Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Osborne, Robert F.
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1913-2003
History
Robert (Bob) F. Osborne was a University of British Columbia athlete, coach and founder of UBC's School of Physical Education. He enrolled at UBC in 1930 and excelled as a student-athlete in basketball and track and field. He led the 1930/31 basketball team to UBC's first national championship. In 1936 Osborne played on Canada's Olympic Basketball team that earned a silver medal in the Berlin Olympics. He taught high school at Lady Byng Secondary and coached women's varsity basketball during World War II. In 1945, Gordon Shrum appointed Osborne as Director of the School of Physical Education. He was also a coach of the basketball and track and field teams. As Director of Physical Education, he implemented the degree program in Physical Education and developed a Bachelor or Recreational Education degree as well. He played an important role in the construction of the War Memorial Gymnasium at UBC. In the early 1960s, he was one of the original founders of the CIAU national league for Canadian university sport. In addition, Osborne served as the executive of many regional, provincial and national sports organizations and various organizations attached to the Olympics, British Empire/Commonwealth Games and the Pan American Games. Osborne retired in 1978 after serving 33 years as the Director of Physical Education. He received the Order of Canada in 1981. Bob Osborne's association with UBC athletics covered more than seven decades. UBC's Osborne Gymnasium is named in his honour. Osborne passed away in May 2003 at the age of 90.