It’s hard to imagine that any one person could accomplish as much in a lifetime as did the late Henry Singer. Born in 1907, Mr. Singer watched Spruce Grove grow from a tiny hamlet to the city it is today. Actually, there was little time for watching for a doer like Henry.

Henry Singer was married for over 60 years to Florence, and together they raised six children. Mr. Singer was a school bus driver for over 40 years. At age 74, he was made an honorary staff member at Woodhaven Junior High School for his dedication to the children he served.

Henry was an outstanding farmer and in 1971 the Singer family received the Alberta Farm Family Award. In addition to running the farm and volunteering as director at the Stony Plain Seed Cleaning Plant for 32 years, Henry Singer was a charter and lifetime member of the chamber of commerce, Lions Club and Spruce Grove Curling Club. He helped to build the Peace Lutheran Church, Spruce Grove’s first curling rink and the Spruce Grove Agrena. He was a director of the Serplex Society, Spruce Grove Agricultural Society, the Rural Electrification Association and a member of the Spruce Grove Recreation Board.

That was Henry Singer – school bus driver, fastball coach, active volunteer, curler, and, when he found time, a farmer.

In 1980, Spruce Grove named a ball diamond after Henry Singer. He coached fastball from 1943-1976, leading his teams to five provincial intermediate C championships over four decades. In 1982, he was among the first six inductees into the Alberta Amateur Softball Hall of Fame.

The Henry Singer Award given each year to a top athlete at Spruce Grove Composite High School is another way he inspires our young people today.