2005 Inductees

Darrell Corbett

In the early 1950s, the new Berwick School athletic program was limited in scope. Little did anyone know, a giant surge was about to hit it. Darrell Corbett was interested in getting involved. What a force! A young track star who had a keen interest in all sports and in young people. A humble man, he probably didn't realize how much he had to offer.

He would often drop by the school to lend a hand. His ability to teach, organize, and implement programs would open the floodgates for athletes in the greater Berwick area. He soon became known as "Coach" Corbett and, shortly thereafter, he became Berwick School's first physical education teacher. His programs were second to none in the often-heard opinions of former students.

Darrell's involvement in hockey and, especially, fastball took the sports to a whole new level. Serving variously as manager, assistant, coach, scorekeeper, and vocal supporter, he led many Berwick teams to provincial titles and maritime championships throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including the Nova Scotia Junior Maritime Intermediate C Fastball Championship in 1961 and the Senior B Championship in 1963.

Also, he was very active, with longtime friend Paul Bethune, in organizing and promoting a highly-successful community swimming program.

Darrell continued his support of youth and athletics as a long-standing member of the Berwick Lions Club. He served on the Recreation Committee for over 30 years and was the driving force behind the Leo's Club, which is the youth branch of the organization and which works tirelessly to raise funds for the disadvantaged. It would be hard to imagine Berwick Gala Days without Darrell in the Lions "Crown 'n' Anchor" booth, where thousands of dollars have been raised for recreation. He led the Lions as president in 1983-84. Lions International is well aware of Darrell's contributions and accomplishments. In 2003, he was awarded the Lions' most prestigious award, the Melvin Jones Fellow, for dedicated humanitarian service.

Darrell is well known as the consummate fan - interested in both amateur and professional sport. He loves his Boston Red Sox and Montreal Canadiens. His amazing memory for facts and details makes him unbeatable in sports trivia. Many a sports argument has been settled by a simple phone call to Darrell.

When a committee was formed in 1999 to start the Berwick Sports Hall of Fame, Darrell was an obvious choice as a member. His knowledge of the local sports scene became instrumental in the success of the Hall of Fame. Darrell retired from the committee in 2004 and is the first founding member inducted as a builder.

Inducted June 2005