Carroll Morgan, left, versus Halle Thomsen of Sweden at the 1972 Olympic Summer Games in Munich, West Germany. NOVA SCOTIA SPORT HALL OF FAMEArticle contentLast September, Halifax Regional Municipality named a park in Timberlea after the late Carroll Morgan, a distinguished athlete and community volunteer who spent his early years as a child in the tiny community of Whiteside, Richmond County.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentArticle contentBorn in 1947 in Antigonish, Carroll soon moved to rural Cape Breton where organized sports programs were hard to come by. His first opportunity came when he attended St. Francis Xavier University and joined the university’s football team. In 1966, he helped them capture their first College Bowl (now Vanier Cup) defeating Waterloo Lutheran (now Wilfred Laurier) 44-14 in Toronto. It was at St. FX that Morgan took an interest in boxing.Article contentArticle content Carroll Morgan training for the Olympics with troops at CFB Cornwallis or Gagetown in 1972. The young boy is the son of a soldier. Photo by MARLENE MORGANArticle contentHis roommate, Francis (Rocky) MacDougall of Sydney encouraged him to take up the sport, and Morgan began training as a heavyweight with legendary Sydney coach, John Cechetto. MacDougall also got his start in Sydney and became Canadian featherweight champion in 1965 and 1969.Article contentOver the course of his career as a boxer, Morgan excelled to a degree that most boxers dream of. He held seven provincial championships, was a four-time Atlantic Canadian champion, as well as Eastern Canadian champion.Article contentCarroll was a member of the 1972 Canadian Olympic boxing team in Munich, Germany. He was ranked fourth in the world in the heavyweight category and was considered Canada’s top representative. He won the first-round fight against Nigerian boxer Fatia Ayinla on points, but lost the quarter-final match to Sweden’s Hasse Thomsen by knockout.Article content Carroll Morgan in the ring in the 1970s. Photo by NOVA SCOTIA SPORT HALL OF FAMEArticle contentENROLLED AT SMUArticle contentAfter the Munich Olympics, Morgan enrolled at St. Mary’s University in the bachelor of education program. He continued with football, playing defensive end with the St. Mary’s Huskies. The team won the conference that year but lost in the national semifinals.Article contentArticle contentMorgan kept up his boxing career as well, winning the North American championship in April of 1973 over Kevin Isaac of Brooklyn, N.Y. Isaac was the 1973 New York Golden Gloves champion, defeating four tough challengers to gain that title. Morgan beat him on points and Isaac retired from the ring, according to Boxrec.com.Article contentArticle contentMorgan’s continued success as a boxer garnered him a spot on the national team again, this time for the 1974 Commonwealth Games. He was the only Atlantic Canada athlete on the 140-member Canadian team. He lost the three-round quarter-final bout on points to Neville Meade of the United Kingdom, who would go on the win the heavyweight gold medal.Article contentAfter Morgan’s competitive boxing career ended, he continued to spar and train younger boxers, many of whom went on to have successful boxing careers. In 1990, he was called to the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame. Four years later, he was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1966 X-Men football team.
Cape Breton athlete Carroll Morgan had distinguished career
