Clarence Campbell

Clarence Campbell
Clarence Campbell poses with the Stanley Cup in 1957.
3rd President of the National Hockey League
In office 1946–1977
Preceded by	Red Dutton
Succeeded by	John Ziegler
Personal details
Born	Clarence Sutherland Campbell (1905-07-09)July 9, 1905 Fleming, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died	June 24, 1984(1984-06-24) (aged 78) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Alma mater	University of Alberta Oxford University
Occupation	NHL executive
Known for	third president of the National Hockey League

Clarence Sutherland Campbell OBE, QC (July 9, 1905 – June 24, 1984) was the third president of the National Hockey League from 1946 to 1977.

Born in Fleming, Saskatchewan, Campbell attended high school at the Strathcona Collegiate Institute, now known as Old Scona Academic, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in law and arts in 1924 and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, where he played for the Oxford University Ice Hockey Club.

Campbell worked as a referee in the NHL from 1933 until 1939. He officiated some historic games, such as the game in 1937 when the great Howie Morenz's career was ended when he broke his leg, an injury that eventually led to his death. Campbell even refereed a rough playoff game between the Montreal Maroons and the Boston Bruins in which Dit Clapper used his stick on a player. Angry at Clapper's actions, he called Clapper a profane name, which brought a powerful punch from the hardrock defenceman that knocked Campbell to the ice. Campbell, aware of his provocative action, then submitted a very lenient report on Clapper, and NHL president Frank Calder gave Clapper only a fine as a result.

Campbell made a controversial call in 1939 when refereeing a game involving the Toronto Maple Leafs when defenceman Red Horner was struck with a stick and Campbell doled out only a minor penalty, even though Horner was bleeding. Leafs owner Conn Smythe called for Campbell not to be rehired, and the league agreed.