The News
TRENTON - Few are chosen.
But former Trenton resident Ken Doucette will soon take his place among them.
Doucette, 58, a retired Chief Warrant Officer with the Canadian Air Force and now living in Halifax, will be inducted into the Canadian Forces Sports Hall of Fame next month in Ottawa.
"This would be one of the highlights of my sports career," said Doucette, who now lives in Halifax with his wife Denise.
Doucette received the hall of fame nod because of his achievements in running: a veteran of 28 marathons, he once held the Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Canadian Forces marathon records at the same time.
Inducted into the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame in 1995, Doucette broke Johnny Miles' provincial record in 1980, after the running legend held that mark for 54 years.
He lists the names of people who inspired him to run when he was younger: former schoolteachers Jack MacLean, Peter White and Ducky MacDonald, along with runners Monty MacDougall and Joe Earle.
"Without the support at a young age, I wouldn't be in any hall of fame," he says.
The Canadian Forces hall was established in 1971 to recognize serving and former members of the forces who excel in sports. To date, there have been only 85 athletes inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"The criteria is not easy, it's a tough hall of fame to get into," Doucette said.
"Some years, none get in - last year there was only one."
There are only 85 inductees in the Armed Forces hall of fame, yet two others who hail from Pictou County in addition to Doucette are there; Chief Warrant Officer (retired) Les (Babe) Mason, Stellarton, was inducted in 1980 for his boxing prowess, and Major (retired) George Harper, New Glasgow, inducted in 1991 for the sport of shooting.
"I still run five days a week, an hour a day," says Doucette. "Running is a way of life."
Doucette will be inducted in to the Hall of Fame Nov. 17 at the Canadian Forces Sports Awards, at the Ottawa Congress Centre.
