He came to Canada from Serbia early in life and began his career as a newsboy in Regina, later joining the Winnipeg Free Press. As a young man he became a wrestler and won medals at the Amsterdam Olympics of 1928 and the British Empire Games of 1930. Retiring from wrestling, he continued to foster young athletes and coached Canadian Olympic teams; and he has been elected to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. His voluntary activities have included school-crossing patrols, which have spread across the continent.