This crew's first success came at the 36th Annual Northwestern International Rowing Association Regatta held in Fort William on July 20, 1951. Competing in the Senior Light Four (150 lbs.) event they met up with a crew from Minneapolis and crossed the finish line a good two lengths ahead of their opponents.

One week later, the crew found themselves in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, on the Welland Canal to represent Fort William at the prestigious 69th Annual Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.

The Fort William crew made it through the qualifying heats to compete in the finals against crews from the Detroit Rowing Club and the Wyandotte (Michigan) Boat Club. In the finals Fort William had a decisive victory crossing the finish line an incredible 10 open lengths ahead of their closest opponent in a time of 7 minutes 23.2 seconds.

This victory marked only the second time that a crew from northwestern Ontario had claimed Henley gold and the first time for a crew in this event.

Left to Right: Jack McDonald (bow), Emil Charban, Leonard Lundberg, Bill Stavert (stroke).

Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, September 26th, 1992