Professor and head of UBC's Physics Department, was from 1925 until 1961 the behind-the-scenes decision maker, initiator and developer of UBC athletic programs. Helped establish the sport of football on campus and selected and hired many of UBC's high profile coaches and administrators.
Dr. Gordon Shrum, who emerged as UBC's behind-the-scenes decision-maker, initiator and developer of the schools' physical education and athletic programs, was introduced to UBC in 1925 as a newly appointed member of the Science faculty. Arriving from the University of Toronto, Shrum was very much a scientist and educator, but it was soon evident he had a fascination with sport, particularly football and its influence and effect on the university. This was a man who, in his early 20's, was credited with the liquification of helium.
Shrum admired the way U.S. football teams were coached, disciplined and financed. He also saw football as the sport that would bring out the best in UBC- in competition, unity, pride and publicity. It was Shrum's support and influence, together with the efforts of Max Cameron and 'Doc' Burke, that resulted in football establishing itself at UBC by the late 1920's. This "selling" of the game of football was achieved despite spirited opposition from the campus rugby fraternity. Shrum was further determined that the game on campus achieve the level of quality possessed by the American schools.
Legends of Shrum's capacity to initiate, organize, expedite and administer on campus were growing by the 1930's. Also was his influence on sport. He is said to have selected in 1935, Maury Van Vliet and Gertrude Moore as UBC's first full-time physical training instructors and coaches. He was also a major influence in the completion of UBC's first sport stadium-Varsity Stadium - in 1937. It was also at this time that Shrum introduced the concept of a UBC athletic summer school in an effort to encourage this province's contribution toward international athletic success.
Dr. Shrum, who, since 1938, was heavily involved as head of the Department of Physics, was responsible for the 1945 hiring of Bob Osborne to head up both athletics and the Department of Physical Education. At this time Shrum was serving on approximately 30 campus committees and, according to former UBC basketball player, the late Harry Franklin, "you just wouldn't do anything without involving Gordon Shrum."
Since UBC's inception there existed the view on campus that athletics should remain relatively low profile and "non-professional", as opposed to the approach perceived to be used by U.S. schools. Shrum felt differently however and avidly supported the expansion and enhancement of UBC athletics. He began raising funds from local supporters in an attempt to entice top quality U.S. players to UBC and keep better Canadian players at home. The exercise was not entirely successful but it did mark the initial attempt of a BC university to provide athletic scholarships, a concept for which Shrum campaigned during his years at UBC. Not until 1964 as Chancellor of the newly created SFU, did Shrum take the opportunity to raise this money "honestly" by implementing athletic scholarships at his newly built school.
Gordon Shrum continued his voluntary support and promotion of UBC athletics through the 1950's - his fourth decade. He did so in addition to his work as head of the Physics Department, head of the Department of Extension, head of Graduate Studies, head of campus facilities and head of UBC's Canadian Officers Training Corps, his work in the latter earning him the Order of British Empire. Shrum's attempts to put UBC on the sports "map" did, however, continue to be a struggle as excellence in sport was not a high priority with all those connected with the university.
Shrum's influence during the 1950's was felt in the recruitment of top quality athletic coaches and administrators. He was influential in the hiring of Athletic Director Bob Robinette in 1951, future NFL coach Don Coryell in 1953 and Frank Gnup in 1955.
In 1961 Shrum, who made science come alive in the classroom, retired after 36 years as a UBC educator, to assume the role of Chairman of BC Hydro. His name became associated with the development of hydroelectric power, an area in which he was a master manager and builder.
In 1963 he was asked to build a new university in Burnaby. As Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of SFU, Shrum's personal philosophies and experiences collected during his tenure as UBC's "power broker" in physical education and athletics, produced the athletic philosophy at SFU that exists to this day. His love of sports and the profound effect he had on UBC and SFU have resulted in an annual football contest between the two schools that is named in his honour. It is also reflected in his induction into the BC Sports Hall of Fame and a special award received from the BC Football Hall of Fame.
In the words of former UBC sports information director, Steve Campbell, "If university sport is the fountainhead of all sport in the province – through its production of teachers/coaches and administrators – then it can be truthfully said that Gordon Shrum, through his key involvement in the administrative aspects of UBC sport, was the founding father of British Columbia sport".
This Inductee is also in the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
