Louise (Purcell) Clark
Louise Purcell Clark as been a resident of Glengarry all her life. The family home is situated on Purcell Road in Glen Water. This historic Purcell home was sold to the Knights of Columbus Council 5068 in 1962. Norman and Louise now live on Purcell road near the old home and have two daughters and give grandchildren.
Louise attended Glen Water Public School and St. Lawrence High School.
Having a joint interest in the game of golf, Louise and Norman became members of Summerheights Golf Club in 1966. Louise won the Club Championship that year. Another two wins came in 1970 and 1971, giving her a total of five ladies’ championships in six years. She also won the O’Keefe tournament four years in a row beginning in 1968. Louise won numerous other tournaments at Summerheights, among those being two ladies’ invitationals in 1986 and 1987.
In 1972 she and Norman joined the Cornwall Golf and Country Club. She won the ladies’ club championship eleven times beginning in 1974 and as recently as 1997. In 1996 and 1997 she and her partner Rick McCullough, won the annual Cornwall Open Mixed held on Labour Day weekend.
In 1992 Louise was on a three-member team at the Pro-Champion Tournament in St. Jean-de-Matha, Que. Members of the team were Club pro Hocan Olsson, Clark as Ladies’ club champion. In the scramble format tournament the trio recorded a 13 under par 56, narrowly missing out on first place. Fifty-one teams from Quebec competed in this tournament. The Lions Club recognized her splendid years of golf by naming her Golfer-of-the-year in 1987. She also had the honour of being inducted into the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
Louise was very involved in other sports over the years. While a student at St. Lawrence High School she played on the school basketball team as well as the volleyball team. For many years she bowled in three different leagues and held the high average in the Ladies’ City League five-pin league for many years. She also played softball on the Bell Telephone team and the City league team. Her husband Norman is also an avid golfer and has been involved actively in many sports over the years.
Clark was employed at the Cornwall General Hospital as a registered nurse’s assistant for 17 years and retired in 1990. Clark served as president of the Catholic Women’s League at Precious Blood Parish in Glen Walter. She was also organist at the church for many years.
Clark is known by her fellow golfers as a keen competitor who loves the game, and who always makes a point of playing with and encouraging new golfers at the club. She is a worthy champion and a great advocate for the game of golf. She has been an outstanding sports figure in the Cornwall area for many years and because of her sportsmanship, outstanding ability and contribution to sports, she has deservedly earned a place in the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame.
