Kelowna's sports community grateful to 'passionate' builder

A self-admitted football fanatic, Dr. Barry Urness is likely best known in Kelowna for founding the Okanagan Sun.

Still, as profound an effect as Urness had on the junior football club, his volunteer work in the community at large over three-plus decades reached well beyond the gridiron.

Former CHBC sportscaster Pat Kennedy first met Urness in 1981 and has marveled at his contributions to the City of Kelowna ever since.

"Barry was deeply involved in so many aspects of the community and he was so passionate about everything he did," said Kennedy. "His positive effects on the various committees, and groups and people were far-reaching. At the same time, he was humble and didn't want the accolades. Anyone who has lived here can be grateful for what Barry has done for Kelowna."

Urness passed away last Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 69.

Lawrence Nagy first met Urness in the 1970s when Nagy was playing football at Immaculata.

The two would form a lifelong friendship, and in 1988 would be indelibly tied together in local sports history when the Sun won the Canadian junior football championship. Urness was the team president and Nagy, the head coach.

"Barry was passionate, he was a tireless worker and he didn't like the limelight," said Nagy, the head coach of the Sun when the club won national championships in 1988 and 2000.

"Barry's passion wasn't really about winning championships, it was more important to build things up from nothing, and to see other people benefit and have success from the work he did. If there was something you needed done, he was the guy to call. Barry was one of a kind."

Nagy credits Urness's guidance and hard work as the main catalyst behind the Sun's first Canadian junior football title.

Urness, who founded the club, then served as the team's first president in 1981 and 1982, returned to the post in 1988.

"When he came back on board he really made things possible for us," said Nagy. "I really believe he was the man behind that championship."

Urness also helped to resurrect high school football in the Central Okanagan, served as president of the Kelowna Amatuer Sports Society for 10 years, and served on the Kelowna Civic Awards Committee for 25 years.

In 2008, he founded the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame Museum.

Earlier this month, Urness was inducted into the C.O. Hall of Fame in the special recognition category.

Pat Kennedy, the current managing director of the COSHF, said Urness was a true visionary.

"Through all the years what strikes me is that he had great vision," said Kennedy. "He would bring people on board, like Mayor Walter Gray, and they would immediately buy into what Barry was doing. Barry's biggest asset was gathering people and leading them, and that's why he got things done."

Urness was also a renowned and loyal Saskatchewan Roughrider football fan. His brother, Ted Urness, played for the Riders from 1961 to 1970.

In addition to his involvement with sports teams and organizations, Urness was involved in many other civic and community endeavors, including serving as provincial director of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and being the honourary chairman for the first two phases of the Mission Creek Greenway project.

Dr. Urness was also recognized by the Government of Canada with a Commemorative Medallion in honour of the 125th anniversary of Confederation.

Urness is survived by his wife Betty, sons David and Dean, and five?grandchildren.

A memorial service for Barry Urness will be held Wednesday, July 4 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church.

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Source: http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/kelownabuzz/sports/160268215.html

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