Ian MacLeod
Ian MacLeod was a son of Duncan J. MacLeod and his wife, the former Bella J. MacRae. He was born May 23, 1902. Their farm home was Lot 13, Concession 9, Caledonia Township, thus Ian MacLeod’s birthplace was on the fringe of Kenyon Township. Due to the fact that his youth athletic activities were in Glengarry, he qualifies for induction. The same bylaw applied to “Little Willie” McLeod, Steve and Dan (Sam the widow) MacDonell.
It was only natural that Ian MacLeod began his soccer career while attending Skye Public School. Continuing his studies at Vankleek Hill Collegiate, he further developed his athletic skills by playing basketball, football and target shooting with the school team.
Glengarry soccer was officially organized on a league basis in 1924. Ian MacLeod was a valuable member of the Dunvegan team that was a charter club. He spearheaded the offence of that great team at centre forward. Among his stalwart team mates were more MacLeods, “Little Willie”, Cameron, Chisholm, and John D. MacLeod, Alex and Stewart Grant, Alex J. and Donald Rory Campbell, Alex Gray, and Johnny Carpenter.
Graduating from Kemptville, he was a class leader, winning the Ottawa Farm Journal prize for general proficiency and the Royal Bank trophy for field husbandry and soil management.
Ian pursued a higher education at Guelph Agriculture College. During the next three years, starting in 1927, he was again among the leading students in class and athletics. He continued his soccer playing at centre forward in the intercollegiate schedule and the experience gained from his youth in Skye and Dunvegan made him an outstanding scorer and play maker. He was also a star member of the OAC rifle team.
After graduating to the post of Ag. Rep. of Huron County, the keen desire of sportsmanship led Ian MacLeod to play golf. His agriculture knowledge gained from a farm boy to university and county representative, plus an affable disposition, made Ian MacLeod a community leader and a popular guest speaker at a sportsman’s of social function.
After serving as agriculture representative in Huron, Northumberland and Brant counties, Ian MacLeod retired in 1945. He then returned to his birth place farm home with his wife, the former Grace Evans, son Donald Ian and daughter Catherine.
Ian MacLeod died October 20, 1982. His contributions to Glengarry sport will be perpetuated for all time by his induction into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame, July 10, in Williamstown.
