Orville Rex Porter
Rex Porter was active in Wolfville sport as an athlete, a coach and a booster. At Wolfville High School he played forward on the school rugby team, including the 1929 team that won the Valley League championship. An avid basketball player, he was captain of the team in 1930. He also played cornet in the high school orchestra.
Entering Acadia with the class of ‘34, he joined the rugby team. His play as forward impressed coach Fred Kelly who later named Porter to his All-Star Team and during his Senior year, was rugby team captain. He played basketball for Acadia and for his class team. The 1932 yearbook commented on his skills at basketball: “He’s invincible, try to get past him.” Porter was the founder and first director of the Acadia Band, a reflection of his interest in both sport and in music. “A grand help to both teams and spectators was the Acadia Band and it is fitting that the gratitude of those connected with the various sports of the university should be expressed to the bank through these columns. The band’s services and its loyalty are much appreciated by all.”
After graduation, Porter became a teacher at Wolfville High School. There, he coached sports teams, notably basketball, and, in 1936, formed the school band. The band played at sports, school and civic events; this added to the enjoyment of sports fans in Wolfville. In 1942, it was renamed the Cadet Band. Porter became principal at Wolfville High School in 1940 and continued his participation in sport at the school and in town. He became supervising principal in 1964, a post he held until 1970.
(Acadia Yearbook 1932, 76; Acadia Athenaeum, May 1934
