William J. Pryor

PRYOR, William Jennings II “Bill”, 82 of 7 Parker St, Dartmouth; passed away unexpectedly at home. Born October 1929 in Philadelphia, he was the son of Myrtle (Mills) Pryor (O’Brien) and Roger Jennings Pryor. The family moved to Charlottetown, PEI in 1933. Bill attended Queen Street School where he excelled in softball, basketball, baseball and boxing. Bill was known to many as “Billy the kid” Pryor. In 1946, at the Rollaway Club in Charlottetown, he found his love of the ring. Bill left PEI for Halifax to continue training. A master boxer rather than a slugger, Billy the kid was a crowd pleaser during his career in the 1940’s and 50’s. Bill was blessed with the range, reach and the perfect boxer’s physique; he was fast on his feet and possessed even quicker hands. It was said that he had the ability to “sense what his opponents were thinking”. He had 85 amateur and professional bouts, he never once had the ten-count tolled over him and was only stopped once in his career by a TKO-after he broke his hand in the 1948 Olympic Games Boxing Trials in Moncton as part of the Abbies Boxing Team. With time and experience Bill became one of Canada’s finest boxing writers, a columnist with Toronto Weekly, Dartmouth Free Press, Scotia Journalist, The Fourth Estate and for the National publication Boxing Illustrated as Canadian editor. He was as fearlessly honest as he had been in the ring pulling no punches. Bill was a boxing referee and judge and sat on the Halifax Boxing Commission. He was elected as the first President of the Halifax Boxing Club. Bill became an honorary member of the National Veteran Boxing Association in 1976, as he served with the RC Navy in the 1950’s. For Bill’s lifetime achievement as a boxer and contributions as a sports writer, he was inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame October 29, 1976. That same year he was awarded the Tony Unitas Medal for his contribution to boxing and was selected by the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association as “Canada’s Best Boxing Writer”. Bill also had a flare for food, not only did he enjoy “a good roast of beef”, he had a career as a food and beverage manager and chef at various restaurants over the years. Bill was also a top salesman for Dun and Bradstreet for several years and in 1978 received Best Sales Representative Award. Bill loved all animals as well, especially horses, dogs and cats. He is survived by his children: William R Pryor (Lucy)(QC), William J Pryor 111, (Hfx), Virginia Pryor (ON), Geraldine Pryor- Quirion (Guy)(QC), Jacqueline Pryor (ON),and Tamar Pryor Brown (Cameron), (Hfx). 20 Grandchildren , 18 great grandchildren; special niece’s Anne (Ryan)Maxwell (PEI), and Missy Ryan (Hfx), long- time companion Ronda Slawter (East Preston) and best friend “Mr. Muggs” (the cat). He was predeceased by both parents and fiancée Trudy Cromwell (Dart). Visitation will be held Friday December 16 at A.L. Mattatall’s Funeral Home 217 Portland St, Dartmouth from 2-4 and 6-8 with funeral service Saturday December 17 at 1pm at A.L. Mattatall’s Funeral Home 217 Portland St, Dartmouth, Rev. Dr. Lennett J. Anderson officiating. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of NS or the SPCA.