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In the old days, a man used to fire a starter pistol to mark halftime. One game, a couple of pranksters had an idea, but they needed a dead duck and a launch pad. A plan was afoot. When the gun went off, on a rainy game day, the accomplice threw the duck off a nearby roof, as though blown from the sky.

“It broke the whole stadium up.”

Fripp was born in Ottawa, the eldest of three boys. His father, Herbert, established an insurance and real estate firm, H.D. Fripp & Son Ltd., in 1923. John took over in 1950, after his football career was over. (Both the war and Rider star Tony “Golden Boy” Golab kept him from greater glory on the gridiron.)

He had four children with his first wife, Virginia, and adopted a daughter with his second wife, Liz.

A skier from the age of six, Fripp won many top races across Quebec and was the head instructor at Mont Tremblant while serving on national and international ski committees. Two of his boys became elite ski jumpers.

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He follows the modern Redblacks, of course, but isn’t fond of how players celebrate after a touchdown or even a tackle.

“I don’t like the way they show off. In the days when I was playing, you were modest. You hung your head if you scored a touchdown.” Boy, are those days over.

We’ll end at the beginning, Sept. 29, 1941.

“But most of all it was a red-letter day for the Riders, and in particular for a 20-year-old chunky high school star who was making his first appearance in big time football. Johnny Fripp, one of Canada’s greatest skiers … was shoved into the battle as a momentary replacement for Andy Tommy in the second quarter … it was his bull-like rushes straight through the middle of the Montreal ranks which carried Ottawa deep into scoring position for the final touchdown …”

Not his “final,” surely. Johnny Fripp told well-wishers he’ll be around next February, for his 100th.

To contact Kelly Egan, please call 613-726-5896 or email kegan@postmedia.com

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