One of UBC's rugby greats played on the early rugby teams that helped mold UBC's spirit and identity. Also a star with the UBC hockey team. Upon his graduation in 1924, was acknowledged as UBC's "greatest athlete yet produced" and by many was considered the "greatest rugby player in the country."
"Geh" (pronounced as in Guy Lafleur) started his UBC athletic career with the Varsity rugby team in 1918/19. Unfortunately, this team played only three games due to the influenza epidemic that hit Vancouver that year, yet it was a team that was undefeated and unscored upon.
In 1919/20 Ternan played on another strong UBC rugby team, his outstanding play often acknowledged, "...a wonderful player, who combines remarkable intelligence with exceptional ability to carry the ball, pass, boot and tackle". He was also the top scorer on the Intermediate basketball team this year as well as a promising rookie on the Varsity ice hockey team.
In 1920/21 Ternan played a large part in the success of the rugby team highlighted by its historic 12-0 victory over the U.S. champion and Olympic representative, Stanford. It was this victory that established almost immediately, an identity and spirit for a young UBC. That same season "Geh" was an integral part of one of UBC's most successful hockey teams. As provincial champions, the Blue and Gold won for the first and only time the Savage Cup and, if it were not for exams, would have gone on to compete for the Allan Cup.
In 1921/22 Ternan had established himself as a rugby star and helped UBC win its first McKechnie Cup BC Championship as well as again inspiring all of UBC with an impressive 8-0 victory over Stanford.
In 1922/23 Ternan was elected captain of the rugby team, a team that won its second successive McKechnie Cup. The Totem that year acknowledged Ternan as "the premier rugby player at varsity - the best five-eighths in the province and that means in North America".
In 1923/24 he captained the UBC rugby team to its third successive McKechnie Cup. He was "...considered by authorities as the greatest rugby player in the country." "Geh" set an individual point scoring record this season playing alongside the likes of Harry Warren, Buck Buchanan and Harry Purdy. "A rugby player or a rugby fan would walk many miles just to get a glimpse of a player the calibre of Geh Ternan," wrote a contemporary.
Dr. Harry Warren, associated with UBC rugby for decades, replied "Geh Ternan" when asked who he felt was the greatest UBC rugby player he ever saw.
Ternan was also an excellent soccer player. He was a member of the 1922/23 Varsity team that emerged from the Second Division to win the Mainland Cup, "the beginning of a new era in UBC soccer history."
In 1924 a special event in UBC athletic history took place. The Ubyssey reported, "UBC students yesterday expressed their feelings toward Geh Ternan when, for the first time since the local seat of learning first opened its door, a special cup was presented to the young athlete in recognition of his athletic activities at the varsity". Ternan was honoured as the greatest athlete that the varsity had yet produced and this trophy which rests today in UBC's trophy case, represented "the greatest athletic honour that could be bestowed on any graduate or student".
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
