Competed for McGill in both football and hockey.
Dr. (Willie) William John Lambert, who played for Montreal Alouettes in 1964, was born on March 23, 1937 in Wainfleet Township, near Wellandport, Ont. He graduated with a bachelor of physical education in 1960 and a doctor of dental surgery in 1964.
The long-time Montreal dentist played six seasons with the football Redmen at running back, receiver, defensive back, kicker and return specialist.
He held the McGill all-time scoring record with 20 touchdowns, which stood for 14 years, and also competed in hockey, basketball and volleyball.
Lambert was named to the league all-star team four times, including the 1962 campaign when he was all-conference at both running back and defensive back.
In 1960, he won the Lois Obeck Trophy as the team's most improved player, was second in the league scoring race with six TDs in six games, helped McGill to win the Yates Cup and the Churchill Bowl, scoring a touchdown in the national championship game.
In the 1962 Yates Cup game he caught the game-winning TD pass with 59 seconds remaining in a 15-13 come-from-behind victory over Queen's.
A co-captain in 1963-64, he led the conference in scoring with 60 points (7 TDs, 4 field goals, 4 converts, 2 singles), won the Omega trophy as league MVP and the Forbes trophy as McGill's male athlete of the year.
A trustee and member of the board of governors with the Martlet Foundation, he was instrumental in founding the Friends of McGill alumni support groups for hockey and football.
Honours
Signed by a pro team (1964 Montreal Alouettes (CFL))
Forbes Trophy (1963-64) as McGill’s Male Athlete of the Year.
Player-related articles
Where are they now? Lambert's brush with greatness
Nov 25, 04
by IAN MACDONALD
The Gazette
November 25, 2004
The biggest highlight of Willie Lambert's days at McGill University had nothing to do with his exceptional performance on the football field.
"It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me," the longtime Westmount dentist said of the 1960 McGill athletic awards banquet. "It's something that stayed with me all these years."
