BRUNSWICK – Henry L. “Gid” Racine, 92, of River Road, Topsham died Sunday, Aug. 1, at a local hospital.

Born in Brunswick, July 12, 1912, the last surviving of 10 sons of Prudent and Josephine Guerette Racine, he was a lifelong area resident and attended St. John’s School in Brunswick.

Around the age of 15, Mr. Racine became interested in boxing. He fought under the name of Gid Racine, sometimes referred to also as Young Racine or Kid Racine. He was featherweight champion of Maine in 1929, 1932 and 1933. He fought 175 bouts, won 165 of them and had five draws. After leaving the ring he trained young boxers locally as well as while he was in the military and turned out several state champions.

Mr. Racine was a lifelong boxing enthusiast who even when disabled by severe arthritis and unable to do more than watch boxing on television, would ball up his fists subtly making the moves along with the fighters he was watching. He married Rosalie Kantor of Lisbon Falls in 1932. On Oct. 20, 1990, he married Irene D. Chapman of Topsham.

A World War II veteran, Mr. Racine was in the Eighth Army Air Force stationed in England. Prior to going overseas he played the drums in the Army Band, while stationed in Miami Beach, Fla.

Mr. Racine was an accomplished drummer who also played the trombone and had his own band, the Pine Tree Mountaineers. He also played in many area bands throughout his life.

Before entering the military he worked at both the Cabot and Pejepscot mills. Following his discharge from the service, he was employed at BNAS until his retirement in 1967.

In his retirement years, “Gid” enjoyed playing music, dancing, traveling and was an avid sports fan who never gave up on his beloved Red Sox. Mr. Racine and his wife took many bus tours with Maine Line Tours, where he enjoyed regaling the other passengers with his repertories of songs and stories. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Church in Brunswick, Knights of Columbus and the Disabled American Veterans. He was also a member and past president of the Evergreens of Brunswick.

He is survived by his second wife of 13 years; two stepsons, Dean Chapman, of Minot and Michael Chapman, of Randolph; two stepdaughters, Angela MacDonald, of Woolwich and Christie Gasper, of Brunswick; eight stepgrandchildren; a good friend, Michael Bohunicky of Lisbon Falls; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Racine was predeceased by his first wife, Rosalie in 1986; and nine brothers.