Proudfoot Corner: Memories of 1 Yonge St. as Toronto Star prepares to move

Editor’s note: The Toronto Star is moving to its new headquarters at Front Street West and Spadina Avenue later this month after 51 years at One Yonge St. For this week’s Proudfoot Corner, veteran sports reporter Mark Zwolinski shares some of his fondest memories while sitting in the fifth-floor sports department, surrounded by some of the giants in Canadian journalism.

Jim Proudfoot approached me one day in 1989 while I was sitting in the sports department at the back of the One Yonge newsroom. “Hey kid, we’re covering a Leafs’ game, you’re going with me …”

Well “yes, sir” was my immediate response. For a reporter in his late 20s, the first thought was to be on time, wear a tie and shine my shoes. Keep your mouth closed, and your eyes and ears open.

That was essentially my first Leafs’ game as a reporter, and Proudfoot was my venerable guide. He is remembered for many things, and on this date, as the namesake of the Proudfoot Corner of the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund, which solicits donations from kind readers and provides Christmas packages for thousands of needy, deserving children.

Proudfoot, known as “Chester” to everyone who crossed paths with him, was at his typewriter in the newsroom in the afternoons prior to the game, before anyone was even thinking of the night’s story angles.

The sports department, much larger back then in terms of staff, was also home to the likes of amateur sports writer Randy Starkman, columnist Wayne Parrish, feature writer Mary Ormsby, Leafs reporters Frank Orr and Paul Hunter, Argos beat writer Rick Matsumoto, golf writer Rick Fraser, baseball writers Neil MacCarl and Tom Slater along with sports editors Gerry Hall, Paul Warnick, Phil Bingley and just too many others to mention. All might have well have been gods — and were — to this newbie, who still had a full head of hair back then.

That status was only underlined one night a few years before the Leafs game with Proudfoot when the phone rang in the department. I can’t remember who answered it, but it was Muhammad Ali on the other end, asking for Milt Dunnell. The Star’s legendary sports editor was about the only other media person, outside of Howard Cosell, who could get a return call from Ali.

No one went “oooooh” or “ahhhhh.” It was simply part of the day, not a big deal … the way things were with Dunnell.

Starkman reported on the Ben Johnson drug scandal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and I was in the office when it first broke. As a story, it was as big as they come. The department, already humming with copy editors, kicked into another, more intense gear.

More editors were called. It felt bigger than a federal election night. Starkman tirelessly filed, updated and worked around the clock. A purposeful quiet descended on the department. Everyone focused on getting the stories out, and it’s stamped into my memory as an example of our professionalism.

I sat three desks away from Chester and sometimes you could hear him speaking over the phone with Leafs owner Harold Ballard, or some famous trainer from Woodbine before he would pound away at the typewriter. Many in the newsroom were using the “new” desktop computers by then, but the sports department still had typewriters.

He had a reputation of being short with most people, and not much for long conversations. The department phone would ring, and when no one would answer it, he’d pick it up and answer politely. After saying something like “hang on,” or “one moment please,” he’d slam the receiver down with a great fury that is remembered to this day.

Strangely enough, he’d answer the next call as well, and repeat the process.

Near the end of the year, he was busy as he was most weekdays, yet he took on the added task of organizing donor cheques for the Sportsman’s Corner.

This was a chore fit for a seasoned accountant, but Chester did it faithfully, licking envelopes and writing names with amounts in a ledger book. He was in his own little world, the legendary columnist and periodic accountant, doing all that wonderful work while the print presses hummed, a few floors below.

Chester was following a Santa Fund tradition in the Star sports department called the Sportsmen’s Corner, originated in the mid-1940s, and popularized by former sports editors like Dunnell. Proudfoot died in 2001, and columnist Dave Perkins renamed the Sportsman’s Corner to the Proudfoot Corner in his honour.

Today, we hope to keep up with the tradition of the Santa Fund, and hope we do justice to Proudfoot, Dunnell, Perkins and all the people behind the scenes who tirelessly make the Santa Fund the success that it is today.

On the corner: Kicking off this season, first plaudits go to Penny Reilly of Toronto for a donation of $50 we were unable to get to in time last year. Penny’s donation came in memory of Paula Petrie with condolences to Brian and family. Also coming in from Toronto is $25 from Margo Murphy and $250 from John C.P. King, regular contributor and former Star copy editor.

We’re pleased to welcome back more familiar names. There’s Pickering’s Ed Ludlow with $50 in memory of Shadow, Patricia Scull of Newmarket with $100, Glenn Pollinger of Etobicoke with $50 in memory of Jack P., and the perennially generous Tom Perta of Markham in memory of Adeline and Patsy with $50 for the children.

Many other contributors honoured the memory of loved ones with their donations: Frank Donovan of Ingersoll remembers Randy Donovan with his $50, Mississauga’s Frances Henderson’s $35 was sent with thoughts of Merritt Henderson, Neil Conway’s $105 came from Oakville in memory of Maurice Conway, and Christine and Ed Dickson of Ajax’s $100 was sent in memory of Joe Dickson, whose work, they note, made sports available to all kids in Ajax from the late ‘50s into the ‘60s.

We’re happy to receive $10 from an anonymous sender out of Orangeville, $105 from Bob and Ann Baker out of Stouffville, $50 from Diane and David Baker, these two from Waterloo, and from Stratford, $105 from Mary Walton in honour of Arabella. Last but not least, a healthy $555 came from Mississauga’s Brian Deegan in honour of Adam, Andrew, Lauren and grandkids Sean and Aubrey. Thanks to all who helped get the ball rolling this year as we look forward to a great campaign!

To donate by cheque, make payable and mail to:

Proudfoot Corner

One Yonge St.

Toronto, M5E 1E6

Online: visit: thestar.com/santaclausfund and email charityinfo@thestar.ca mentioning Proudfoot.

By phone, call 416-869-4847 and mention Proudfoot.

The Star does not authorize anyone to solicit on its behalf.

Tax receipts will be issued.

Mark Zwolinski is a Toronto-based sports reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @markzwol