As a student excelled as an athlete, scholar and leader. Captained some of UBC's finest rugby teams and was a star on UBC's cricket team. Served as UBC's student president and was selected as UBC's 1938 Rhodes Scholar.
Dave Carey enrolled at UBC in 1934 with the reputation of being one of this city's finest rugby half-backs. He had attended prep school in England before his family's move to Vancouver, where he was a student at Magee High School. Carey recalls, "I was at UBC in the '30's when Maury Van Vliet was Athletic Director and UBC was emerging as a major Canadian force both academically and athletically".
It was Carey who was the scoring star in UBC's thrilling 8-6 Miller Cup victory late in the 34/35 season, as his "lovely boot" recorded 6 of Varsity's 8 points.
Carey returned in 1935 as vice-captain of coach Dobbie's rugby team as he was now considered by the Ubyssey to be the best half-back in B.C. He was one of six Thunderbirds that year to be selected to the All-Vancouver team organized to play the touring New Zealand All- Blacks. The 'Birds in 35/36, led by Carey's scoring touch, were winners of both the Miller Cup and, with a 21-6 victory over Stanford, the World Cup.
Again in 1936/37 a strong UBC side was assembled, a team now captained by Carey whose presence was being felt as an organizer, both for UBC and for the sport of rugby. The season's first victory, a 5-0 shutout of Rowing Club, was the result of Carey's "cool thinking" behind the scrum. The "Wonderbirds", as they were called that year, went on to win both the Miller and McKechnie Cups, shutting out their opposition in both games of the B.C. Championship.
While playing rugby, Carey was carrying out his duties as the 1936/37 Mens Athletic President and representative on student council. He was very much involved in the planning and arrangements for the building of UBC's first stadium - Varsity Stadium - which would open later in '37.
In March 1937, David Carey, who was described as dependable and with fighting spirit, was elected by acclamation to the position of UBC AMS president. The fact he was unopposed was, in the words of the Ubyssey, "... a recognition of his outstanding ability and services to the student body during his three years at UBC. It is common knowledge that the success of the rugby club and the new intramural programs have been due largely to his unflagging work".
On October 2, 1937, at a special ceremony, student president Carey presented to the university the new Varsity Stadium as a gift from the students. After years of preparation the "$40,000 Monument to Student Effort" was now open.
Carey returned to captain the 1937/38 'Birds, a team which had a tough act to follow in the 11-0-1 squad of the previous year. However with Carey, Howie McPhee, Johnny Bird and Strat Leggat working well together, UBC was able to place the Miller, McKechnie and World Cups back into its trophy case.
In December 1937, it was announced that David Carey was selected as UBC's Rhodes Scholar for 1938. The Ubyssey stated, "President of the Alma Mater Society, Carey will go to England as one of the most popular Rhodes Scholars sent from this campus." At UBC, Carey was a member of the Historical Society and active with the Oxford Group. Later at Oxford, following his UBC graduation, Carey would play rugby for the Oxford Greyhounds.
During the spring of 1938, Carey, along with Dr. Harry Warren and Basil Robinson, organized the first UBC cricket team. This entrant in the B.C. Mainland league was captained by Carey who the previous year was selected to play for the Canadian cricket team that toured England. Carey led the UBC team in batting in '38 taking it to a third place finish in league standings.
At the completion of the 37/38 year, the graduating Carey received UBC Athletics' most prestigious honour - the Bobby Gaul Award, a trophy commemorating one of UBC's most popular athletes. The Ubyssey stated "The loss of Carey's sure booting, sportsmanlike conduct and inspirational leadership will be a severe blow to the Blue & Gold".
Following his graduation from Oxford, Carey became a free-lance journalist and in 1940 became Editor of the New World News. Following the War he worked for the United Nations implementing the Marshall Plan, helping put the pieces together in Europe and Asia. In 1964 he was the National Director of Moral Rearmament in addition to Public Relations Director and one of the founders of Up with People Inc. Athletically, in 2005, the North Carolina resident was the number one ranked tennis player in the world, age 90 or over, and winner of 35 world, national, state and local titles. A Leader of the student body, all-round athlete as acknowledged by his Bobby Gaul award and prominent student, as revealed by his appointment as Rhodes Scholar, characterizes the UBC career of this extraordinary individual.
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
