With confidence that became contagious, coaching phenom Vince Lombardi became a symbol of single-minded determination to win. Of importance, his notoriety didn't always show on the field of the National Football League.
 
There has been a lot to learn about Lombardi and there is a similarity in the actions of others, people who have utilized countless opportunities to build those same leadership skills.
 
Let's look at a man who was born in Greenfield Park, Que., now a borough of the city of Longueuil, located across the St. Lawrence River from Montreal.
 
To know Peter Ronald Baxter is to be aware of a person of influence, more suited to the Canadian university sports style of triumph and progress, that you can't find anywhere else. His leadership goes beyond the ice rink, the pool, the stadium, and gym.
 
In many ways, there really is no one else on earth whose values, principles and standards are the same as Lombardi's. His leadership skills were glimmering many years ago, way before his success at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. All he's done, has perfected them to immense success and prosperity.
 
To know him, to understand him, and to follow his determination to bring the best out of a young person, using both education and sport, is one huge achievement. Like every human, he's had his peaks and valleys, his emotional stories of success as well as the challenges.
 
Now, almost a quarter of a century since arriving at Laurier, Baxter has made the decision to move on and retire from a position that brought huge benefits to the growth, life, and achievements of thousands.
 
It was back on May 11, 1998, when he was presented with a remarkable career opportunity. No one was more ready for that job than Baxter. He had the experience and the knowledge. There was a desire to create something memorable at a small post-secondary institution located about a 60-minute drive west of Toronto.

Well versed and capable in his roles as athletic director at the University of Toronto campus in Mississauga and as Associate Director of the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association, Baxter was ready for a bigger challenge and some magic.
 
Laurier had about 6,000 students when he started. Today, the number has swelled to almost 25,000 at several campuses. Baxter was prepared to launch several hundred learning opportunities for students and creating exceptional experiences for them to benefit from recreational, intramural, and varsity programs.
 
With change often comes some form of defiance. Baxter knew that the important thing was to understand how one might also have to prepare to go through adversity, if that was ever the case, to get to the good. He knew that in combining learning and leadership, things always had a way of working out.
 
Accomplishments, advancement, and prosperity were building blocks that Baxter would use to create one of the most accomplished and reputable university Athletics and Recreation departments in Canada.
 
In sport, usually at the professional level, there are some who measure success with championships, trophies, and banners. Laurier athletes and coaches know that feeling all too well, but Baxter's legacy will be one that has inspired people to benefit immensely from combining excellence in education and athletics with a commitment to the community and a career.
 
"I have always reminded, and stressed, that athletics and recreation are part of the university education mandate," he said, while not mentioning Laurier teams having won 45 Ontario university championships and 10 Canadian championships since he took the job.
 
"There's an exchange of ideas and learning that goes on outside the academic classroom. In sport, you also learn to deal with pain, emotional control, dialogue, and great memories. These are things that involve people long after their days in school."
 
There were some major highlights, from individual to team heroics. Two came in 2005. The women's hockey team claimed national supremacy, beating the University of Alberta 4-1. It was a win that snapped a 102-game winning streak by the Western Canadian squad. Also, a Vanier Cup national football title, won in the closing seconds, 24-23, over the University of Saskatchewan.  That came three years after the football program was shaken by the arrest of several players for serious offences.
 
For Baxter, it's always been about following Laurier's motto "Inspiring Lives". 
 
Even in athletics and recreation, leadership is influence and involves nurturing and enhancing. Those may be words to many. However, Baxter has taken the route of ingenuity, always making sure that leadership and learning are indispensable.
 
It was during his high school days, that Baxter would tinker with the idea of either becoming a dentist or pursuing a career in law enforcement. Either way, there was a devotion to helping people. Maybe it was from the teachings that came from his grandfather, who fought for Canada at Vimy Ridge, or through his father, also his first coach, who also served in the Canadian Armed Forces.
                                       
Little did Baxter know at the time, that his legacy would have a huge positive impact on the lives and lifestyles of thousands of Laurier graduates and others throughout one community after another.
 
Tony Robbins, who came from poverty and childhood trauma to become one of the most recognizable motivational speakers and business strategists, once said "there is nothing on this earth you can't make happen through the power of your mind and your heart with persistence and consistency".
 
Baxter understood, and, from day one, set his focus on creating opportunities for students to benefit immensely from an array of recreational and varsity programs. Staff, too, from faculty and management to coaches and others interested in benefiting from physical fitness, utilized leisure times.
 
"There have been many times when I have made decisions in the best interest of students, thought hard and wisely and even got advice, and you know what you're doing, your gut tells you, is the right thing," said Baxter, while reflecting over numerous events during his tenure at Laurier. "If you want to improve the programs, you have to improve yourself and then the organization gets pulled up."
 
Nelson Mandela, the former first president of South Africa, understood the importance of education, fair play and dedicated his life to equality. He emphasized that "sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does." 
 
"I have learned that success is not always on the scoreboard," said Baxter, who has genuinely shown an interest in every student that has entered the Laurier Athletics Complex.
 
"There is something to be said about building people holistically. That often means understanding the mental and social factors that affect students. There is quite a change going from high school to university, adjusting, learning, and maturing. I care about everyone and have been there to help when help is needed."

"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent." - General Douglas MacArthur 

Baxter contributed to many things, notably the development of women's sport, revenue growth, as well as the expansion, and construction of new athletic facilities.
 
He launched the first university sports show on private radio, "Laurier Hawk Talk", a program that focussed on Laurier students and coaches that was heard throughout Southern Ontario. Laurier would also be the first university athletic department in Canada to stream games live on the internet with the creation of "Laurier Hawk TV".
 
Singling out select performances was something he tried to stay away from because he was a fan of everyone who wore the Golden Hawk jersey and then took on exceptional careers. Yet, there were times when Baxter couldn't avoid the spotlight focussed on enormous contributions.
 
That heralded field goal from the foot of placekicker Brian Devlin. Graduates Cheryl Pounder and John Morris, who went on to become Canadian Olympic champions in hockey and curling respectively.  Others like award-winning Fiona Aiston and Megan Yaraskavitch, going from academic and athletic success to saving lives working in the medical world. Jahmeeks Beckford and Rohan Thompson, from the gridiron to social work and community service.
 
There were others, former student athletes, who took on major corporate functions and educational roles. People like Paul Giannelia, builder of the Confederation Bridge and one who does large infrastructure projects in Canada, Marcia Powers-Dunlop, now retired after managing professional support services for the Toronto District School Board, and former Sun Life Financial Advisor Peter Izzio. And the list goes on and on.
 
His leadership focussed on peer education and community educational workshops to affect social change, and that included many concerns like drug abuse, systemic racism, homophobia, and sexual violence.
 
Finding ways to lead outside Laurier, Baxter was President of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and vice-president of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. Twice he was selected Chef de Mission for Canada leading teams at the World University Games in China in 2009 (Winter Games) in Harbin and two years later in Shenzhen (Summer Games).

Baxter leaves Laurier knowing that his huge contribution, fatherly advice to many during their time away from home, and that all important leadership, amount to having people look at how he was able to help others gain confidence and benefit immensely from opportunities. 

 "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou, poet and civil rights activist

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada's major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 45+ years in Canadian sports and Government relation.