Source: Canadian Football Hall of Fame
REGINA, SK – Coming off the heels of an exciting year of festivities and marquee events in 2013, The Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum (CFHOF) has officially announced the Induction Class of 2014 at a celebration event during the 101 Grey Cup Festival in Regina.
“It is my pleasure to announce the Induction Class of 2014,” said Mark DeNobile, Executive Director of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum. “The Inductees are Ben Cahoon, Neil Lumsden, Uzooma Okeke, Maurice (Moe) Racine, and Charles Roberts in the player category. In the Builder category Wally Buono and Larry Haylor have been selected.”
NEIL LUMSDEN,
PLAYER:
Neil Lumsden had a successful collegiate and professional
career. During his time with the Ottawa Gee-Gees, Lumsden
amassed numerous records. On November 1, 1975, Lumsden scored
37 points (five touchdowns), which made him fourth all-time on the
points scored in a single game list. On completion of the
1975 season, Lumsden helped the Gee-Gees win the Yates Cup, the
Vanier Cup and an undefeated season at 11-0.
Once his collegiate career was completed Lumsden was second on the
all-time single season points list with 148 points (this happened
in 1975). He was first on the all-time career-scoring list
with a total of 410 points; he was fifth on the OUA career converts
list with 103. Lumsden has 31 career touchdowns, which 27 of
those were rushing.
In 2008, Lumsden was the honorary chairman of the 2008 Vanier Cup;
he is a member of the Ottawa Gee-Gees Hall of Fame, OUA Hall of
Fame and the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.
LARRY HAYLOR, BUILDER:
Haylor started coaching at the University level with the
Saskatchewan Huskies, in 1984 he took over as Head Coach of the
Western Mustangs until his retirement in 2006.
During his career he was selected as the OUA coach of the year
seven times and the CIS Coach of the year twice in 1990 and
1998.
He led the Mustangs to the Yates Cup Championship eight times and
winning the Vanier Cup twice in 1989 and 1994.
At the time of his retirement his CIS coaching record was
178-43-4.
BEN CAHOON, PLAYER:
Cahoon played his whole twelve-year career with the Montreal
Alouettes, a ten time Eastern All-star and a three time CFL
All-star as well as the Outstanding Canadian in the Grey Cup game
in 2003 and 2009.
In 2010 Ben became the CFL’s all-time career receiver with
1,017 receptions one of only three players in CFL history. Upon
Retirement Ben accomplished nine seasons of 1,000 yards receiving,
30 games with over 100 yards receiving, a record 47 Grey Cup
receptions and a total of 13,296 career receiving yards.
Ben participated in eight Grey Cup games winning three of them in
2002, 2009 and 2010
UZOOMA OKEKE, PLAYER:
Uzooma played for Shreveport, Ottawa Rough Riders and the Montreal Alouettes during his thirteen year career, he was a seven time Eastern All-star and seven times CFL All-star at Offensive Tackle during his career and won the CFL lineman of the year award in 1999, Okeke played in five Grey Cups winning one in 2002
MAURICE (MOE) RACINE, PLAYER:
A stalwart at Offensive Tackle with the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1958-1974, Moe played in every game except nine, a three time Eastern All-Star he played in five Grey Cup games winning four of them in 1960, 1968, 1969 and 1973. Racine also held kicking duties for the Rough Riders, at the end of his career his kickoffs totaled 14,889 yards, and a total of 392 career point for converts and field goals. His #62 was retired by the Ottawa Rough Riders on Oct 20, 1974.
CHARLES ROBERTS, PLAYER
Roberts joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2001, that year he
won the Special teams’ player of the year and the outstanding
rookie player in the east. He is a seven-time division All-star and
a seven-time CFL All-star.
Roberts holds numerous Blue Bomber team records and upon his
retirement in 2008 he carried the ball 1,918 times for 10,285 yards
an average carry of 5.4 yards, 69 touchdowns and 3,396 receiving
yards.
WALLY BUONO, BUILDER:
Wally started his career at the Player level as a linebacker and
a punter with the Montreal Alouettes in 1973 winning two Grey Cups
in 1974 and 1977.
Upon retirement as a player, Wally took an assistant coaching job
with the Montreal Concordes in 1983 after one year he became an
assistant coach with the Calgary Stampeders in 1987.
In 1990, Buono took over as head Coach of the Stampeders until 2002
where his record was 153-79-2, in 2003 Buono took over as VP of
Football operations, GM and Head Coach of the BC Lions.
Upon his retirement as head coach Buono’s record stood at
101-60-1 making his all-time Coaching record of 254 wins the
all-time record, nine time Grey Cup participant as a head coach,
and a record five time Grey Cup winner as well as a four time
winner of the Annis Stukus trophy as CFL coach of the
year.
“I would like to thank the Selection Committee for their commitment and dedication, to select a truly Canadian Football class. This is the fourth Class selected under the new terms of reference in which we recognized all levels of Football in Canada. We are very pleased to see significant representation in the 2014 class remarked” Mark DeNobile.
“On behalf of the CFL, our Board of Governors and our fans, congratulations to this year’s inductees on this great honour,” said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon. “Every one of these gentlemen had a positive impact on the growth of football in our country, and for that we are forever indebted to them. Thank you to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Selection Committee for helping provide the recognition they deserve.”
Induction weekend will be announced and further details will be made available at a later date.
The new inductees will bring the total Hall of Fame members to 271 members already included in the Hall’s Zone of Champions, which features busts of each member of the Hall.
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum operates as a non-profit registered charity. Located in Hamilton, Ontario since 1963, and in its current location next to Hamilton City Hall since 1972, the Hall is home to more than 30,000 Canadian football artefacts, ranging from equipment and trophies to photos and videos.
It’s open to the public year round; see our website for further information www.cfhof.ca