Lawrence Marvyn McKenzie – simply Merv to those who knew him and admired his wide-ranging achievements both as an athlete and administrator – has left his mark on at least three sports in a way that few had ever done before and since.

     For 26 years, Merv McKenzie held court as the Athletic Commissioner of Ontario, a position of great responsibility that demands much from those few chosen to hold the post.

     A long-time resident of Mississauga (he lived here from 1962 to his death), McKenzie passed away in 1977 after a lengthy illness at the age of 56 and was inducted into the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame posthumously. It was another well-deserved honour bestowed on this jack-of-trades sportsman.

Merv was born in Moose Jaw, Sask. The McKenzie family moved east and settled in Orillia when he was two years old. It was in Orillia where he first tried his wings and developed into an athlete of considerable significance in several sports. On his death, a sportswriter paid high praise saying: “Merv was the best all-round athlete to ever come out of Orillia”.

     In high school, he excelled in tracks and field, football, hockey and swimming. Merv first made his mark in swimming, where, as an 18-year-old, he won the 100-yard backstroke at the Canadian National Exhibition championships, a premier race of the day. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War and still holds the 50-yard backstroke record at Trenton Air Force Base. He always will, because in the armed forces they no longer swim metric races. He also did a spot of boxing and, after the war, played hockey in the Mercantile League.

     As an athlete, it was in the lacrosse box where Merv really made his mark. As the teams captain, he led Orillia to the 1940 Minto Cup title in the Canadian Junior Lacrosse Championship.

          Hailed as one of the most outstanding players of his era, Merv was inducted into both the Canadian and the Ontario Lacrosse Halls of Fame, a fitting recognition, because McKenzie served the sport not only as a player, but as coach (he coached Long Branch to the Ontario junior title in 1955) and as an administrator (as Commissioner for the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s senior circuit, he guided the loop through its hay day).

     During his career in sports administration, McKenzie played key roles in the development and smooth operation of several sports – mainly lacrosse, boxing and track and field.

     He was also President of the Canadian Boxing Federation (1959-61), served as President of the World Boxing Association in 1864 and was instrumental in setting up that famous title fight between world champion Muhammad Ali and Canadian camp George Chuvalo at the Maple Leaf Gardens. Amateur boxing also benefitted from McKenzie’s involvement. He spearheaded the fight for heavier gloves rather than a helmet in way of safety measure.

     McKenzie also left his mark on track and field. He encouraged the establishment of new clubs across the province and led a fight to obtain government subsidies for existing ones. His effort paid off years later when Canada emerged as a global track and field force. Another recognition came McKenzie’s way in Canada’s Centennial Year in 1967 when he was awarded the Canadian Government’s “Contribution to Sports” medal.

     Lacrosse remembers one of his favourite sons through an award given by the Ontario Lacrosse Association in his name each year to someone “who has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of lacrosse” and the annual Merv McKenzie Trophy awarded annually to the top player in the Ontario senior circuit.