Robert "Bob" Arn

Builder (1988)

Football

Bob Arn was born in Kinistino, took his early schooling close by and graduated from Prince Albert Collegiate. After receiving his doctorate of Education degree from the University of Washington, he taught in several rural schools before settling in Saskatoon.

From 1947 to 1953, Doc Arn, as he was known, led the City Park Collegiate football team to four straight provincial championships and guided the Saskatoon Hilltops to its first Canadian Junior championship in 1953. He also coached basketball teams to three Saskatchewan high school championships.

Hilltop players like Ron Atchison, Ray Syrnyk, Wayne and Paul Anderson and Ron Adam had a taste of Arn's coaching and all moved up to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Arn literally changed the direction of amateur football in Saskatchewan replacing the slow, steady power game to a fast deceptive running game mixed with the forward pass. He was a perfectionist. He expected it of himself and from his players.

The Saskatchewan Amateur Football Union honoured him in 1977. In 1981, the Saskatchewan Roughriders honoured him. He is a member of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame inducted 1982.

** Deceased