Heritage Builder

Thomas R. Loudon - 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee

Thomas R. Loudon
Induction Year: 2023
Category: Heritage Builder

Although he’s most well known in rowing circles as a builder and a coach, Thomas R. Loudon’s first success in rowing came as a coxswain with the Argonaut Rowing Club. The highlight of his competitive career came in 1904, when he coxed the Argo’s eight to a silver medal at the Olympics in St. Louis. Following the Olympics Loudon attended the University of the Toronto where he got his first administrative positions in sports, becoming President of the schools boxing program and manager of the intermediate football team. He would graduate from U of T in 1909 with a degree in civil engineering but would stay on campus as a professor.

During his teaching career, Loudon would stay close to sports, most prominently rowing. In 1920, he was instrumental in creating the Varsity rowing program at U of T, which included securing a boathouse on the busy Toronto waterfront. Once the program was established, he became head coach, a position he would hold until 1936. Under Loudon’s leadership, the program would experience instant success, winning the senior eight at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta 1920-1923. The U of T eight qualified for the 1924 Olympics in Paris, and with Loudon as the coach earned the silver medal. He was also the coach at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, which saw two Canadian boats win medals, as the Argonaut eight would claim the bronze and the double (Jack Guest and Joe Wright Jr.) would win the silver. The Varsity Blues won eight intercollegiate championships during his time as head coach.

In addition to, or maybe because of, coaching, Loudon became an innovative thinker in Canadian rowing. He designed and built the eight used by the 1924 Olympic crew, a boat that was shorter and wider than British-built boats, made to better handle rowing on the open water of Lake Ontario. A decade observing rowers from the coxswain’s seat, plus his methodical engineering training, made Loudon more attuned to training methods and in his memoirs wrote about finding the right mix of effort levels, as well as recovery from training, to ensure optimal preparation for racing.

During this time, Loudon would also begin to make his mark at the executive level. He became a board member of the Canadian Association of Amateur Oarsmen (now RCA) in 1919 and would stay on the board until 1949, serving as President from 1925-27. His leadership and influence in Canadian sport extended beyond rowing as his other roles include President of the University of Toronto Athletic Directorate 1944-1954, President of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union 1952-54, Board Member Amateur Athletic Union of Canada 1925-1932 (President 1928-30). He also put his civil engineering degree to good use as he designed and supervised the construction of the east stand at Varsity Stadium in 1924, and Varsity Arena in 1926 Varsity Arena was the first such building to have spectator sightlines unobstructed by columns. The building still stands and has been used by many Varsity Blues athletes, including the rowing team which has used the building for erg training.

Career Highlights

  • Founder of Varsity rowing program at University of Toronto
    • Served as head coach of the program from 1920-36
    • Crews had instant success, winning Royal Canadian Henley Regatta from 1920-23
    • Varsity Blues won eight intercollegiate championships during his time as head coach
  • Head coach of 1924 Olympic Eight (from U of T) that won silver medal. Also coached at 1928 Olympics where two Canadian boats won medals
  • Designed and built the boat used by 1924 U of T eight
  • Served in several leadership roles in rowing and sporting communities
    • Board Member of Canadian Amateur Association of Oarsmen (now RCA) from 1919-49 (President 1925-27)
    • President of the University of Toronto Athletic Directorate (1944-1954)
    • President of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (1952-54)
    • Board Member Amateur Athletic Union of Canada (1925-1932, President 1928-30)