John Ferraro (Canadian football)
Encyclopedia
John J. Ferraro is a former all-star football player in the Ontario Rugby Football Union
and the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
in 1966.
A graduate of Cornell University
in 1934, he captained both the football and basketball teams and was a member of the Quill and Dagger
society. He came to Canada in 1934 and played two seasons with the Hamilton Tigers
of the IRFU and played in the Grey Cup
. Ferraro then moved to Montreal
where he played for 4 different teams. Starting in 1936, he suited up for the Montreal Indians
, Montreal Nationals
, Montreal Westmounts
and Montreal Bulldogs
. He was also playing coach of the Tigers and Indians.
He won the Imperial Oil Trophy in 1938 as MVP in the ORFU, and in act of graciousness and kindness, he donated the trophy to the widow of Ormond Beach
, a previous MVP who lost his life in an accident. The donors of the award sent a new trophy to Ferraro.
He was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978. He was a graduate in Hotel Administration and married Edna Letz of Rochester, NY.
Ontario Rugby Football Union
The Ontario Rugby Football Union or ORFU was an early amateur Canadian football league with teams in the Canadian province of Ontario. The ORFU was founded in 1883 and in 1903 became the first major competition to adopt the Burnside Rules, from which the modern Canadian football code would...
and the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
in 1966.
A graduate of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1934, he captained both the football and basketball teams and was a member of the Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
society. He came to Canada in 1934 and played two seasons with the Hamilton Tigers
Hamilton Tigers
The Hamilton Tigers were a professional ice hockey team, and a member of the National Hockey League , based in Hamilton, Ontario, that played from 1920–1925. The Tigers were formed from the sale of the Quebec Bulldogs NHL franchise to Hamilton interests. After years of struggling, the franchise...
of the IRFU and played in the Grey Cup
23rd Grey Cup
The 23rd Grey Cup was played on December 7, 1935, at Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds, with 6,405 fans in attendance. It marked the first time that a team from west of Ontario won the cup....
. Ferraro then moved to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
where he played for 4 different teams. Starting in 1936, he suited up for the Montreal Indians
Montreal Indians
Montreal Indians was a Canadian football team in Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. The team played in the 1936 and 1937 seasons.-Canadian Football Hall of Famers:*Abe Eliowitz*John Ferraro-IRFU season-by-season:...
, Montreal Nationals
Montreal Nationals
The Le National or Montreal Nationals was an amateur, and later professional, men's senior-level ice hockey team in a few of the top leagues prior to the formation of the National Hockey League...
, Montreal Westmounts
Montreal Westmounts
Montreal Westmounts was a Canadian football team in Ontario Rugby Football Union. The team played in the 1939 season.-ORFU season-by-season:...
and Montreal Bulldogs
Montreal Bulldogs
Montreal Bulldogs was a Canadian football team in Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. The team played in the 1940 and 1941 seasons. During their first season the team did not have a nickname, and was simply called Montreal Football Club, until the next season.-IRFU season-by-season:...
. He was also playing coach of the Tigers and Indians.
He won the Imperial Oil Trophy in 1938 as MVP in the ORFU, and in act of graciousness and kindness, he donated the trophy to the widow of Ormond Beach
Ormond Beach (Canadian football)
Ormond Beach was a star football player in the Ontario Rugby Football Union for four seasons for the Sarnia Imperials. Beach, who led the Imperials to Grey Cup victories in 1934 and 1936, died at the age of 27 in an industrial accident...
, a previous MVP who lost his life in an accident. The donors of the award sent a new trophy to Ferraro.
He was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978. He was a graduate in Hotel Administration and married Edna Letz of Rochester, NY.