November 2, 2011: Argos Mourn Loss of Don Durno

Durno played three seasons (1948-1949, 1951) for the Boatmen as both an offensive and defensive lineman. He also played five additional seasons in the CFL with Winnipeg, Montreal, Edmonton and Hamilton.  In 1942, Durno won his first Grey Cup as a member of the RCAF Hurricanes when his team defeated the RCAF Bombers of Winnipeg, 8-5. In 1943, he moved out to Winnipeg, participated in a second Grey Cup game as a member of the Blue Bombers and was named an all-star at defensive end. When he returned to Toronto in 1948 he was the Argos’ nominee for Outstanding Canadian.In 1965, Durno was appointed President of the Argos Alumni Association and served 27 years, until he stepped down in 1992.A lifelong supporter of minor football in Ontario, Durno co-founded the Ontario Football Conference in the mid 1950’s and ran the Ontario Junior Football League for 17 years (1960-1976).Durno was well-known on the field and worked tirelessly off of it as he put in countless hours with local charities throughout his lifetime. He organized more than 80 charity golf tournaments and donated both time and money to the Charlie Conacher Cancer Fund as well as the Rumball Camp for the Deaf.After raising several millions of dollars for various charitable initiatives, Durno was recognized for his charitable work by the Government of Ontario and was also honoured with a Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General on May 30, 2005.Durno also played for the Montreal Bulldogs (IRFU), Toronto Indians (ORFU), Cleveland Browns & Chicago Rockets of the All-American Conference.Donations can be made in Don Durno’s memory to the Ontario Camp of the Deaf.November 01, 2011