Norman Kwong

Encyclopedia : N : NO : NOR : Norman Kwong

Norman Kwong, CM, AOE, usually known as Normie Kwong, né Lim Kwong Yew, (林佐民, pinyin: Lín Zuǒmín), (born 1929 in Calgary, Alberta) is a former professional football player with the CFL's (Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos) and is the current Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. As the Vice-Regal Representative in Alberta, he is styled His Honour while in office, and has the right to the style The Honourable for life.

Sports Career

After playing football at Western Canada High School, he went on to play for the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders, from 1948 to 1950, and, after a trade, the Edmonton Eskimos from 1951 until his retirement in 1960. Nicknamed the "China Clipper", Kwong was the first Chinese Canadian to play in the CFL. A powerful fullback, in 11 years of recorded statistics Kwong rushed for 9022 yards for an average of 5.2 yards per carry and scored 93 touchdowns. He won four Grey Cups during his CFL career (1948, 1954, 1955, and 1956). Kwong was a Western Conference All-Star running back and three time winner of the Eddie James Memorial Trophy in 1951, 1955 and 1956. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian in 1955 and 1956. He was named Canadian Athlete of the Year in 1955. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1969, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1975, the Edmonton Eskimos' Wall of Honour in 1983 (where his jersey #95 was retired), and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

He was president and general manager of the Calgary Stampeders from 1988 to 1991, leading the team to a loss in the Grey Cup final in 1991. He was one of a group of influential Alberta businessmen who brought the Atlanta Flames to Calgary in 1980, and was a member of the ownership group until 1994. The Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup in 1989, making him one of few Canadians whose name is on both the Grey Cup and the Stanley Cup.

Public Service Career

Kwong's public stature from sports helped him move on to politics and government. In 1971 he ran for the Alberta Progressive Conservative party in Calgary Millican. In this election, the PC's ended Social Credit's 36-year hold on power, winning all but five seats in Calgary. However, Kwong himself was defeated by 1,600 votes.

In 1988 Kwong was made a member of the Order of Canada and has served as the national chairman of the Canadian Consultative Council on Multiculturalism. Kwong was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta on January 20, 2005, replacing Lois Hole, who died in office on January 6, 2005. Kwong welcomed Queen Elizabeth II to Alberta in June 2005 on a visit commemorating Alberta's first 100 years in the Canadian Confederation.

References

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Politics of Alberta
Lieutenant-Governor: Norman Kwong \| Former lieutenant-governors
Premier: Ralph Klein \| Former premiers
Opposition Leader: Kevin Taft \| Former Opposition Leaders
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Legislature: Current members \| Former legislatures \| Current electoral divisions
Speaker of the Assembly: Ken Kowalski
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