Bob McFarlane
Encyclopedia
Robert Malcolm McFarlane (May 28, 1927 – February 27, 2006) was a Canadian runner and football player who became a plastic surgeon
specializing primarily in hand and upper limb surgery.
Born in London, Ontario
, McFarlane attended the University of Western Ontario
from 1946 to 1951 as a medical student. While at Western, McFarlane was awarded the John Davies Trophy as Canada's top track athlete of 1947, and he carried the flag for Canada at the 1948 Summer Olympics
. At the same time, McFarlane led the Western Ontario Mustangs
football team that won the Yates Cup
in 1946, 1947, 1949, and 1950.
His most impressive year as an athlete was 1950, when he set five Canadian track records, defeated Olympic champions Mal Whitfield
and Arthur Wint
, and was the leading scorer among all Canadian university football teams. For those achievements, he was voted the Lou Marsh Trophy
winner as Canada's top athlete of 1950 and the winner of the Norton Crowe Memorial Medal as Canada's top amateur athlete. He again received the John Davies Trophy as the country's top track athlete. McFarlane was named Western's athlete of the century in 1978, and was inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
After graduating in 1951, McFarlane went on to become a plastic surgeon and head of plastic surgery at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario
. He moved to St. Joseph's Hospital in London in 1992, where he founded the Hand and Upper Limb Centre http://hulc.uwo.ca, which is now recognized as Canada's best upper extremity surgery unit. In 2004, the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons awarded him a lifetime achievement award. McFarlane died in 2006 at age 78. A full obituary can be read at the website of the Hand and Upper Limb Centre http://www.uwo.ca/surgery/plastics/HULC/HULCFaculty/McFarlane.html.
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
specializing primarily in hand and upper limb surgery.
Born in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, McFarlane attended the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
from 1946 to 1951 as a medical student. While at Western, McFarlane was awarded the John Davies Trophy as Canada's top track athlete of 1947, and he carried the flag for Canada at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
. At the same time, McFarlane led the Western Ontario Mustangs
Western Ontario Mustangs
The Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
football team that won the Yates Cup
Yates Cup
The Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
in 1946, 1947, 1949, and 1950.
His most impressive year as an athlete was 1950, when he set five Canadian track records, defeated Olympic champions Mal Whitfield
Mal Whitfield
Malvin "Mal" Greston Whitfield is a former American athlete, a double winner of 800 m at the Olympic Games...
and Arthur Wint
Arthur Wint
Competitor for JamaicaArthur Stanley Wint was the first Jamaican Olympic gold medalist, winning the 400 m at 1948 Summer Olympics....
, and was the leading scorer among all Canadian university football teams. For those achievements, he was voted the Lou Marsh Trophy
Lou Marsh Trophy
The Lou Marsh Trophy, also known as the Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy and Lou Marsh Award, is a trophy that is awarded annually to Canada's top athlete, professional or amateur. It is awarded by a panel of journalists, with the vote taking place in December. It was first awarded in 1936...
winner as Canada's top athlete of 1950 and the winner of the Norton Crowe Memorial Medal as Canada's top amateur athlete. He again received the John Davies Trophy as the country's top track athlete. McFarlane was named Western's athlete of the century in 1978, and was inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
After graduating in 1951, McFarlane went on to become a plastic surgeon and head of plastic surgery at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. He moved to St. Joseph's Hospital in London in 1992, where he founded the Hand and Upper Limb Centre http://hulc.uwo.ca, which is now recognized as Canada's best upper extremity surgery unit. In 2004, the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons awarded him a lifetime achievement award. McFarlane died in 2006 at age 78. A full obituary can be read at the website of the Hand and Upper Limb Centre http://www.uwo.ca/surgery/plastics/HULC/HULCFaculty/McFarlane.html.