Robert Mitchell McCalla - Boxing - Coach

Year Inducted: 1991

Robert Mitchell McCalla has been the South Park Athletic Club Boxing coach since 1953, and a boxer himself since 1944.  McCalla’s many boxing accomplishments are displayed by enumerable press clippings and photos.  McCalla boxers have won 101 Golden Glove District Championships, 16 State Championships, and 15 Ontario Championships.  As of the 1991, 12 of McCalla’s fighters are involved at different levels of the Blue Water Area.  McCalla’s pro-kick boxer, Ken Osterland, won the 1988 Tough man Championship in the light heavy weight division.  McCalla’s boxer, Vince Buckles, won the Golden Gloves District Championships in 1979 and 1980.

Robert Mitchell McCalla was the Golden Glove District Champion in 1947, 1949 and 1950, and was the State runner up in 1950.  At that time, McCalla fought under the name of Bobby Mitchell.  McCalla was a boxer in the US Army with a record of 6 and 2.  McCalla became a professional fighter in 1951 and earned a record of 3 and 3.  A blood clot injury behind his ear with a resultant 19-hour operation knocked Robert Mitchell McCalla out of the ring himself, and into the fields of coaching and training.

Robert Mitchell McCalla is a great family man who in his senior years still runs five miles a day for conditioning purposes.  He has worked with and trained hundreds of local kids while at the same time encouraging education and no smoking or drinking.  Robert Mitchell McCalla is responsible for mature development of many needy boys.