THE LONG BOXING JOURNEY OF BERT LOWES- by brian Zelley
Introduction
The story of the Bert Lowes boxing story,
covers many decades and hundreds of boxers
from the South Hill and Firefighters Boxing
Clubs, to his role as head boxing official in
British columbia and Canada.
He was well known in boxing circles on
an International basis for officiating in numerous International
tournaments such as the Olympic Games, and in 1994
served on the security detail at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
PAT WEST and BERT LOWES and their boxers
Freddy Fuller Dick Findlay Dave Wylie
Brian Zelley Gordie Lawson Jimmy Walters
John Gamble Frankie Scott Lindy Lindmoser
BRITISH COLUMBIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME - INDUCTEE
As of 2011, Bert Lowes is one of seven boxing names in the
British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame. The others to share this
distinction are Jimmy McLarnin, Billy Townsend, Harold Mann,
Tommy Paonessa, Dale Walters and Lennie Walters.
AWARDS and RECOGNITION
Bert Lowes has received and given many awards. One of the
most cherished non-boxing awards in the Harold Mann
Achievement Award for distinguished long-term service
to the sport of amateur boxing in British Columbia. Lowes
was one of the early recipients of this annual award.
For several years in the Eighties, there was a special
"Bert Lowes Award" presented to a excellent boxer
THE HERE AND NOW 2011
Herbert (Bert) Lowes has been gone for 11 years,
but his image and influence remains in the footprints
of amateur boxing history. In October 2011, Bert was
nominated for a place in the
BC AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME.
Bert lowes' positive influence reaches far beyond the boxing ring. Joe swift sr. (my Father) was living in a bad foster home when at the age of 9 in 1950, he poked his head into a East-Side Vancouver boxing club. Bert Lowes, invited the young man in, an then taught him how to box. Joe Looked up to Bert as a sort of father figure. Bert kept him off the streets and out of trouble (most of it any way). from what I know, Joe would go on to win a diamond belt, golden boy, 3 Canadian Championships and boxed in the Navy. eventually Joe settled down and raising a family. Later on he rejoined Bert volunteering as an International Judge and referee as well as providing ringside announcing. I ( Joe Swift Jr) owe a debt of gratitude to Bert Lowes for helping to shape my father into the great man and loving father he became. Joe Swift sr passed away on April 5 2008. Now that I am a father I understand what Bert did for my dad and I am very blessed to have met him a few times. thanks for posting about Bert Lowes. Blessings Joe Swift Jr.
ReplyDeleteJOE, thanks for your comments and let's not forget your father. I remember working with him on many a fight card. One of the earlier ones was the
ReplyDelete1983 BC SILVER GLOVES. Officials included Bert Lowes, Joe Swift, Brian Zelley,
Lindy Lindmoser, Rudy Bianco, Fred Fuller, Ron Whalley and others.
But, there were many many more shows and tournaments.