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Longboat a `good father’ and a `special hero’: As we near the end of the 20th century, the Citizen has asked descendants of prominent Canadians to reflect on the lives and achievements their famous ancestors. Today, Phyllis Winnie, a 79-year-old resident of the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, writes about her father, long-distance runner Tom Longboat.

BYLINE Phyllis Winnie
SOURCE The Ottawa Citizen

People say that my father, Tom Longboat, was one of Canada’s greatest runners, and I am proud of his achievements.

My father was world famous from the moment he won the Boston Marathon in 1907. That and other achievements gave a great boost to native people.

Recently, Canada Post announced that it was going to issue a special stamp in honour of my father.

It is always good when the government honours the achievements of native athletes—and the idea that my father’s name might become better known again pleases me very much.

Mind you, many people do remember him. Even today, it happens that young athletes, some of them native, come up to me and mention that he remains a special hero for them.

In my father’s time, racism was a very great problem, but he never spoke of it in the family. He simply tried not to think of it.

Perhaps my father’s achievements helped people understand that everyone deserves respect.

Of course, racism is still alive today. In the United States, no one ever seems to mention that my father won the Boston Marathon. It’s as though people don’t like to think that a native could win it.

Tom Longboat was a good father to me and my three brothers. He had a wonderful smile and was very kind.

None of the children or grandchildren even became real athletes themselves, however.

He died early, at 61, of diabetes. Part of the reason, I think, is that he was afraid of the needle and did not take his insulin.

His funeral service was in the native spiritual tradition, which he remained true to throughout his life.

All in all, his legacy was very positive.

Fifty years after his death, young people still mention his name with respect. I take pride in this.
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