Dr. Marcus Dunsworth
Pioneer Award- Inducted 2023
Marcus Dunsworth was an amazing multisport athlete. Born in Macomb, Illinois Marcus relocated with his family to Lethbridge in 1908. He played a little basketball, and tennis, and ran track and field as a student in Lethbridge but did not really develop his true sports talent until adulthood. After graduating as a Doctor in Dentistry, from Northwestern University, and a brief stint in the Army Dental Corps during World War One, Dunsworth opened a practice in Edmonton.
In 1922 Marcus began to play tennis at a whole new level and from 1924 to 1931 he held six of the seven provincial singles title, in 1924 he was the Western Canada Champion as well. Dunsworth was a 14-time City of Edmonton Champion in Tennis and Handball. 14-time Provincial champion in Tennis, Football, Basketball, and Track. His Track and Field specialty was the 100-yard dash with a best time of 10.1 seconds.
Marcus was a regular basketball player at the local YMCA and led his team to two Western Canada Basketball Champions. The early 1920s saw Dunsworth take to the field with the Edmonton Eskimos football club and competed in two Grey Cups. He also enjoyed curling and working on his golf game.
To have accomplished all of this between 1918 and 1938 when travel and financial assistance to sports were difficult only goes to highlight his athletic abilities. Dunsworth was a member of the inaugural class inducted to the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame on March 15, 1961.
