OBIT: All-star lineman Paul Gohier was 51
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MONTREAL – The McGill University department of athletics and
recreation sadly announces the passing of Paul Gohier, one of the
first French-Canadian captains of the Redmen football team, who
went on to play for the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian
Football League. Gohier died of cancer on Sunday at Lachenaie,
Que. He was 51.
A 6-foot-4, 280-pound offensive tackle with the Redmen, Gohier
earned all-conference honours in each of his last two seasons at
McGill. He was a second-round draft pick of the B.C. Lions in the
1980 Canadian Football League’s amateur draft but returned to play
two more years at McGill, capping his university career in 1981
when the Redmen finished first with a 7-0 record. He went on to
play offensive guard in the CFL for Hamilton in 1983 and later
returned to complete his physical education degree at McGill in
1992.
"Paul was a great team player and one of the first really large
linemen that we ever had," said Charlie Baillie, who coached the
Redmen from 1972 to 2000. "He was a big strong kid with a good
attitude and anchored our offensive line. He will be sorely
missed."
Born in La Tuque, Que., on Sept. 12, 1957, Gohier joined the Redmen
in 1977 out of College de Trois-Rivieres and won the Fred Dupre
memorial trophy as the team’s rookie of the year. He studied
physical education at McGill and in 1980, served with Marc Lacelle
as co-captain of the Redmen, marking the first time in more than
half a century that the team had had a francophone captain, since
Rockey Robillard served in that role in 1949.
Visitation is scheduled for Friday (Oct. 17) from 12 noon to 3:30
p.m. at the Guay Funeral Home, located at 850 Montée Masson in
Mascouche, Que., followed by a 4 p.m. funeral service at the
Mascouche church.
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Dept. of Athletics & Recreation, Room 225 B
McGill University
475 Pine Avenue W.,
Montreal, QC H2W 1S4
CANADA
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
514-398-1956 (Fax)
www.athletics.mcgill.ca