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Good times chairman Bob Templeton dies aged 67
Posted: Monday December 06, 1999 01:37 PM
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- Former Australian rugby union coach Bob Templeton died from a heart attack on Sunday night, a Queensland rugby official said Monday. Templeton, who was 67, coached the Wallabies in 29 tests from 1971-81. He also served as assistant coach from 1988-95, helping orchestrate Australia's first World Cup triumph at Twickenham in 1991. Templeton died in a Brisbane hospital after undergoing knee replacement surgery. "Tempo had enormous influence on the Australian game," said Australian Rugby Union managing director John O'Neill. "He transformed Queensland into one of the world's greatest provincial sides and he began the modern Australian resurgence against New Zealand." Former Wallaby captain Andrew Slack spoke for many players. "As much as he was into rugby -- and he loved it like no-one else -- he loved the people more than he loved the game and that's my memory of him," Slack said. "I went to see him last Tuesday and he wasn't in great shape because he had two knees up in the air and Tempo always liked being in charge of things. "But he was still very chirpy and he just wanted to get the knees done so he could get home and get back on the golf course." He coached Queensland in 233 matches during a period spanning 26 years, first taking the reins in 1962 and helping the Reds become a leading force in provincial rugby. Templeton served as caretaker coach at South African Super 12 team Western Province last year and was still very active on the Queensland rugby scene. Templeton received an MBE from the British Royal Family for his services to rugby and was also widely respected in business circles, serving as chairman of a leading company. "We called him the chairman for good times because you wouldn't get a better mix than that," said Wallaby World Cup prop Dan Crowley. "He was bigger than life and, if there was a person bigger than the game, it was Tempo. "But he never thought that - he treated everyone as a fellow person." Templeton was a life member of the ARU and the QRU and is survived by his wife Jo and children Andrew, Ian and Jane.
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