Douglas (Doug) Billing
Sport: Football
Year Inducted: 1984
Under coach Art Anderson’s tutelage, Doug Billing developed into one of the finest quarterbacks to emerge from Cornwall high school football ranks.
Doug was steered to North Carolina University Tar Heels by Ottawa Rough Riders who invited him to their training camp after he graduated from the SLHS Saints.
After a season (1959-60) with the Tar Heels’ freshman team, Doug joined St. Francis Xavier, then coached by the legendary Don Loney.
For three seasons Doug was the pivot for one of the X-Men’s greatest eras.
The 1963 team, which defeated the University of Toronto Blues in the Atlantic Bowl, is regarded as the strongest St. Francis Xavier ever fielded.
An article in Time Magazine described the X-Men as the Assassins from Antigonish.
In a game against Acadia, Doug established a league record when he completed his first three passes of the game for three touchdowns. The passes came on consecutive plays.
Doug’s college football career didn’t end when he graduated from St.Francis Xavier. He moved on to the University of Waterloo and led the team to a winning season. He completed 37 of 74 passes that season for an average of 20 yards. He also played a season for Cornwall Emards of the Quebec Rugby Union. While at SLHS, Doug was also an outstanding basketball player.
Doug Billing died August 23, 2023.