Harry Benham

Harry Benham was introduced to the game of Lacrosse as a 16 year old and his loveaffair with the sport continued for 41 years, both as a player and referee. Harry’s offi ciatingcareer began in 1962 and he soon became highly regarded as a referee, which allowedhim his choice of National Championships. Between 1974 and 1985 he offi ciated over7 Mann Cups, both east and west; 4 Minto Cups; a 1977 Canada Summer Games inNewfoundland; a Founder’s Cup; plus the World Series of box-lacrosse, and the 1985Canada-United States fi nal.

Harry was awarded the Thomas ‘Tip’ Teather Memorial Award in 1982 by the O.L.A. as thatyear’s ‘Mr. Lacrosse’, for his outstanding contribution to lacrosse. He is also a Life Memberof both the Ontario Lacrosse Association and the Brampton Excelsior Lacrosse Club.

Harry has always been regarded as one of the best and most highly respected referees in lacrosse. Hewas inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1996.

In Harry’s early years he coached in the Chinguacousy Public Schools, which later developed intothe Chinguacousy Minor Lacrosse Association. He took part in a lacrosse training film ‘ThreeTeams On The Floor’, which was in use until 1995. He served as Secretary-Treasurer for theCheltenham Harvester Hockey Club 1962-1967; Director on the Canadian Lacrosse AssociationRules Committee 1988/89; President of the Ontario Lacrosse Referees' Association 1982-1984and served as a Director until 1998.

As an athlete Harry won a Minto Cup in 1959, emblematic of Canadian Junior Lacrosse supremacy.That same year, as a goaltender for the Cheltenham Harvester Hockey Club, his team capturedthe Ontario Western Hockey Association Championship. He has been an avid curler for the past 15 years.

Inducted October 3, 2001