News of Medals Being Stolen Hits Mann as Hard as a Left Hook

Monday, June 04, 2007 04:59 PM

This is Harold Mann’s Gold Medal from the 1962 British Empire ( Commonwealth) Games. If you have seen this medal, contact the RCMP.

Former boxing great Harold Mann, is devastated with the news his boxing medals are missing "Next to my Dad, my Mum, and my little sister dying, the word that my medals had been stolen from Exploration Place is the worst thing to ever happen to me in my life. "

The medals, a collection that includes a Gold Medal he won in at the 1962 British Empire (Commonweath) Games in Perth Australia, along with gold medals from 1958, 1961 and the 1962 Canadian Championships and some other memorabilia, were part of a collection Harold loaned to Exploration Place.

Last week it was discovered the medals were missing from the cabinet in the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame Gallery. Prince George RCMP are investigating.

"An old boxing friend of mine built me a glass cabinet, and all of the medals and some coins and other things that I had collected while boxing where in that cabinet," says Mann.

The medals are precious to Mann who, in 1962, was the first Canadian in a quarter of a century to win a gold medal in boxing at the Commonwealth Games, "I was the only BC boxer to ever win a Gold medal, so you can see the importance of those medals to me." Mann says he will never forget winning that Commonwealth Games Gold Medal "I remember when I knocked the guy out, they put that medal around my neck, and I was just floating."

"I’m still shook up about it" says the B.C. Sports Hall of Famer "I loaned the cabinet, containing the medals to Exploration Place, and I think that in order to get into that cabinet you would need a key or some way to pry the glass open. "

He pleaded with who ever took the medals to put them somewhere and then report that location to someone so they can be returned. "They have great value to our family" says the BC Sports Hall of Famer.

The Executive Director of Exploration Place, Tracy Calogheros, says she is still in shock “Who would do such a thing to a man we hold up as an example to inspire our children?”

Below, photos of the missing Canadian Championship medals 1958 and 1961

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Posted on Monday, June 04, 2007 04:59 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Runner46 on June 4 2007 9:07 PM

Talk about due diligence. Of course these precious items had a video camera on them, right?

Posted by: owl on June 5 2007 10:34 AM

The Executive Director of Exploration Place, Tracy Calogheros, says she is still in shock �Who would do such a thing to a man we hold up as an example to inspire our children?�

While I agree with the sentiment, I am astounded at her silence of the fact that security at the facility was breached to the extent that it will be questionable whether anything that is not replaceable at the museum is properly secured.

I hope that as a result of this incident, they are taking inventory of what they have on loan to ensure that such items are secured properly. If not, they should be removed from public display and housed in a storage area which only select staff have access to or are returned to owners until such time that security of such items can be guaranteed.

Posted by: lmorg on June 5 2007 11:28 AM

I hope he gets them back and very soon. \but don't get too down, harold...we know the accomplishments you have made...and are continuing to do with youth in this city.