Hec Gervais
| Hec Gervais | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | November 4[citation needed],1933 St. Albert, Alberta,Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | (aged 63) Edmonton,Alberta, Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Curling career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brierappearances | 4 (1961, 1962, 1970, 1974) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship appearances | 2 (1961, 1974) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Hector Joseph[1]"The Friendly Giant" Gervais(November 4[citation needed],1933 – July 19, 1997) was aCanadiancurlerfromEdmonton,Alberta.He was a two-timeBrierchampion and formerWorld Champion.In curling strategy, he is considered to be the inventor of thecorner guard.[2]
Gervais broke into the curling scene in the late 1950s, and in 1960 he teamed up with curling greatMatt Baldwinto play in the Alberta provincials that year. Despite being considered a "super squad", the team didn't make it out of the province and disbanded after the season. Gervais would form his own team ofRon Anton,Ray WernerandWally Ursuliak.This team would win the Alberta provincials, and also won that year'sMacdonald Brier.The team (withVic Raymerin place of Anton) closed the season by winning the1961 Scotch Cup,becoming World Champions. At the time, the "gentle giant" weighed 270 pounds.[3]
The Gervais rink would return to the Brier again in 1962, but lost in a playoff toErnie Richardson's Saskatchewan rink.
Gervais would not return to the Brieruntil 1970.At that Brier, his team ofBill Mitchell,Wayne SaboeandBill Tainshposted an impressive 8-2 record, but it would only be good for second place, finishing behind Manitoba'sDon Duguid.
Gervais made his last trip to the Brier in 1974. He re-united with Anton and teamed up withWarren HansenandDarrel Sutton.The team again finished with an 8-2 record. This time it was good enough to win the Brier. The win sent them to the1974 World Championships.The team finished in fourth place, after losing its semi-final matchup to Sweden 8-7.
Gervais, who weighed between 285 and 340 pounds during his curling career,[4]had heart problems for much of his later life. In 1987, he had undergone heart surgery. He succumbed to a heart attack and died in 1997.
Personal life
[edit]Gervais was a potato farmer and raised chickens on a farm outside ofSt. Albert.[4]He would later be the manager of theAvonair Curling Club.He was married twice, and had five children and two stepchildren.[2]In addition to curling, he played three preseason games for theEdmonton Eskimosin 1963.[4]
References
[edit]- ^Edmonton Journal,22 Jul 1997, pg B6, "Obituaries & Announcements"
- ^abEdmonton Journal,22 Jul 1997, pg D3, "Quick wit, outside guards were Gervais trademarks"
- ^Regina Leader-Post,March 22, 1961
- ^abcCalgary Herald,21 Jul 1997, pg D7, "Curling legend Hec Gervais dies"
