Ed Zemrau
Universtiy Sports Builder - Inducted 1976
Ed Zemrau competed in hockey and baseball at both the amateur and professional level. Since retiring from competition, he has worked as the Director of Athletics at the University of Alberta where his presence has resulted in the university becoming a haven for national and international amateur athletic competitions. Ed Zemrau is presently Vice President of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union and Chairman of the Western Intercollegiate Football League. He has also served as Chairman of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union Administrative and International Committees; the Chef De Mission of the Canadian team at the 1972 World Student Winter Games; and, as an organizing committee member of the 1970 World Wrestling Championships. In 1967, Ed Zemrau was awarded the Centennial Medal of Honour.
After Induction
Ed captained the University of Denver Pioneers to the school's first NCAA championship in 1958. He had a brief career minor-pro career playing hockey for Chicago and Detroit. He returned to Edmonton in 1960 and became an assistant under Maury Van Vliet, the Dean of Physical Education. Ed was the First Director of Athletics at the University of Alberta, President CIAU, VP FISU, and President and CEO of the World University Games from 1981-1985 where he was the driving force of the Universiade '83 Games held in Edmonton. Ed returned in 1985 as a professor at the University of Alberta - within the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. He served on the Board of Directors of the World Track and Field Championships from 1999-2001 (the championships were held in Edmonton in 2001), and the World University Wrestling Championships from 1999-2002. Ed was a member of the Board of Governors for the 2005 Masters Games (held in Edmonton).
Ed loved the outdoors - camping, hunting and fishing.
Achievements:
2003 - FISU Emeritus Honourary Member
2003 - 2005 Board of Governors, 2005 Masters Games, Edmonton
1994 - 1st Vice President FISU (International Univ. Sports Federation)
1999 - President, Supervision Commission FISU Winter Universiade
1999-2001 - Board of Directors, World Track and Field Championships
1983-1994 - FISU Executive Committee (International Univ. Sports Federation)
1999-2001 - Board of Directors, World University Wrestling Championships
1967-1983 - Auditor, FISU (International Univ. Sports Federation)
1972-1974 - Member, Bid Committee 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games
1977-1984 - President, Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union
1972 - - Chef de Mission Canadian Delegation Winter Universiade
1968-1972 - Chairman Western Canada Football League
1968-1970 - Vice Chairman, 1970 World Amateur Wrestling Championships
1966-1967 - Chairman, Canadian University Centennial Project, 1967
HONOURS AND AWARDS:
1958 - NCAA All-American and NCAA hockey championship
1967 - Canadian Centennial Medal of Honour for Service to the Nation
1970 - Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association Certificate of Merit
1976 - Alberta Sports Hall of Fame
1983 - F.I.S.U. Honor Award
1984 - Edmonton Sportsman of the Year
1985 - CIS Austin-Matthews Award (presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to interuniversity sport - as demonstrated by long-term commitment and leadership as a coach, director, chairperson and/or executive committee member at the local, provincial and/or national levels).
1995 - University of Alberta Sports Wall of Fame
2001 - City of Edmonton Certificate of Appreciation of Meritorious Service
Ed Zemrau passed away April 23, 2012 - age 78. He was born August 22, 1933 in Edmonton.
