Basil Edmund "Baz" O'Meara (June 5, 1892 – October 25, 1971), was a Canadian sports journalist. A columnist for the ''

Montreal Star ''The Montreal Star'' was an English-language Canadian newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It closed in 1979 in the wake of an eight-month pressmen's strike. It was Canada's largest newspaper until the 1950s and remained the domi ...

'', he won the

Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award The Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award is an accolade presented annually to a print newspaper columnist or reporter in recognition of their achievements covering the game of ice hockey. The award is "to recognize distinguished members of the newspaper ...

in 1984 and is a member of the media section of the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 1979, O'Meara was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. O'Meara was the sports editor of the '' Ottawa Journal'' during the 1920s, and mentored his successor Bill Westwick. He joined the ''Star'' in 1929 and retired at the age of 76 around 1968. Although controversy exists over this claim, he was widely credited with nicknaming Maurice Richard "Rocket". He began his career at the ''Ottawa Free Press'' in 1910.Sports writer covered action for 50 years Meara, Baz O. The Globe and Mail (1936-Current); Oct 26, 1971; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail. pg. 37 He died of a massive stroke in 1971.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:OMeara, Basil 1892 births 1971 deaths Canadian sports journalists Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees Elmer Ferguson Award winners