:John Forzani
{{Short description|Canadian football player and businessman}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox person
|birth_date={{birth date|1947|4|5}}
|death_date={{Death date and age|2014|10|30|1947|4|5}}
|death_place=Palm Springs, California, U.S.
|alma_mater=Utah State University
|occupation=football player, owner, businessman
|nationality=Canadian
|module=
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
|embed=yes
|name=John Forzani
|full_name=
|team=Calgary Stampeders
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|position1=Owner|position2=OL
|number= 54
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|other_title=business owner
|other_years1=1974–2014
|other_team1=FGL Sports
|administrating_years1=2005–2012
|administrating_team1=Calgary Stampeders (co-owner)
|playing_years1=1971–1976
|playing_team1=Calgary Stampeders
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John Forzani (April 5, 1947 – October 30, 2014) was a Canadian businessman, former Canadian Football League (CFL) player, and CFL team owner. He was the chairman and co-founder of FGL Sports.
Early life
Born in Calgary, Alberta, he received a degree in business administration from Utah State University in 1971. In 1971, he joined the Calgary Stampeders as an offensive lineman and was part of the winning team of the 59th Grey Cup. He played football until 1976.{{cite web|url=http://www.canadianbusiness.com/lifestyle/article.jsp?content=20050829_70341_70341|title=Live And Learn: John Forzani|work=Canadian Business Online|access-date=2010-11-24}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Career
In 1974, he opened a {{convert|1200|sqft|m2|adj=on}} store called Forzani's Locker Room in Calgary. In 1994, he acquired Sports Experts Inc. for $20 million becoming Canada's largest sporting goods retailer.
In 2001, the Retail Council of Canada recognized Forzani's work in leading FGL Sports (then known as the Forzani Group) to outstanding business success. In recognition of this accomplishment he was presented with the Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.stampeders.com/team/exec_committee/profile/?id=23|title=JOHN FORZANI, Chairman|work=Calgary Stampeders|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824184340/http://www.stampeders.com/team/exec_committee/profile/?id=23|archive-date=2010-08-24}}
In 2005, he became a part owner of the Calgary Stampeders.
In June 2005, Concordia University conferred an honorary doctorate at the convocation ceremony for the John Molson School of Business, and he gave the address to the graduates.
Personal
John and two of his brothers, Joe and Tom, all played together with the Calgary Stampeders.{{cite web | url=http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/11/04/late-calgary-legend-john-forzanis-brain-to-be-donated-for-research | title=Late Calgary legend John Forzani's brain to be donated for research | publisher=calgarysun.com | date=November 4, 2014 | access-date=December 1, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224042031/http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/11/04/late-calgary-legend-john-forzanis-brain-to-be-donated-for-research | archive-date=2014-12-24 | url-status=dead }} Joe and Tom also attended Utah State University.{{Cite web |url=http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111102aad.html |title=Forzani Brothers: Successful in Business |access-date=2014-12-01 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225543/http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111102aad.html |url-status=dead }} Forzani died of a heart attack on October 30, 2014.{{Cite news|title=Former Calgary Stampeder John Forzani dies after heart attack in California|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/former-calgary-stampeder-john-forzani-dies-after-heart-attack-in-california/article21403375/|access-date=2021-03-12}}
References
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External links
- [http://www.cflapedia.com/Players/f/forzani_joe.htm CFLapedia bio]
{{59th Grey Cup}}
{{StampedersOwners}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forzani, John}}
Category:Businesspeople from Calgary
Category:Calgary Stampeders players
Category:Canadian football offensive linemen
Category:Canadian sportspeople of Italian descent
Category:Players of Canadian football from Alberta
Category:Canadian football people from Calgary
Category:Utah State Aggies football players
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