that is awarded annually to Canada's top athlete, professional or amateur. It is awarded by a panel of journalists, with the vote taking place in December. It was first awarded in 1936...
winner as Canada's top athlete of 1963. Crothers competed for Canada in the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
held in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, winning a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the 800 metres. He also competed in the 400 metres, but was eliminated in the semi-finals. He received the Lionel Conacher Award
Lionel Conacher Award
The Lionel Conacher Award is an annual award given to Canada's male athlete of the year. The sports writers of the Canadian Press first conducted a poll to determine the nation's top athlete, of either gender, in 1932. Separate polls for the best male and female athletes were conducted beginning...
as Canada's top male athlete of 1964. Crothers was ranked by Track & Field News
Track & Field News
Track & Field News is a magazine founded in 1948 by brothers Bert Nelson & Cordner Nelson, focused on the world of track and field.The magazine provides coverage of athletics in the U.S.A. from the high school to national level as well as covering the sport on an international bases. The magazine...
as the top 800 metres runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
of 1965 and the second best of the decade.
He has been inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (1965), and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
(1971).
Crothers was a pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
in the Markham area for many years, and is a trustee (and past Board Chair) for the York Region District School Board
York Region District School Board
The York Region District School Board, also known as YRDSB, is the English-language public school board for York Regional Municipality located in Ontario, Canada. The York Region District School Board is currently the province's third largest school board, with an enrollment of over 115,000 students...
. Bill Crothers Secondary School
Bill Crothers Secondary School
Bill Crothers Secondary School is an athletic based High school in the community of Unionville in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It is the newest secondary school in the York Region District School Board. Named for former Olympic athlete and Chair of the York Region District School Board, Bill Crothers,...
, an athletic-focused secondary school in York Region opened in his honour in August 2008.