Rial George Rutter “Barney” Lawrence

Barney Lawrence was born in Ottawa in 1925 and came to Kitchener in 1951 to practice law.

During his college days he was a member of the University of Toronto intercollegiate team and was later a nationally ranked squash player in both doubles and singles. He was Ontario amateur squash champion in 1962.

He played on the Canadian Lapham Cup Team against the United States about seventeen times between 1950-1984, and was captain in 1967 and 1981. He is the holder of many Canadian, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Western Canadian titles.

In 1962 Lawrence established the Kitchener-Waterloo Racquet Club, the first in the area, and served as president for seven years. Since the opening of the physical education complex at the University of Waterloo, where he was instrumental in having the first glass-walled courts for spectator viewing, the squash program has been aided by Lawrence. He was coach of the college team which has won many championships.