Paul Rowat Narrative

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Paul “Gummy” Rowat was not known as an athlete but he excelled as part of management in fastball and hockey. His years with minor, recreational and intermediate hockey are well known but his years of coaching fastball are where he was at his best. His commitment to the community won him the Elmvale “Citizen of the Year” in 1998.

Paul was known as the “commissioner” when it came to fastball. He was the boss when his teams took the field and all his players respected him for “telling it the way it is” concerning their part on the team. Paul would search the countryside looking for players that could help his team to be better.

Paul looked after “his boys” like they were family and they were welcome at his home anytime of the year or day, even after their playing days. One story told was of a player going through Elmvale stopping at his house, walking in the house without knocking and grabbing a beer out of the fridge. Unfortunately, unknown to the player, Gummy had moved six months earlier.

Once a friend, Paul was always there if needed. Paul worked to help bring lights to the ball park in Elmvale. Before that, games were called because of darkness when the street lights came on Lorne Street. Paul remembered a game being called by the umpire when a kitchen light came on at a house on Lorne Street during a playoff game.

Paul proudest movement was when his Intermediate fastball team won the Ontario “C” Championship in 1977. Gummy was beaming at the 30-year reunion of the championship that was held in 2007. It was the last time he was together with his “boys of summer.”

 

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