Jerome “Hook” McComb

Jerome McComb was born in Kitchener in 1917 and spent his entire life as a resident of the community.

McComb started boxing at age 12 and also played hockey with the Jr. “B” Greenshirts and the K-W Juniors in the 1930s. He rounded out his hockey career in senior hockey with the McIntyre Minors in the 1940s. He then joined the Canadian Army, and following World War II, joined the Kitchener Police Department. He retired in 1977 after 30 years of service at the rank of Staff Sergeant with the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

When he joined the Police Department, McComb assumed leadership of the Evergreen Boxing Club, which was re-named the Kitchener Police Boxing Club, and later the Waterloo Regional Police Boxing Club.

“Hook”, as McComb was nicknamed, was a pioneer in community-based policing and through his job, encouraged youth to become involved with the boxing program. Many of his young boxers were referred by the courts. McComb took the challenge and taught these young men more than just boxing; he was responsible for many troubled youth getting a fresh start to becoming good citizens. McComb stated that the purpose of the club was to get youth physically and mentally fit.

McComb coached boxing for 30 years, mentoring many champions, and he was selected as a coach for Provincial and National Teams.

McComb was also referee-in-chief for Kitchener Minor Hockey and Kitchener public schools for many years, and he officiated in the Ontario Hockey League.

Photo courtesy Region of Waterloo Archives