Thomas Fry Sr. or 'Mr. Curling' as he was called by many in northwestern Ontario, was born on February 28th, 1916 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He joined the Fort William Curling Club (FWCC) as a member of an army team in 1944 and soon became a fixture at the club. Tom won the FWCC championship numerous times and competed in Northwestern Ontario Curling Association playdowns. He would further the intensity of his involvement with the club when he was elected to the Board of Directors in 1951. He would hold this post four other times as well as being named vice-president in 1958 and president in 1959 and 1960.
Tom gave all this up to take over the management of the FWCC in 1962, which would remain under his watchful eye until his retirement in 1983. During this time, the Club would host many events, including national finals of the Schoolboy, Mixed and Ladies' divisions.
Tom's involvement in curling, however, went far beyond the management of the FWCC. He served as committee chairman of the Northwestern Ontario Curling Association for 12 years, Northern Ontario Provincial chairman for six years and was on the national executive for six years. Tom also has vested interests in junior curling, coaching the Tom Tod Jr. rink in 1959 to the National Schoolboy Finals, and he sponsored the Tom Fry Trophy which is symbolic of the Fort William Curling Club's junior championship.
Tom received many accolades during his prestigious career. He had three lifetime memberships to curling clubs, including one to the FWCC and, in 1985, he received a Province of Ontario special achievement award for his contributions to the sport of curling in the province of Ontario.
Sadly, Thomas Fry Sr. is no longer with us, but the FWCC stands testament of all his years of hard work and dedication.
Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, September 23, 1989