It is with great sadness that the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum and Basketball Manitoba announce the passing of Clyde Perry.
Mr. Perry, as he was known to many, had a long and storied career in basketball. He began as a coach at King Edward School in 1953 and later coached at Isaac Newton and Sisler High Schools. Additionally, he served as a referee for many years in the Winnipeg School Division.
He was a founding member of the committees for two high school tournaments that became the largest in the province: the Fort Garry Invitational Tournament (FGIT), which began in 1960, and the Winnipeg Invitational Tournament (WIT), which started in 1976.
As a high school principal, particularly at Tec Voc from 1974 to 1985, he was renowned for hiring and supporting coaches to build strong basketball programs.
Throughout his distinguished career, he received many prestigious awards, including the Mike Spack Award from the Manitoba Basketball Coaches' Association for his significant contributions to the growth and development of basketball in Manitoba, the Provincial Order of the Buffalo Hunt for meritorious service to the youth of Manitoba, the University of Manitoba Board of Governors Distinguished Service Award, and the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association (MHSAA) Certificate of Recognition for promoting high school athletics.
In recognition of an outstanding career in basketball, he was inducted into the Maniotba Basketball Hall of Fame as a Builder in 2013.
Clyde Perry was one of a kind, and he will be missed. Our sympathies go out to his family, friends, and all the students whose lives he positively impacted over the years.