Richard “Rick” Bacon, a native of Windsor, Nova Scotia, received his Certificate of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degrees from Acadia in the years 1977 and 1978 respectively. An outstanding volleyball and hockey performer during his high school years at Windsor Regional High, Rick entered Acadia on a Volleyball Nova Scotia Scholarship. During his years at Acadia, he starred for four seasons as a volleyball Axeman, while maintaining his interest in hockey as a major performer with the Windsor Royals Junior “B” Club -a team that consistently vied for provincial honors. To this day, this versatile Hants County native ponders how he may have rated as an-on-ice Axeman.
During his initial two seasons at Acadia, Rick insists that he had to work very diligently in order to compete favourably with the gifted athletes who wore the Acadia garb. In Wayne Brothers, the Axemen’s premier performer and recipient of the school’s Male Athlete of the Year Award during the 1973-74 academic year, he had a role model. In fact, their volleyball careers at both the intercollegiate and National Team levels were to be closely associated in subsequent seasons. On occasions, too, they combined to conduct volleyball clinics throughout the area teaching and demonstrating skills to aid future generations of court participants.
Being very competitive in league and exhibition tournaments, the Axemen -with Rick twice being named the team’s most valuable player -always fell short in their quest of a Conference title. During the academic years of ’73 to ’76, the University of New Brunswick volleyballers emerged as Conference champs. During the following season, the Dalhousie Tigers captured the league’s title.
Individually, however, Rick Bacon’s years as an Axeman were excellent ones. Demonstrating outstanding skills and on-court leadership ability, he drew the attention and praise of experts throughout the region. Coached at Acadia by such knowledgeable instructors as Bill White and Jiri Rada, Rick’s progress was noted by such as the officials of Canada’s national program. In order to further develop his game, Bacon participated in club competition with a team located in Halifax. In this capacity, he was a major contributor to a squad that in the mid- 70s attained national honors.
During May of 1977, Rick was invited to attend a tryout camp for the National team located in Winnipeg. While there, he attended the University of Manitoba, ultimately transferring his credits to Acadia. For seven seasons -from ’77 to ’84 inclusive -Rick Bacon was a valuable member of Canada’s National Volleyball squad. In this capacity, he had the opportunities to travel throughout the world, participating in all existing major tournaments. Highlighting these major events was participation in World Championship play in Bulgaria and competition in the 1984 Olympics -resulting in a fourth-place finish for Bacon and his teammates.
Initially, the National squad was located in Winnipeg, and subsequently based in Calgary. From ’84-’87 inclusive, Rick participated in the Club volleyball system, being a member of an Alberta-based team that captured a Canadian title in 1986. Obviously during his highly successful competitive volleyball career, Rick has drawn rave notices from the Canadian and international press, has been the recipient of many individual awards and accolades and has accumulated many mementos that signify team successes in major tournaments staged throughout the world. Being one of Hants County’s best-ever native performers in athletics of any kind, Rick Bacon is indeed worthy of any tribute that may be accorded him.
For the past decade or so, Rick’s form of recreation has centered around old-timers’ hockey and the increasingly popular competitive slowpitch schedule and tournament play.
What a honor it is to welcome back to Acadia for induction to its Sports Hall of Fame, Richard “Rick” Bacon; an outstanding volleyball Axeman whose superior skills enabled him to represent Canada in Olympic and World Competition.
