Moe Cartman
October 30, 1930 – March 13, 2005
Inducted 2006
Primary Outlet
Daily Graphic (Portage)
Morris (Moe) Cartman believed every small-town athlete deserved their moment in the spotlight.
As the longtime sports editor at Vopni Press in Portage la Prairie, he used his column to celebrate local talent, community spirit and the everyday heroes of amateur sport.
Cartman began his career at Vopni Press as a paper carrier and later worked the linotype machine. His eyes were always on the sports editor position. He wanted the column to highlight every local athlete, no matter how small the headline.
Cartman loved sports, but he had a soft spot for the junior levels. He would turn down free Winnipeg Jets tickets in favour of attending Portage Terriers games, believing the juniors played with more heart. He wanted to be there in the stands, cheering them on.
That same spirit carried into everything he did. Whether he was helping with homework or coaching on the ice, Cartman gave his time generously.
“He was a walking thesaurus,” said his son, John, remembering how his dad helped him with a Grade 8 poetry assignment.
Cartman’s commitment to the community was perhaps best captured in his annual letter to Santa, published in the local Shopper News. The letter was often so long it had to be printed in five separate editions. In it, he asked for equipment for local teams, good weather for tennis players and the occasional birdie for son John’s golf game. He never asked for anything for himself.
After retiring, he continued writing through his popular Moe’s Mumbling column, keeping the town connected and entertained.
“People often told me that when Dad was the sports editor or writing his column, they felt like they had made it in Portage if they saw their name in the mumblings,” said John. “It was neat he had that influence and that people thought that much of him.”
At home, he always had lunch ready for his kids and made it a priority to attend all their games. His love for sports was matched only by his love for family and community.
Moe Cartman was inducted into the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour in 2006. He passed away on March 13, 2005, at age 74.
As the longtime sports editor at Vopni Press in Portage la Prairie, he used his column to celebrate local talent, community spirit and the everyday heroes of amateur sport.
Cartman began his career at Vopni Press as a paper carrier and later worked the linotype machine. His eyes were always on the sports editor position. He wanted the column to highlight every local athlete, no matter how small the headline.
Cartman loved sports, but he had a soft spot for the junior levels. He would turn down free Winnipeg Jets tickets in favour of attending Portage Terriers games, believing the juniors played with more heart. He wanted to be there in the stands, cheering them on.
That same spirit carried into everything he did. Whether he was helping with homework or coaching on the ice, Cartman gave his time generously.
“He was a walking thesaurus,” said his son, John, remembering how his dad helped him with a Grade 8 poetry assignment.
Cartman’s commitment to the community was perhaps best captured in his annual letter to Santa, published in the local Shopper News. The letter was often so long it had to be printed in five separate editions. In it, he asked for equipment for local teams, good weather for tennis players and the occasional birdie for son John’s golf game. He never asked for anything for himself.
After retiring, he continued writing through his popular Moe’s Mumbling column, keeping the town connected and entertained.
“People often told me that when Dad was the sports editor or writing his column, they felt like they had made it in Portage if they saw their name in the mumblings,” said John. “It was neat he had that influence and that people thought that much of him.”
At home, he always had lunch ready for his kids and made it a priority to attend all their games. His love for sports was matched only by his love for family and community.
Moe Cartman was inducted into the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour in 2006. He passed away on March 13, 2005, at age 74.